Cell Phones for Seniors: Top 5 Features to Look For in a Senior-Friendly Mobile Phone
Cell phones keep getting smarter and smarter and smaller and smaller. Manufacturers are cramming more and more features into increasingly more compact designs (seriously – my first cell phone had twice the functionality and processing power of my first computer). For some, this is a plus. You can do more stuff without carrying more stuff. But for senior citizens who just want to make calls and don’t care if their phone can run Sim City, shoot a feature film and poach an egg, today’s smartphones are more than a little overkill. In fact, they are worse – they can actually be harder to use. Still, cell phones are a necessity for many senior citizens who wish to remain independent and keep in touch with their family.
But which cell phones are best for seniors?
To find out the answer to that question, we turned to John Marick of Consumer Cellular, a company that designs cell phone plans and offers cell phones specifically designed for elderly cell phone users. “There’s a void in the marketplace for people that are looking for the core benefits of what a cellular phone provides. That is, the ability to make and receive phone calls at an affordable rate,” explains Marick, who founded the company in 1995 but notes that the business’ founding philosophy is even more true today. “Industry has evolved some amazing gadgets – but the biggest problem becomes the form factor. When you make the phone smaller and cram more stuff on it, the buttons get smaller, teh screen gets smaller and it gets harder to use. It’s harder to break through the clutter.”
It’s true – cell phones are supposed to make our lives easier, not harder. So, when you’re shopping for a cell phone for an older family member or for yourself, watch for these key features:
Large, Intuitive Dial Pad
Look for a phone that has large, raised keys that are easy to read and easy to push. Seniors may have limited dexterity in their fingers as well as somewhat poorer eyesight. Use this is a rule of thumb: if you have to squint to see the numbers, then chances are some with poor vision won’t be able to see them at all. Phones with backlit keys, large print and numbers in the logical, traditional configuration work best for seniors.
Examples: Doro PhoneEasy 345 and the Motorola Em330
Hearing Aid Compliant
Some cell phones don’t play well with hearing aids and cause interference or noise. Other phones are simply too quiet for the hard of hearing and have confusing (or nonexistent) physical volume controls. Speakerphones and headset support help, too. Look for a phone that won’t have you screaming, “Can you hear me now?” when you’re on the other line.
Examples: Doro PhoneEasy 410 and the Motorola KRZR K1.
Simple User Interface and Speed Dialing
Ever picked up a phone and had to ask, “How do I make a call with this thing?” If so, then that phone would probably be a pretty crumby cell phone for seniors. Instead, choose a phone that offers only the simplest and most essential features, such as quick and easy access to contact lists (i.e. a simple press of an up/down arrow) as well as one touch speed dialing. This is also particularly helpful for users who have trouble remembering phone numbers.
Flexible Pricing
Another aspect you shouldn’t overlook is the cell phone plan. Many free smartphones have hidden costs, such as hefty activation fees, cancellation fees and required messaging and data packages. There are also numerous ways to accidentally incur charges on many phones (for example, mistakenly opening a web browser or accessing paid services, such as mobile TV). A better choice is a phone with basic features and a basic monthly plan.
Examples: Consumer Cellular’s no contract cell phone plan starting at $10 a month or Nextel’s Simply Everything plans.
Excellent Battery Life
Phones that can sit in a purse or bag for days at a time without running out of juice are great for seniors who may forget to charge their phones or have trouble bending over to plug their phones into the wall. A basic cell phone can have a standby battery life that spans over 2 weeks, while power hungry smartphones often need daily charging.
Examples: Motorola W259 and Samsung T139.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what’s important you in a basic cell phone for seniors in the comments.
Related posts:
- AT&T Senior Friendly Cell Phones, Senior Nation 200 Plan
- Senior Cell Phones
- Cell Phones for Seniors
- Best Cell Phones for Seniors
- Buying Cell Phones For Seniors
- Simple Cell Phones for Senior Citizens
- How to Select an Appropriate Senior Cell Phone
- The UTStarcom Coupe 8630, a Great Handset Designed For Senior Citizens
- Senior Citizens Need Simple Cell Phones
- Considerations When Selecting a Cell Phone for a Senior Citizen
March 9th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
[...] typical cell phone there is a shift in process within the cell phone industry to offer compatible cell phones for the senior population. There are a lot of phones out there but after spending some time I ran across the LG Flare LX175. [...]
March 30th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
I was looking for a good phone for my elderly mother. Found a great Net10 phone. Not the biggest buttons and screen, but big enough. 10 cents a minutes for calls. Perfect for her cause she doesn’t use it a lot — only when she MUST/when she’s on the road. I bought the phone and the minutes at Target
Simple, cheap, dependable. convenient.
April 6th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Loud distinctive ring tones that can be heard through pockets and purses.
April 24th, 2010 at 11:56 am
This is a very helpful article, thanks for posting it. Anyway, I know one phone for seniors that have all of the aforementioned features. It’s the Just5 phone, my 56-year-old father owns one. It has big buttons for easy reading and composing of texts, louder volume, speed dialing, excellent battery life, and a reasonable price.
What I love about Just5 phone is its added features, an emergency S.O.S. button. Since my father got this phone, I’m already secured and at peace whenever my father is away or I am away from home. This assures me that my father is doing well and I’ll be immediately informed if ever he is not. So I recommend this phone with all confidence to all the seniors out there.
http://www.Just5.com