Cell Phones for Seniors – Cellular Telephones for Older Adults

Jul 4, 2010
Katrena Wells

Cellular Telephones May offer Options for Seniors - NASA

Discover questions to ask and cell telephone options that may meet special needs of seniors, such as large buttons, simple options, or sound amplification.

Many older adults remember a time when having a telephone in the home was a luxury that few people had. Today, the same seniors may now carry cell phones for a variety of reasons, such as:

safety reasons or emergency situations (tends to be the most common reason that seniors carry a cell phone)
to keep in touch with friends and family
to take and store pictures of the grandkids
to assist with finding a vehicle or another person
to check the weather, sports scores, traffic, and more
to send and receive text messages

Seniors may find cellular telephones difficult to use due to normal changes of aging, such as vision and hearing changes or chronic illness, such as arthritis and diabetes. Find suggestions for questions to ask when shopping for a cellular telephone and discover examples of some cell telephone companies that offer products specifically designed with seniors with special needs in mind.

What to Consider Before Purchasing a Cellular Telephone

A senior should first consider what features he or she needs and wants in a cellular telephone. Some examples might include:

Does the phone have buttons that are large and easy to find?
Does the cell phone offer amplification of sound?
Does the display have sufficient light?
Is the cell phone battery easy to charge?
Does the cell phone have features that are wanted without a lot of features that are not preferred?
Does the company offer a money-back guarantee if not pleased with the product, and if so, how long is the trial?
Is customer service easy to access?
Are owners manuals available to meet special needs?
What types of service plans are offered?
What area is covered by the cell phone?
Does the cellular telephone company offer the type of billing preferred (paper, phone, online, etc.)?

Cellular Telephones Designed with Seniors in Mind

Some companies are now beginning to produce cell phones that better meet the needs of seniors. Below are a few examples:

Cellular Telephones with Large Buttons and/or Amplified Sound:

Jitterbug J
Snapfon “ez ONE”
Doro Handle Easy 326i
ClarityLife C900

Cellular Phones for the Blind or Visually Impaired:

Owasys22C (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain)
Nokia 3650/3660 with TALKS Software

Senior-Friendly Cell Phones

Cellular phone companies often target people who are technologically savvy with a focus on a sleek and small design with a multitude of the latest features. However, according to an AARP study, seniors who are 50 to 65 years old are just as likely to carry a cellular telephone as those of younger generations.

However, many seniors are frustrated with cell phones that have small buttons, ones without adequate volume control, or cellulars that offer many features that a senior may not wish to use. The good news is that more companies are beginning to recognize the special needs of many seniors and are now beginning to offer senior-friendly cellular telephones that better suit those needs.

Readers may also wish to read How to Get a Real Person on the Telephone and Vision Changes in Seniors May Cause Medication Errors.

Sources:

AARP May 11, 2004 article “Shopping for Cell Phones”

Trends in Cell Phones article “Cell Phones for Seniors”

Katrena Wells, Photo by Cyndi Allison, All Rights Reserved

Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...

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Comments

Aug 15, 2010 8:33 PM

Katrena Wells :

I do agree that companies should focus on making their products user friendly for seniors. I am glad to see that some cell phones are now more user friendly for older adults. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Sep 8, 2010 2:16 PM

Guest :

Nice article- thanks! Another great review of senior friendly cell phones is located on The Senior List.com at http://theseniorlist.com/product-reviews/senior-friendly-mobile-phones.html

Sep 9, 2010 4:02 PM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for your comment and tip regarding my article about cellular phones that are senior-friendly. I hope more companies will seek to better meet the needs of seniors in the future!

Sep 11, 2010 6:27 PM

Guest :

You left out Tracefone's new senior film. I saw it on you-tube yesterday and I'm getting one for my pops: Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klPBNOpfQqY&NR=1

Very nice and cheap, too.

Sep 12, 2010 1:47 AM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for the tip! I hope he will like the phone.

Sep 16, 2010 12:10 PM

Guest :

I think the article hits it on the nail as far as phone designs go. It's not that us seniors are blind. It's just that most phones are black so bigger keys and that kind of thing make it easier. I've been shopping online and in the stores and I notice you don't have a senior phone I found at K-Mart on your list. I wonder why because it's the most affordable I've seen so far. It's the Senior Value phone from Tracfone and service runs as low as $7 a month - a huge difference in price to Jitterbug which I think is $150.

Sep 19, 2010 12:10 PM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for the information on the Tracfone. It sounds like you are a smart shopper!

