Jitterbug Flip Phone 2 - or - RAZ Memory Phone?

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Geaton777 Asked January 29, 2024

Jitterbug Flip Phone 2 - or - RAZ Memory Phone?

My Mom has been using a conventional flip phone for several years but now is having problems using it due to her arthritic hands and fingertip neuropathy, and also mild memory issues.

The only reason I would consider another flip phone is that it is small enough to fit in her pocket so that she'd have it on her body while she's awake. This has helped her when she fell at least 2 times in the past 2 years. Her current one is very smooth so she has trouble grasping it. Plus, the volume buttons are on the side and she often can't feel that she is accidentally turning off the ring tone. This is happening more and more.

I like the RAZ but it is way bigger and I'm worried she won't keep it on her because of the size. If she doesn't keep it on her, it loses much of the safety and communciation benefit. But in the long-term, it's probably better to acclimate her to a different phone that will be "easier" for her to use. I myself chose my iPhone based on the smallest size because I have it on me all the time.

Thank you inadvance for any and all thoughts and experiences.

Cognitive Decline Memory Loss Product

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score 1 · Answer 1

UPDATE:

Last week my Mom's flip phone broke in half. I wasn't there so not sure how this happened but it was an ancient phone. When I opened up the back to take out the SIM card, literally dust bunnies and tumbleweed fell out.

My Mom is rapidly losing cognitive skills so I chose to get her a RAZ phone because of the simplicity, caregiver control and visual/limited contacts. Plus, she will be able to receive Facetime calls from her LOs. It is arriving today, so haven't tried it out yet. She is already crabby and whining about it being "so much bigger" than the smooth, slippery flip phone that kept leaking out of her pockets and into the cracks of her chairs, and flying out of her arthitic hands and numb fingertips.

I'll post back with another update for anyone who is curious about how it goes.

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score 1 · Answer 2

I got mom the jitterbug 2! All you have to do is go into settings and lock the outside buttons! Turn up the volume and lock it! I'm pretty sure you can set it for ring tone and vibration together. I know what you mean about squeezing the volume buttons.

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score 1 · Answer 3

How about this setup:
"A non-emergency "Call Me" lighted button that speaks reassurance to your elderly parent"

https://frankseasytechcorner.substack.com/p/a-non-emergency-call-me-lighted-button

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score 0 · Answer 4

What about getting her a fall alert system (pendant, wristband)?

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Thanks for your suggestion! She still needs a phone to call people, she's still active in that way (she calls her out of town sister, her nieces and nephews, my kids, etc). I have a fall alert system for her sister in FL and she never ever wears it so I'm cancelling it. It only works if they comply.

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score 0 · Answer 5

Geaton: Perhaps she can adapt to a wearable, i.e. small purse that would contain the phone.

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Thanks! She has that already expressed that she won't carry a purse or bag around herself all day (at least that's what she says now... we'll see if we can't find a phone she is able to adapt to that is small. I've already warned her that anything other than a flip phone will be larger).

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score 3 · Answer 6

My mother is 98. She had a flip phone from Verizon, but kept pushing buttons that turned off volume & whatever else you can do to a phone. So, I bought her a Jitterbug Flip phone recently, thinking there wasn't much she could push to screw it up. Well, I was wrong & managed to put it on mute constantly. finally, my brother did some research & came up with Ooma. It looks like a regular landline & works off the internet. On the phone he bought, it has 9 push buttons you can program & put the name next to it. Once you pay for the phone, there are no monthly charges. He's taking it to her this week. Hopefully, this will take care of the phone issues. If you think your parent needs a phone on them at all times in case of a fall, you might want to consider a medical alert button.

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Thank you! Great input because I could see my Mom doing this, too. Her fingerprints are literally almost worn away so swiping a screen isn't easy for her, either! I had signed her up for Delta Clear and the fingerprint reader absolutely doesn't work for hers, nor does the eye scanner!

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score 3 · Answer 7

My Mom (hates technology, her first non-flip phone) has a jitterbug smart phone (not flip open kind). She fits it in the pocket of her housecoat, and it has a protective case that she likes. What size are the usual pockets? Can it get a protective case? There’s a belt clip on their site…but not sure for a lady.

The controls that come with the RAZ smart phone look useful. IF she’s not going to use the internet - it appears to do calls only. I like that it treats a video call (on your side with their app) like a call for her, and the app can monitor and fix things.

It looks like the RAZ has “disable volume rocker” “disable power button”, and automatic answer, meaning it could answer and you could hear/talk (yell? ;) to try to get a response. Also has a tremors option. Did you check the features list? https://www.razmobility.com/solutions/memory-cellphone/

if my mom didn’t have to access news and her “YouTubes”, we’d consider it later (plus, she is attached to it…)

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On second thought… I’m not sure of the automatic answer video call….
my husband just mentioned something about do I really want a visual of everything anytime anywhere - I figured maybe the dog would be on the video checking out the ‘“talking phone” when mom ignores it… but maybe I need a better imagination ;)

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