Cell phones have transformed from a luxury item into a necessity over the past decade or so. Today, they are an integral communication tool that helps us make plans, confirm plans, text and call home. Most importantly, cell phones provide you with the opportunity to contact others in case of an emergency. Yet many seniors categorize cell phones as luxury items, believing they can live without one. This can be a big mistake, however, especially for seniors who live alone or spend a great part of the day by themselves.
Before we list our top six elder-friendly cell phones, we should mention that there is a great phone on the market that is made specifically for seniors. That is, of course, the Jitterbug. With the Jitterbug, simplicity is the name of the game. It has large buttons, bright lights and crisp sound quality. Most of us regard the Jitterbug as THE elder-friendly phone. But for our purposes, we are going to focus on cell phones that aren’t necessarily made with seniors in mind, but are nevertheless senior-friendly. That is not to say that we don’t approve of the Jitterburg (quite the contrary in fact); we just simply want to explore everyday cell phones (smart phones included) to highlight their elder-friendly features.
Jitterbug aside, what exactly should seniors look for when buying a cell phone? Here at Eldergadget, we like our cell phones to have
large keypads and bright displays, a panic button for emergencies and GPS functionality. Furthermore, the easier to use, the better. And even though the evidence isn’t conclusive, there is reason to believe that cell phone radiation could pose a health risk. Better to be safe than sorry, so we also looked for low radiation phones. (You can find the full list of C-NET’s low-radiation phones here.)
Aside from choosing a cell phone with features that are convenient for you, it is also important to choose a personal service plan that works for your lifestyle. Some of the most popular and widely available service providers are Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Know which one works best within your area and begin your phone search within that network. We don’t want you to fall in love with a phone on the Verizon network only to find out that the Verizon service is unreliable within your county.
Samsung Knack Phone, Black (Verizon Wireless)
If simplicity is your main objective, then look into this Samsung model. The phone isn’t going to win any “coolness points,” but for our purposes here it really doesn’t have to. For an entry level model, the call quality is pretty darn impressive. We should also note that the phone comes with voice dialing, so you don’t have to scroll through your address book to make a basic call. At 2.2 inches, the big, clear display on the front side of the flip is a nice touch for those who don’t have grade-A eyesight.
Pantech C520 Breeze Phone, Black (AT&T)
Consider the Pantech Breeze a fancier version of the Jitterbug. A few features, like emergency three-quick call keys, are probably made with senior customers in mind. The text on the display screen is quite bright, bold and large, and unlike the bare-bones Jitterbug, the Pantech Breeze comes with camera, multi-messaging and BlueTooth functionality. The phone also has two interface options: “breEZe” mode, where options are displayed in a simple list, and the icon-based “advanced” mode. Nice touches for anyone who wants to start simple and move their way up to more complicated interfaces.
This Samsung is a low radiation phone. However, unlike most of its low-radiation counterparts – which we found to be quite involved and complicated – the SGH-T229 screams simplicity. The call quality isn’t as crisp as we’d like, but the buttons are on the spacious side. Despite this phone being a flip phone, it doesn’t come off as bulky. It’s a compact phone that easily slips into any pocket.
GoPhone from AT&T Nokia 2610 Silver
Not all seniors desire flip phones. In fact, the flip itself might be inconvenient for those with arthritis because it’s an extra manual step. Enter the flip-less Nokia 2610. This phone’s interface is simple to navigate, especially with raised buttons that help users feel exactly what they are pushing.
Palm Centro Phone, Onyx Black (Sprint)
The Palm Centro proves that just because a phone is a “smart phone” it doesn’t mean it can’t be elder friendly. The phone stands out against its smart phone competitors because of its relatively slim, compact size and its ease of use. It definitely doesn’t take a degree in engineering to enter data and launch this phone’s applications. Ergonomically speaking, the buttons are on the flat side and aren’t as well-defined as we’d like. But the phone’s oval shape helps the grip and, like we said, this is the smartest smart phone for seniors.
Another great smart phone for seniors is the Nokia N82. It’s a little more high-end than the Palm Centro, being that it’s equipped with a reliable GPS system, but the main reason this phone makes our list is its audio feature, which reads text and settings out loud. This came about because the National Federation for the Blind and Kurzweil Technologies teamed up with Nokia to design a phone for those with less than perfect eyesight. While the buttons are a bit small, we hope that the text-to-speech innovations makes up for this shortcoming.
The RC46 clock radio by RCA is the perfect companion in the morning. This alarm clock rates high in all the major categories. Throw in its' affordability, and this is one of the better ones out there.
A simply snazzy alarm clock. The Electric Alarm Clock from Elgin gives you 7 different display colors to choose from.
The iC172 iPod dock alarm clock radio by Emerson features more than an iPod docking station. It features an integrated LCD projector which allows you to project the time in LARGE numerals onto your wall or ceiling. The large projected display is ideal for anyone who has poor vision or a difficult time seeing without the aid of eye glasses.
Wake to your docked iPod, the radio, or--if you must--a classic buzzer alarm. Whichever you choose, a gradual alarm feature gently raises the alarm volume, so it's not too jarring. Great options and features on a great alarm clock.
Newly designed for 2010 with a bigger display and bigger sound, the iP90 represents the latest in iHome's #1 clock radio franchise. Made to charge, play and wake to iPhone/iPod, it has many great features including a remote, AM/FM pre-sets, dual alarm, Time Sync, 7-5-2 alarm settings and more.
With a unique wedge design and silver case with a blue lens cover, the Sharp SPC019F Red LED Alarm Clock with a Wedge Style Case will add a dash of color and flair to your bedside table. A red 0.6-inch LED display ensures that you'll always know exactly what time it is, and an alarm with a snooze feature means that you can catch a few extra winks before starting your day.
