My dad is in long term care after a stroke. He does not have use of the left side (and his right is not that coordinated) but his mind is good and he likes being able to talk on the phone. We got him a Jitterbug, but the simplest flip phone is hard for him to open with one hand, and we have had a microphone problem with two phones in a row now. The big buttons and simple screen are good features for him though -- are there any alternatives? Or is Jitterbug the only senior phone available?
Another problem with cell phones is that in older homes they tend to travel and explore...one day they just disappear and wander through the whole house before they turn up months later. Vagabond, traveling phones are not what I need!
Another problem I've had is calling 911 when I'm out of the area. When my house was burglarized, I stood outside my house and called 911. I got a community about 30 miles to the SE and the dispatcher refused to put me through to my local PD.
For me, cell phones are worthless for emergencies unless I also have the specific PD/EMS numbers.
So now I keep the local PD's number in my emergency contacts list b/c that's the only way I could get through quicker than going into the house if I came home to another burglary.
My sig other has a new Smartphone for the first time. I told him since it recognizes his finger print, if we are in a situation where I didn't have my own cellphone, I couldn't use his phone to call for help. Guess if he needs 911 medical help, I could try all of his fingers to see which one would open up his phone :P
One thing with landline old fashioned telephones is that the use of such a phone is ingrained in the elders brains.
My Dad tried the portable land-line phone but he would forget to put it back into the charger :(
That's one reason why I wound never rely on cell phones alone.
The resident who was previously in my Mom's room had a phone jack installed into the room. Many rooms have one and others do not (you have the luck of the draw on this one!). So, when I got around to getting my Mom her 'wifi landline' there was already a phone jack in the wall so I did not have to pay to install it. All I had to do was to connect the small wifi modem to that line in order to decrease the monthly cost. Of course, AT&T always gives you the option off installing a phone jack in the wall should be able to take that cost on as a one-time payment.
However, I do pay for my Mom's $20-25 'wifi landline' monthly as I placed her number in my family plan. In this way, she does not have to diminish her monthly income and can get haircut, etc. with her funds. I can take that monthly amount on, but not $45 to $50 for a real landline or the one-time cost of installation for the phone jack.
I was told by my moms 2nd NH that they 86’d phones for a litany of reasons as residents..... left them off the hook..... used others phones..... ran charges up..... didn’t pay phone bills. If they wanted a phone, then they or thier family would need to arrange for getting their own cell phone or could use the phone in the cubby adjacent (& visible) to the nurses station. I don’t know how common this is but there may not be many options.
For so many in a Nh & on Medicaid, they do not have any extra $ to pay for a phone. If their monthly personal needs allowance is $35 or $50 or $ 60, a phone could use all of it at best. Then it becomes what’s a better use of thier limited $.... having mom get her hair done regularly or dad going to the barber regularly at the on premises beauty/barber shoppe or having funds available for an outing or the canteen at he facility OR a phone.
Here is what I did....
AT&T was able to give my Mom what they call 'wifi landline.' With this set up, Mom can have her regular cordless phone in her room at the nursing home with the addition of a wifi modem AT&T will send you, at the same cost of a cell phone! No one has to go connect it and charge you for that as it is easy to do yourself.
Previously, her landline was around $45 only with local calls. Her cell phone was $20 with calling all domestic numbers except Alaska, Hawaii and some US islands.
Now, the 'wifi landline' is the exact cost as the cell phone was!
No more problems with turned off cell, forgetting to charge cell, losing cell, and me having to go almost everyday to resolve the issue.
She is happy now to have returned to her well-known "landline."
Check it out with AT&T....WIFI LANDLINE.
PS: Insist on speaking to a supervisor if the customer service person does not know what you are talking about. I shared this miracle with a friend for her Mom who is also at the nursing home, and it took her 3 calls to AT&T before someone was able to know about this new system.
Also, his son brought him some Delta Over-the-Ear "buds?" and it plugs into my iPhone and has been a blessing! Phillips makes them too - https://goo.gl/images/2oXYjD
is the link to share the image.
thegate.boardingarea.com/review-billboard-earbuds-delta-air-lines/old-delta-air-lines-headphones/
There should be a jack on the Jitterbug and then you will only need to show him how to put the earphones on. They fit over the hearing aids and DH is able to have a conversation with them on. He still prefers the receiver on a landline but sometimes we still use the headphones. I bought another 2 pair at eBay 'just in case.'
Also have a landline without long distance.
Neither is perfect, but I am managing better now.
Especially if dH requires searching out at 10 p.m., was off at 9 p.m., or maybe not, and I have become a parking lot sitter once again.....
Place a plastic card between the opening to assist. It just isn't a one-handed phone, imo.
Rickety speakers too.
Then, I keep placing my fingers over the hole and they cannot hear me.
Where does one hold these things anyway?
I keep imagining the cell phone flying out the car window someday soon.
Cell phones are horrid for so many elderly people. My mom sometimes forget to charge it, and then when she charges it, it's still powered off. She can see the big buttons but can't read the tiny text on the screen. And to get the volume loud enough for her to hear means loud for the people around her. I can't imagine midkid's mom having to deal with a touchscreen.
Mother lives in brother's home. He decided to go "all cell phone" for everyone in the family. Mother has what is considered the "best" cellphone for Srs....nope, she just can't use it! Can't answer it, can't call...nothing. One of the kids programmed the #'s in that she'd need and she still cannot seem to remember the "gentle touch and swipe" use of these devices. Gets a call and has a meltdown trying to answer.
She begged me to talk brother into reinstalling her landline. I guess he refused, and I can't override him on this b/c their internet, etc is all bundled with a major company and only he can make changes.
Also, one thing I've noticed--mother's eyesight is not great, and she always has sticky or dirty fingers--so her glasses, her phone, her TV's are all covered in guck. The touch screen will not work if you are trying to maneuver through gunk. I always clean her glasses and her TV's (I don't know why she has to touch those screens!) and her phone.
I love my landline. It ALWAYS works, The clarity and such are great, Personally, I know the world of high tech beyond my grasp, and I do have and use a smartphone, but we will always have a landline.