Sep 28, 2010 10:39 PM

Guest :

I was shopping around for a cell phone for grandpa and found that although are are plenty of senior friendly phones to choose from, they're a bit on the pricey side. Wanted to avoid that since we weren't even sure if we were going to be able to convince Gramp to actually use the phone. We finally ended up with an affordable solution with TracFone as the phone only costs $15 and since Gramp would not need a lot of min, $7 a month will do. To our surpise, he's actuallly enjoy having the phone a little more than we though so we may have to look into upgrading soon :)

Sep 30, 2010 7:40 PM

Katrena Wells :

What a delightful comment on my article on cell phones for seniors! Several people are mentioning TracFone, and it sounds like a great option for those who don't want to use a cellular telephone a lot. You are right - many of them are pricey, but hopefully as more companies catch on to the idea, the competition will hopefully drive down some of those prices.

Thanks for sharing your story. It made me chuckle!

Oct 1, 2010 6:34 AM

Guest :

This was very helpful for my assignment, thank you very much.

Oct 2, 2010 3:24 PM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for the positive feedback on my article about cellular telephones that are senior-friendly!

Oct 26, 2010 7:08 PM

Guest :

Great article and a good phones featured! and i'm also found one more! So far the cheapest and the nice looking one, for only $89.99
I was browsing youtube on that topic and came across this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C5iUY67gvI

Oct 28, 2010 4:12 AM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for the compliment on my article about cellular telephones geared toward seniors and for the added tip!

Nov 13, 2010 1:22 PM

Guest :

Makes sense! I've seen commercials for Tracfone's senior value phone and its simplicity and low cost make it very attractive for those on fixed incomes, too. Kudos!

Nov 25, 2010 8:23 AM

Guest :

This sounds like a good phone but I must reccomend the svc phone from Tracfone. It's an absolutely perfect fit for my grandparents. THe phone is fantastic.. big numbers.. bigger screens..Long battery life. And the best part is the value. My grandparents would be a total waste on a plan that is like 50 dollars a month. they pay only 7 dollars a month and they get MORE than enough minutes!

Nov 27, 2010 4:18 PM

Katrena Wells :

It sounds like a lot of people are liking Tracfone for reasons mentioned above. It's great to have more options for senior-friendly cellular telephones than we have had in the past. Thanks so much for reading my article and for posting your comment.

Dec 13, 2010 7:06 PM

Guest :

I was shopping around for a cell phone for my grandparents and stumbled upon the TracFone SVC which I think is ideal for this age group. Most seniors I know use their phones the traditional way....simply to talk (gasp!) So the simple to use TracFone SVC with the generous size key pad is the perfect fit. At $15 a phone and $7 a month...a hard to beat deal! Think I definitely made the right choice!

Dec 18, 2010 3:57 AM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for reading my article about cell phones for the senior market, and it looks like many others are also enjoying the TracFone. I hope all of you readers will take a look at some of my other articles about products that are geared toward the senior market in the future.

May 21, 2011 11:39 AM

Guest :

Very nicely stated. Thanks for the info. I looked at the SVC phone and it's not very modern, though I can see its value for the technology averse and those requiring a simple means of communication, especially for emergencies.

May 21, 2011 7:30 PM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for taking the time to read my article and to post your opinion! I think that as more cell phone markets look at the needs of seniors, perhaps they will become more competitive. It can be pretty frustrating to try to use a cell phone and to constantly find that it is very difficult to dial the numbers because the buttons are so small and close together. Another issue with many seniors is trying to plug it up to charge the battery. If eyesight is not great and feeling is limited in the fingers, cell phone companies will do well to look at those needs and design telephones that work well for senior populations. Even something as simple as turning the cell phone off or changing it to vibrate can be difficult on many cell phones, so I look forward to seeing the next generation of cellular telephones created with older adults in mind.

Jun 30, 2011 12:41 PM

Guest :

I saw that svc phone the other day and it looked very simple which means it's not for everyone. The price is certainly low and it's not very advanced which makes it an interesting alternative for oldsters who need a phone but are afraid of technology. And it's a trackfole so its pay as you go. Nice.

Jun 30, 2011 1:19 PM

Katrena Wells :

Simple is perfect for many people. Cell phones today often have so many options, gadgets, bells, and whistles that many seniors simply do not want to use them. They may have buttons that are close together and it is quite frustrating to constantly push the wrong one. A few seniors in my yoga class were joking saying they were waiting for someone to come out with a rotary dial cell phone!

