Easy To Use Mobile Phone For Elderly
Outi Foote
In this blog post, RAZ Mobility identifies and reviews some of the best cell phones for seniors. We examine the phones based on three criteria: (1) ease of use, (2) loudness of the audio, and (3) clarity and contrast of the text for individuals with vision loss. All three of these characteristics are important for seniors.
The four cell phones reviewed in this article are the RAZ Memory Cell Phone, the Jitterbug Smart4, the Jitterbug Flip2, and the Consumer Cellular Link II. The Jitterbug Smart4 is intended to be an easy-to-use smartphone, and the Jitterbug Flip2 and Consumer Cellular Link II are traditional basic cell phones: they have large buttons and easy-to-use menu systems. The RAZ Memory Cell Phone, on the other hand, is unique in that it is designed primarily for seniors with cognitive decline.
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone is sold by RAZ Mobility. RAZ Mobility specializes in mobile devices, including cell phones and applications for people with disabilities. The company sells to government agencies across the country, as well as directly to consumers.
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone is unique. Unlike the other cell phones on this list, it is designed specifically for seniors with cognitive decline. No cell phone is easier to use. The phone only supports voice and video calls. Text messaging, email, web browsing, and other capabilities are unavailable. Also, unlike the other phones, the RAZ Memory Cell Phone can be controlled remotely by family caregivers. This is particularly useful if the senior lives in a different city than a son or daughter who wants their parent to have a cell phone.
The top edge of the phone includes a 3.5mm headphone jack. The power button and volume rocker are on the right edge of the phone. On the left edge is the SIM card slot. There is a USB type-C port to charge the phone on the bottom edge of the device.
The display is bright and easy to see. To save battery power the phone dims slightly when it has not been used for 2 minutes. However, even when dimmed the screen contents are clearly visible. The screen brightens as soon as the user touches the dimmed display.
Accessories that can be purchased separately include a protective case, a 6-ft coiled charger cable, a pouch with a belt clip, and an emergency contact information tag that attaches to the phone and includes basic information, such as name, an emergency contact number, and medical conditions. Importantly, also available are two options for wireless charging sets which are very helpful to seniors who have difficulty charging their cell phone with a cable.
By default, the screen accommodates up to six contacts (all six contacts appear on the same screen; no scrolling is required to reach a contact). But the number of contacts can be expanded to up to fifty. If this option is selected, the senior will need to scroll through the contacts until they see the picture of the person they wish to call.
The single screen also has a button to call 911, or the RAZ Emergency Service (the Emergency Service is described below). The senior does not have to dial the digits 9-1-1. They simply touch and hold the button. If activated, a pop-up appears that asks the senior if they wish to contact emergency services. If they tap yes, the emergency call is initiated. If they press no, the emergency call is canceled.
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone includes video calling. Contacts can video call the senior through the RAZ Care app. And video calls and voice calls are answered in the same way, making it especially easy for seniors to participate in video calls.
The caregiver uses the app to add and edit contacts, including uploading pictures. The caregiver can also manage many unique settings designed specifically for seniors, including but not limited to the following:
In short, the app and portal provide the caregiver with complete control over the RAZ Memory Cell Phone from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. The senior, on the other hand, does not have any control or access to settings. This is done so that the complexity is assumed by the caregiver, while the senior experiences maximum simplicity.
RAZ Mobility offers an optional emergency service. The service is designed for cases where users imagine emergencies and frequently call 911, needlessly tying up emergency resources. With the service, emergency calls are directed to a private emergency dispatch agent rather than 911. The agent knows that the caller has memory loss, or other medical conditions, and will determine whether to contact 911 guided by this knowledge. Also, when a senior calls the Emergency service, up to three caregivers will receive text messages, providing them with the opportunity to cancel the emergency alert, preventing unnecessary calls to 911. The service costs $99.99 annually. In the alternative, it costs $9.99 monthly with a one-time activation fee of $19.99.
By default, the background of the RAZ Memory Cell Phone is black. Each picture is presented as a circle approximately 1 inch in diameter. So, the pictures are quite large for individuals with low vision. The names underneath the pictures are white, providing good contrast with the black background.
