What I want for Mom is simple. She's 91 and has no short-term memory, altho her reasoning ability still works. I want a simple, light-weight phone that has no moving parts (no clamshell or slide-outs). It should have two big buttons labeled ON and OFF and 2 more labeled ANSWER and HANGUP (because that's what she's used to). Pushing HANGUP should turn the phone off and "lock it" until the ON button is pushed. It should have up to 5 additional buttons that can be customized with the name of people she might need to call. To call someone, push ON and the name-of-person button OR hold the name-of-person button down for several seconds (enough to avoid unintended calls). A simple screen will probably be needed for me to set up her phone numbers,etc. The button to get into set-up mode should be not obvious or perhaps the setup could be accomplished via the USB port of a computer. The screen should display the current status of the phone--OFF, Calling xyz, Incoming call or xyz callingl. Connected to xyz, etc. SImple "old-fashioned" words. And I want a comfortable strap that can be worn cross-body. I want her to get in the habit of donning it each morning just like she dons the housekey around her neck.
SAR
of CA
@
Nov 18, 2009 23:20:41 PM
senior phones needed
i am in agreement. just a simple phone is needed for people with dementia. they can keep it in a pocket and when there is a fall or if they just need to, they can push one or more huge numbers. help us out here
leslie
of NC
@
Nov 09, 2009 20:23:27 PM
Where are the entrepreneurs?
Like "phoneless in Seattle" my husband has had a stroke and none of these solutions will work for him. We need something so simple that it's impossible to get confused. With so many stroke survivers and so many alzheimers patients, it seems there would be a market for this. I just assumed it was out there, but it appears it isn't. Perhaps in this economy, this is an opportunity for someone to grab a huge market share. I need this now so my husband can have some bit of independence; otherwise he needs someone with him constantly.
Marty
of AZ
@
Nov 04, 2009 01:27:48 AM
Phonelss in Seattle
I purchased 2 overpriced Jitterbug phones about six months ago. My husband has had a stroke and has both hand agility and learning problems. The phone worked well for him. He could see the keys, the numbers on the screen, he could hear (most of the time) and he felt comfortable with it. Then the service and functionality went South. We experienced problems with voice mail, receiving calls. At one point I was told that my calls were going straight to voice mail where they were being offered the opportunity to listen to my messages. This happened three times! I don't trust them to remedy the problem.
So now we are in the market again. I purchased two Jitterbugs so that he could use mine when necessary. So far I've purchased two phones from Verizon of different designs. Both are acceptable with respect to font and key sizes but the miriad functions and programs make it thoroughly incomprehensible. Is there a way of disabling all of those choices: internet, camera, calendar, ...?
Ann
of WA
@
Nov 02, 2009 00:01:22 AM
Two Year Contracts? Will some of the seniors who need these even live that long?
We are thinking of getting a senior cell phone for my in-laws--but my FIL is 97 and has congestive heart failure. If these phones are really aimed at the senior market, they need to give up the idea of the two year contract. I doubt my FIL will still be alive in two years--which will mean those requiring two year contracts won't be getting our business!
Really people, if you are going to market to seniors, you need to give this a little more thought!
Kim
of WA
@
Oct 27, 2009 13:53:14 PM
Large numbers on pad and screen: why isn't there a cheap way for seniors to have a phone like this
JitterBug is the ONLY cellphone showing the large numbers both on screen and on the touch pad----but there is no phone with these characteristics that seniors (or the care-takers of seniors) can afford.
Sandy Jolley
of TX
@
Oct 18, 2009 14:01:03 PM
NOT CUSTOMER FRIENDLY
My BFF has had Jitterbug for a while. In the beginning there were some minor problems, however, with some persistance, they were resolved. Now, there is an even bigger problem! She is able to text everyone, but for the past 2 or 3 weeks, she is unable to receive any of our text messages except for Jitterbug!! She has made numerous calls to Jitterbug's customer service, but to no avail. They've even sent her a brand new phone. That didn't help. She still cannot receive any text messages from any of us. We are all retired and were enjoying the fact that we could communicate via text messaging. But now, my BFF is left out!!!! HELP!!!
Blania Haney
of MI
@
Oct 01, 2009 18:23:31 PM
Jitterbug Phone Great! Service Stinks.
I have been on Jitterbug for about 2 years. I love the phone! Simple & easy to use without all the techie crap I don't need or want. I just want a phone. That's all. A louder ringer would be nice and internet bill paying sure would be great too. Jitterbug offers neither. However, ever since they got hooked up with the Verizon Network, their service has gone badly down hill. A 90 minute wait before notification of voicemails & missed calls? What's up with that? (Jitterbug says it isn't happening) And no one can explain to me why I got switched from the yearly to a monthly plan. They won't even admit it has been switched. But my minutes keep getting deleted after 60 days. They supposed to be good for a year. Nor will they switch me back. I think Verizon has bought Jitterbug but no one is ready to announce that to the world yet. When they do, I'm gone.
By the way - I'm 53 and a systems analyst so it's not like I'm afraid of tech. I have a Blackberry for work. But my motto is Simplify!
BC Reinhard
of TX
@
Sep 28, 2009 14:19:38 PM
CEEL PHONE FOR SENIORS
I AM LOOKING FOR AN EASY TO USE -LARGE NUMBERS, BACK LIT, CELL PHONE FOR MY 93 YEAR FATHER TO USE WHEN HE DRIVES TO THE GROCERY STORE OR TO VISIT RELATIVES IN OUR SMALL TOWN. I CANNOT FIND ONE!!! I AGREE WITH ABOVE COMMENTS. HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO CALL 911,AAA AND ONE RELATIVE!! CAN YOU MAKE ONE QUICKLY PLEASE : )
MARSHA
of WA
@
Sep 22, 2009 15:43:41 PM
How horrible!
I was looking for a cell phone for my 79 year young father. He has a very busy lifstyle. My mother will need to contact him sometimes. All the phones I can find are outrageous!
It is cheaper for ME to get a phone with gobs of minutes for a reasonable price
that does everything. But dad only needs a basic phone with no camera or other bells & whistles. Basic minutes. Horrible. Jitterbug is a joke. It is like if they say its for seniors, on social security or other fixed income, up, up goes the price. My dad is considering a pay as you go. They need to come up with a better plan & phones for those to.
SAR of CA @ Nov 18, 2009 23:20:41 PM
leslie of NC @ Nov 09, 2009 20:23:27 PM
Marty of AZ @ Nov 04, 2009 01:27:48 AM
Ann of WA @ Nov 02, 2009 00:01:22 AM
Kim of WA @ Oct 27, 2009 13:53:14 PM
Sandy Jolley of TX @ Oct 18, 2009 14:01:03 PM
Blania Haney of MI @ Oct 01, 2009 18:23:31 PM
BC Reinhard of TX @ Sep 28, 2009 14:19:38 PM
MARSHA of WA @ Sep 22, 2009 15:43:41 PM
Vicki of IL @ Sep 16, 2009 08:05:54 AM
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