7 things to consider before buying a classic “seniors” phone

1. Read the user reviews for the mobile you intend to buy before making a purchase.

The website Product Review may be helpful in choosing a classic senior’s phone.

A word of warning. User reviews are mixed when it comes to how “fit for the purpose” seniors mobile phones are when your fingers are stiff with arthritis or shaky with tremors, how clear they are if you have a hearing aid, how easy they are to use if your eyes are dim and you can’t see the display screen, or how confusing they are when your memory is bad.

2. Senior’s phones are often bought but not always used.

Seniors phones are often bought as gifts by family and friends. Except the gift doesn’t match the needs of the user, and ends up gathering dust in a drawer. Other times seniors buy a mobile phone Ask yourself, does this seniors mobile phone (which is about the size of two matchboxes) suit my needs? Or do I really want something like a tablet or iPad that makes phone calls?

3. Physical shops only stock a limited range of senior’s phones.

That’s one of the main reasons I started this blog. I wasn’t happy with the choices when it came to the senior’s phones sold in everyday shops. I knew they weren’t suitable for my mum. And Mum couldn’t use them.

4. A number of brands of seniors phones are only available online.

However the elderly tend to shop at physical shops. They prefer to handle and try before they buy. (We’ve applied for funding to set up a display to allow seniors in our local area to do just that. Fingers crossed.)

5. The seniors phones that are available in physical shops are usually in boxes or locked behind glass cabinets.

Seniors prefer displays where an elderly person can try them and trust the opinions of other seniors.

6. Senior’s phones don’t always suit seniors with Alzheimers.

Alzheimer’s dementia makes it difficult for a person to learn anything new or recognize anything modern. Someone with Alzheimer’s can recognize a telephone from the sixties as a telephone. But a shiny black smartphone is not even recognized as a communications device. Even a senior’s dumphone is not recognized as a phone. If you ask them what it is, chances are they’ll say it’s a television remote or a calculator. And they’ll hurl the smartphone when it doesn’t turn on the tele! 400,000 Australians have Alzheimer’s dementia and that figure is expected to double by 2050.

7. Seniors phones suit seniors who need a pocket-sized, portable phone.

However portable doesn't have to be pocket-sized.

Any communications device which uses a sim is portable e.g. a tablet or phablet with 4G & LTE capabilities or an iPad with wifi and cellular capabilities.

Even desktops and docking stations like the Essence, the Zigee and the Uniden are potentially portable.

In conclusion –

· Don’t settle for any technology that’s a mismatch with your needs just because it's marketed as suitable for seniors .

· Don’t settle for a phone that is not “fit for the purpose” just because there are limited choices in the shopping centres.

· Buy something that minimizes the impact of any age-related physical challenges you currently have or anticipate getting.