In addition, there is a special low-vision mode. With this mode activated, instead of six (6) contacts per page, there are only two, and the contacts will be much larger, making them significantly easier for the senior to see. The caregiver can also customize the contact icons by selecting the color schemes. For example, the names of the contacts can be in yellow, and the background in black.
The phone costs $349.00 and works with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. In other words, the phone can be used with just about any wireless provider, including wireless resellers such as MINT Mobile, Ultra Mobile, Straight Talk, Net10, Cricket Wireless, Consumer Cellular, and Metro by T-Mobile. This phone also comes with a free SIM card and three (3) free months of service from Affinity Cellular, which operates on the Verizon network. After the free service, the cost is $25 per month. For more information click here or call 1-800-729-0083.
The only apps designed by Lively are the Phone, Text Messaging, Contacts, and Settings apps; the keyboard used in the text messaging and contacts apps is the standard Google-designed keyboard with its many options. The keyboard is not simplified for seniors. The bottom line is that if you are hoping for a smartphone that helps seniors use standard apps, the Jitterbug Smart4 is not the solution.
These services are priced between $20.00 and $30.00 each month. Accordingly, the Jitterbug Smart4 may be a good option if the senior wants quick access to lively health and safety services (the phone includes an easy-to-find button for accessing the services). Otherwise, the cell phone does not offer the senior much advantage over a standard smartphone.
The battery of the Jitterbug Smart4 is 5,000 mAh, which is a good battery. Unlike the RAZ Memory Cell Phone, the Jitterbug Smart4 does not offer a wireless charging option. This may be relevant if the senior has difficulty charging their cell phone with a cable. The cell phone has 32GB of memory, which is not very much these days, although it may be enough for some seniors.
In the menu system, the text size and contrast are very good. The characters are bolded and large, and the color contrast is black on white. In the standard applications (e.g., Google Maps), however, the text size and contrast are the same as on any smartphone.
The cell phone is not unlocked. It must be used with the Lively wireless service. Fortunately, Lively offers reasonably priced wireless service. It costs $24.99/month for unlimited talk and text and 1 GB of data. This price includes access to a Lively agent who can look up a number for the senior or provide the senior with directions. The Lively agent can also schedule a ride through Lyft. It costs $29.99 for unlimited talk and text and 5GB of data. This is enough data for most seniors. Unlimited talk and text plus unlimited data is priced at $49.99/month. Lively charges an activation fee of $35.00.
Like the Jitterbug Smart4, the Jitterbug Flip2 is manufactured and sold by a wireless provider called lively. Lively specializes in serving seniors and offers a number of solutions, including cell phones, aimed at this demographic.
The Jitterbug Flip2 is a nice-looking flip phone that fits well in the hand. It has a plastic exterior and a red-metallic color. It is 4.3 inches high, 2.19 inches wide, and 0.75 inches thick. It feels solid and generates a nice-sounding thud when closed.
On the front panel of the exterior of the phone are a camera, an LED flash, and a notification LED that flashes to notify seniors of a voicemail or emergency alert. There is also an outside screen that displays the time, day, date, and some status information, such as the battery and signal strength.
The volume rocker is on the right edge. On the left edge is a 3.5 mm jack for headphones and the charging port. On the bottom edge are the microphone and the charging dock connectors. The speaker is on the back of the phone.
If you flip open the phone, the top half includes a 3.2-inch display and the earpiece speaker. The bottom half includes the keypad and urgent response button. Unfortunately, the keypad is not tactile, making it challenging for seniors with vision loss, who rely to some degree on feel.
The Jitterbug Flip2 includes a convenient charging station, which makes it especially easy for seniors to charge their cell phone. The charging station has a nice sturdy feel to it and the rubber on the bottom grips surfaces nicely.
The battery of the Jitterbug Flip2 is 1780 mAh and advertises up to 12 hours of talk time. On the other hand, the RAZ Memory Cell Phone has a battery with 4000 mAh and advertises up to 46 hours of talk time.
The menu system consists of vertical lists, which are easy to navigate and well organized. The cell phone does not have many features, which makes it easy to use. However, the menu system does go three levels deep in places, which likely makes it too difficult for many seniors with dementia and other cognitive challenges. Moreover, the contacts do not include pictures, again making it challenging for seniors with dementia.
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