Cell phone for seniors? (NOT Jitterbug)

In My Humble Opinion
1

My aging parents (85 and 93) need a cell phone. Well, me and my siblings think they need a cell phone, anyway. But I’m not sure they could navigate an Android or even an iPhone, and have my doubts about even a standard flip phone.

Does anyone have recommendations for a very simple but reliable phone designed for the oldsters? Big buttons, big screen, simple graphics? I specifically said NOT Jitterbug because those run on their own network, and we want to put it onto one of our own family plans, which means it has to run on T-Mobile.

Thanks for any input! I found a few old threads on similar topics, but this sort of information ages rapidly.

2

Do you really need cellular service? If not, have you considered using an iPad or iPad mini as a “cell phone”? That’s what I got my parents when their eyes couldn’t make out the small lettering on a regular smartphone. I installed an app for them so we can text and call, and if you really need a phone number, you can use Google Voice or Skype.

3

Thanks for the reply, but yes. One of the main purposes is so they can keep in touch when they are away from home.

4

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Both the iPad and mini have versions with cellular (data) service, just no phone service without a separate app. They’ll still be able to use it away from home even with no wifi. If they can use a cellular phone in the area they’re going to be in, the iPad can pick up the signal as well.

So my question should have been, do your parents need a native telephone function?

5

Aha! There’s the rub… my mom’s 93, sharp as a tack, but has that ‘senior technology blind spot’ when it comes to anything new. (“Come to think of it, Alexa, I don’t care for this song at all… Now, why isn’t Alexa listening to me? I think Alexa’s broken.”)

Her kids and grandkids have always insisted it’d be great for Grammie to have a smartphone. Grammie does not agree. She came up with a compromise a couple of years ago: got a low-tech flip phone that she keeps in her purse. So she’s got a phone in case of emergency.

But she’s used it once in the two years she’s had it. And that was to answer a call from my sister, very testily: “What?!?” “Umm, I couldn’t get hold of you and I wanted to make sure you were okay…” “Well, I’m wonderful, because I’m out DOING THINGS instead of talking on the phone. I’ll call you back from my real phone whenever I get home.”

So maybe just an ‘In case of emergency’ phone would be enough…

6

I hadn’t thought of that. It’s an interesting idea. They wouldn’t even know the difference between a native phone function and VOIP type function. Thanks!

8

If you don’t want an Android or Apple (and I assume any other flavor of smart phone) and you also don’t want a jitterbug, but it has to have big buttons and be easy to use, but it also can’t be a flip phone, you’re really ruling out a lot of things.
If your parents are active enough that they need a cell phone (as opposed to just a landline), maybe you should take one of them to t-mobile (since you said it has to be t-mobile) and see what they have.
You might be surprised that they can handle a regular (flip or tablet style) phone just fine.

I think your only remaining option would be to go pick up a burner from the gas station. Aren’t those mostly cheap, low-tech phones? Throw a hundred bucks on it, or whatever it takes so that they get a year or so out of it and see how they do.

9

No, they are mostly older model smartphones. For instance, here are the cheapest Tracfones. (Even the flip models aren’t simple.)

10

Will be watching this thread. My Mom is 90 with macular degeneration. She has a landline, and a flip phone. AND a Kindle Fire. I’m figuring if she can use the Fire, she could use some sort of Tablet solution.

11

There look to be several nice choices out there except that they are 3G, and 3G is being phased out. (Example. Example. Example.)

You might want to look into the Indian company Easyphone and see if anything will work for you.

12

For those watching the thread, or future generations curious how it all turns out, here is an update. We settled on a simple Motorola Moto G7 Play, not that there is anything special about that device. But in order to senior-proof it, I installed Nova Launcher to replace the native Android launcher. This enabled me to highly customize it:
[ul]Only one home screen
Six essential apps on the home screen (phone, messages, camera, etc.)
Nice big huge icons
Increased the font size globally
Eliminated the dock at the bottom of the screen
Boosted the keyboard size
Locked the home screen from changes
[/ul]

I’m still trying to figure out how to disable the app drawer. I don’t want them accidentally swiping up on it and getting confused. I’m also looking for a simpler replacement camera app.

Haven’t delivered it to them yet; still waiting on the SIM card. Stay tuned.

13

On my phone (running Nova Launcher), I long-pressed on the app drawer and tapped “Remove.” The app drawer was gone.

14

Nice tip! Thanks!