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Cell Phones That Seniors Flip For 

Seniors deserve products that cater to their needs, and cell phones are no different. Anyone buying any product would consider its practicality and usability. Seniors approach the purchase of a mobile phone the same way. Fortunately, cell phone manufacturers are dialed in to what seniors are looking for in this product.

Most seniors in the market for a mobile phone appreciate the simplicity of the phone they choose. A phone with more bells and whistles is not likely to make it home with a senior. The seniors of today did not have the benefit of computers and cell phones during their working years. Therefore, they are not as comfortable using these devices as the seniors of tomorrow will be. Any senior, even those tuned in with technology, will need some level of assistance such as adapted mobile phone features to make up for their compromised senses. 

According to Pew Research Center, 77 percent of seniors said that landlines were a necessity, versus 29 percent who said the same of wireless phones. Yet eMarketer, an internet marketing research company, approximates that almost 70 percent of Americans ages 65 and older own a mobile phone this year, versus 75.5 percent of the population overall. That is an impressive number given that this technology is somewhat new for the senior generation. As baby boomers age into the senior ranks, this number is expected to increase, especially because they were introduced to this technology at an earlier age.

The top cell phone features that seniors naturally scrutinize are the display and the buttons. The display needs to be easy to read which means it needs to be a larger size, and the brightness of the display needs to be appropriate so a senior’s eyes can easily see the numbers on the screen. The size of the buttons also deserves a good look. The larger the buttons, typically the easier the phone is to use. Both speak to how simple it is to see everything.

Volume of the ringtone and earpiece are also important phone attributes for seniors. While both features are adjustable on most phones, phones made just for seniors have higher volume options, making the phone ring louder and the voice coming through the phone easier to hear.

Unique mobile phone features that may assist caregivers and seniors are a GPS (global positioning system) and a panic button. Mobile phones can transmit a GPS signal that pinpoints the location of the person carrying the phone within a few feet, and some phones even show a road map and aerial photo of the locale. These characteristics can help caregivers quickly find lost or disoriented seniors. The panic button is another safeguard that can protect seniors and give caregivers peace of mind. Seniors simply push the panic button to instantly summon help. The Wherifone GPS Locator Phone by Wherify Wireless is an example of an effective senior-focused cell phone that includes the aforementioned features.

Before choosing a mobile phone, think about which attributes are important. This may mean getting familiar with cell phones and their available features, then determining what is most important to you from that list of features.

Helpful tips for buying cell phones
Source:  www.cellphonesforseniors.biz

 

Tip 1 – Functionality – Consider which functions you need in a phone. Keep it as simple as possible. What will you use your phone for? Calling? Texting? Internet searching?Tip 2 – Size of the phone – The size of the actual phone should be large enough to hold comfortably.Tip 3 – Screen – Make sure the screen is big enough to see clearly.Tip 4 – Buttons – The button size should be large enough to see and to use easily.Tip 5 – Volume – Are the ringtone and earpiece volumes adjustable? Do they get loud enough to hear them well?

Tip 6 – Phone Lock/Unlock – How the phone locks and unlocks is important for people with arthritis. Normally, to lock or unlock a phone, a person has to press a series of buttons. A flip-style phone may be a better option because the phone unlocks as soon as it is flipped open.

 

Making the Call – Finding the Right Phone for You

Many mainstream manufacturers carry phones for seniors or with features that are useful for seniors. Some popular phone models for seniors are:

Jitterbug

  • A “clam” or flip design
  • Large buttons and keypad
  • Bluetooth, Caller ID and speakerphone
  • Simple text messaging
  • Custom designed by Samsung

 

Doro

 

  • Large buttons and keypad
  • Large, simple-to-read display
  • Extra loud handset volume
  • Emergency notification

 

Just5

 

  • Huge buttons
  • Easy operation
  • Amplified sound
  • Long lasting battery
  • SOS feature allows for a pre-programmed number to be dialed in an emergency

While people who become seniors in the coming years will be more tech savvy and open to engaging new technologies than past generations of seniors, nothing changes the fact that seniors still need cell phones that align with their physical abilities and situations. Phones that offer caregivers some peace of mind are also a welcome addition to the mobile phone family. The senior industry is grateful that cell phone manufacturers are heeding the call of the senior masses and producing senior-friendly phones.

reprinted from the CSA Senior Spirit enewsletter

 

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