Yet another thread for a phone for our very elderly and visually impaired mom

[A930Rocket]

Our mom is 93 and has macular degeneration pretty bad, but still likes to talk on the phone to the four kids and grandkids.

I’ve been reading online about phones for seniors and there are several, including the jitterbug, which I don’t know if it’s a marketing scheme or really that good of a phone. Others look good and have good features, but I’m concerned about a lack of feel and senior friendly usability.

Anyway, is there a simple phone out there that has the following requirements:

Simple voice calling.
Announces who’s calling.
Big enough to handle easily.
Charges in a base station.
No texting/Internet/flashlight/camera/etc. needed.


Edit: Looking at pictures online, the seniors look like they’re in their 60-70s, not their 90s. When you’re 63, 60-70’s does not seem elderly!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I'm no help but I'm surprised someone hasn't create an app for iPads that would do all of that.

[dw1]

The fundamental problem with iPhones and iPads is the lack of tactile feedback.

There could be the greatest iPad app ever made but if an elderly person can't use it due to limited eyesight or dexterity, it is pointless.

As one of my elderly relatives got older (into their 80's, and the fundamental tremor getting worse) they went back to a phone with a keypad.

BTW, during my time designing medical products I worked on medication self-delivery devices (e.g. insulin pens & pumps) when we spent a LOT of time on "human factors" aspects. I continue to be surprised how little attention is paid to age-related and/or disease-related reduction in visual acuity and dexterity in many consumer products.

The Jitterbug is not a bad choice, but something with bigger buttons like the Bierley BM-01 or Snapfon Ez4g might be even better.

https://www.seniorliving.org/cell-phone/best/big-buttons/
https://www.theseniorlist.com/cell-phones/best/easiest/

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That makes sense, I was thinking it would be all voice activated. But then a very large USB number pad could work with an iPad. My grandmother with terrible arthritis would sit in her chair much of the day. Fingers didn't work at all but she could have hit 2" square buttons with her hand.

[A930Rocket]

I guess you get a point, even using an iPad that has big numbers, it doesn’t help. With little vision, you can’t see the numbers.

For me, a two button phone would work. I’m thinking a phone that is big enough to hold, but not overwhelming. A big button you can feel and say, call a930rocket. When finished, say hang up or feel for the hang up button.

Of course, you need a keypad to add pre-programmed phone numbers. So the easy, two button phone, gets more complicated.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I’ve been reading online about phones for seniors and there are several, including the jitterbug, which I don’t know if it’s a marketing scheme or really that good of a phone.

I had a simple flip phone with Lively/Jitterbug for a while, but it was not as 'simple' as it should have been.
Their OS needed or needs improvement.
Some functions did not make sense at all, even for this youngster.
I switched to another carrier after their 'mission-creep' billing bux started creeping up.

Find out local stores and actually use the phones before buying one.

[fintstone]

My mom had the same and could simply not use a cell after a certain point. She had a regular, old fashioned phone with buttons...She knew where the buttons all were...so vision was not quite as critical. I made her a "phone book" in Power Point of all the numbers she used/needed. It was a binder with a single name and number per page in the largest, clearest fonts that would fit. The numbers were huge, but she could see it enough to make her calls

[Sooner or later]

I have a friend who's wife is legally blind and she uses a MiniVision 2. A lot of voice control.

https://www.razmobility.com/solutions/minivision2/

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I have a friend who's wife is legally blind and she uses a MiniVision 2. A lot of voice control.

https://www.razmobility.com/solutions/minivision2/

That's the phone I was really looking at...I need to get my hands on one. Not very big though, 4.92 x 2.36 x 0.53 inch. Are they available to see or online only?

Then... I need to see if she likes and can use it. That means one of my siblings in Atlanta needs to show it to her. Or a road trip!