Jul 13, 2011 4:16 AM

Katrena Wells :

Guest post edited to remove link (sorry, I can't approve comments with links now):
Seniors have different needs when it comes to cell phones as compared to the younger ones. For them, an easy to use cell phone with emergency SOS button is more preferable.

Katrena's Response: Yes, I do agree that an emergency SOS button is especially important. Having a cell phone that can be voice activated for an emergency situation would also be quite helpful for a senior who has fallen. Readers may also wish to read my article about ways to help prevent hip fractures too.

Sep 11, 2011 2:24 PM

Guest :

Good discussion of the issues. Hate to say it but phones have become somewhat commoditized which means price and value are paramount.

Based on the, you have to consider trackphone's senior phone. At lat price, it's clearly the superior value. Agreed?

Sep 11, 2011 3:33 PM

Katrena Wells :

Different people may find different options to be the most important for them, but I certainly have seen quite a few comments about that particular model. I personally think that the cell phone companies still have a way to go in order to make their products more senior friendly. For example, many phones advertised for seniors have tiny plugins for charging the battery. Some tend to hang up or make horrendous noises on the other line if you accidentally press it against one's face. Others may have buttons on the side that might mute sound or change other settings if the cell phone gets jostled around in a pocket or pocketbook. Several of my friends said they'd like a cell with a rotary dial...perhaps they are on to something!

I think many seniors dislike new technology, not because they don't like change, but because the newer gadgets simply aren't user friendly to them and they often carry high price tags. I'd love to see more technological companies hiring consultants who understand various health concerns of seniors in order to create easier ways for them to use a product at a lower price.

Sep 29, 2011 9:11 AM

Guest :

I want to get my elderly grandparents a cool yet very easy to function cell phone. I was thinking of getting them the Senior Value Cell phone but they don't want it unless it has big numbers, letters, and a 911 locator. Does anyone know if SVC has these things?

Sep 29, 2011 9:45 AM

Katrena Wells :

I think it would be a great gift idea to purchase a cell phone for your grandparents! Your definition of "cool" and their definition of "function" might be two different things. One approach might be to have them to look at the cell phone before you actually purchase it. The options above are just a few ideas, and I hope that companies are offering even more options for seniors now. You might also take a look at a few models online and perhaps show them pictures and the stats if you have a way for them to see a computer. If your grandparents have friends with phones that they particularly like, that might also be a starting place, and you may want to call a few companies and see if they have some models that are specially designed for the senior market. I wish you the best in your search for the perfect cell phone for your grands!

Sep 30, 2011 1:59 PM

Guest :

My grandma uses an LG phone on the TracFone plan. She loves that the buttons are large and the screen is easy to read. By far the best phone she's used. Only problem is she doesn't know when she's about to run out of minutes so she ends up running out before the month is over!

Sep 30, 2011 4:54 PM

Katrena Wells :

Thanks for the tip on how nicely this cell phone is working for your grandma. It is definitely easy to run out of minutes on any plan where you pay as you go!

Oct 2, 2011 6:59 PM

Guest :

The SVC phone is a very simple device. Its low price and simplicity would probably appeal to the elderly, especially those on fixed incomes. $20 is an easy price point for a device like this.

Oct 2, 2011 7:17 PM

Katrena Wells :

Price is definitely something to consider, and $20 sounds pretty reasonable for a cell phone. Always check the features and what is included for the monthly price to ensure it's what you are wanting.

Oct 13, 2011 9:38 AM

Guest :

i really like the way of your thinking, they shall put a tag of age factor on every product.

Oct 13, 2011 10:21 AM

Katrena Wells :

Now there's a novel idea! I can see the tags now..."not intended for people under the age of 65" or something of that sort. You might have hit on the next new marketing strategy!

Nov 3, 2011 8:05 AM

Guest :

Does anyone know how I can set up an automatic bill pay for my grandmas SVC? She doesn't know how to refill minutes when they are running low and I am afraid she will run out of minutes when she needs them the most.

Nov 6, 2011 5:40 AM

Katrena Wells :

That's a great question! I think the best place to start, if your grandmother already has a plan, is to contact her provider and get the details. Many cell phone companies offer a variety of services like automatic bill pay. Whether or not the company offers automatic bill pay or if the phone will work for emergency numbers after running out of minutes would be something potential buyers might want to research before choosing a cellular telephone.

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Cell Phones for Seniors – Cellular Telephones for Older Adults

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