What Is Aarp's Low Cost Phone System
Consumer Advocacy
What you lot need to know
Cell Phones for Seniors
- Look for added features such as GPS monitoring and congenital-in emergency buttons
- Many telephone carriers offer discounts for customers ages 55 and older
- Watch out for phone scams that trick elderly people into sending money
- A keen deal of "long-lasting" battery life claims are exaggerated
Our Approach
How we analyzed the best Cell Phones for Seniors
Features
When ranking these phones, nosotros looked at features specific to the needs of seniors such as ease of access, battery life, telephone tracking software, and health monitoring apps among others.
Coverage & Cost
Most senior citizens are either retired or non working total-time. Our team looked for carriers that offering senior discounts or affordable plans with proficient coverage.
Support
Cell phones are necessary, daily use items. Set-up guides, emergency response buttons, and reliable client service were key factors we examined earlier tabulating our rankings.
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Nosotros receive bounty from thesepartners, which impacts the guild they appear on the page. That said, the analyses and opinions on our site are our own and we believe in editorial integrity.
Our Peak Picks: Cell Phones for Seniors Reviews
According to a recent written report, simply 42% of consumers in the U.S. over 65 years of age ain a smartphone. This number drops to 17% when just those over 80 years of historic period are considered. These numbers raise an interesting question: why are older consumers so reluctant to buy smartphones?
To answer this question, we reached out to dozens of anonymous consumers, existence either a senior denizen or someone who purchased a cell phone for an elderly relative, for their experience and input. When asked what their major concerns were when using a cell phone, 76% of our respondents stated: "not understanding how to employ it."
Cell phones for seniors are available in unlike styles: flip phones, smartphones, bar phones, and tablet-phones. The selection for cell phones for seniors is just as varied as regular phones when it comes to features and styles and we looked at all of them for yous to determine which are the all-time in the industry.
Snapfon review
All-time for Vision Impairment
The Snapfon ezTWO3G. Photo credit: Amazon.com
Advertised as "the large button prison cell phone," the Snapfon ezTWO3G has a speaking keypad option where each dialed number is conspicuously announced back to yous. Information technology also has enhanced volume and numbers in 28 point font. For this, many online customer reviews stated that it's helpful for seniors and individuals with dumb vision.
Cost & Plans
The Snapfon ezTWO3G is regularly priced at $39.99 just is priced higher at pop online retailers, including Walmart and Amazon. Carriers of this phone include SnapMobile, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and customers can choose to keep their original phone number.
Snapfon ezTWO3G plans offer both monthly minutes and data options, where 60 minutes costs $9.95/month and 300 minutes costs $xv/calendar month. The plan with the best bang for your cadet nether this provider is the unlimited talk & text option, which costs $30/month. Besides, customers can add together the sosPlus 24/7 Emergency Monitoring Service for an additional $fifteen/month to their plan. This service connects users to a 24/7 response agent who has admission to their medical data and emergency contacts.
Ane Telephone call Abroad
Even without the 24/7 monitoring service programme, users can still take advantage of the SOS emergency push, which is built into the back of the phone. In the case of an emergency, customers tin can press and hold the button which immediately contacts emergency personnel as well every bit family and friends.
Considerations
This phone has very limited functionality, every bit information technology is designed just for phone calls and sending bones messages. Since this phone is an older, original cell phone, users need a USB cable to transfer photos. They cannot receive or share them via text bulletin. Also, weighing 8.6 ounces, which is a trivial over one-half a pound, some consumers may discover the Snap ezTWO3G to exist a bit heavy.
Greatcall Jitterbug Flip review
Best for Simplicity
The Jitterbug Flip. Photograph credit: GreatCall.com
The Jitterbug Flip is the basic, flip phone version of the Jitterbug Smart2. There are no apps, net connectedness, games, or other special features. It's specifically designed to simply make phone calls. The Jitterbug Flip has a large keypad, displays big text, and has a simple navigation menu with "yes" and "no" buttons.
Toll & Plans
Consumers can purchase the Jitterbug Flip from GreatCall, BestBuy, and Amazon for $74.99, equally well as at Walmart for $99. Plans are the same as with the Jitterbug Smart2, where monthly minutes, text, and data are available separately, and the unlimited option offers the best deal of $59.99/month. The same customizable Health & Condom packages are available with this jail cell phone as optional add-ons for a $20 discount on the programme.
Special Perks
Just every bit with the Jitterbug Smart2, this flip phone version has a built-in 5Star urgent response button. The difference from other flip phones, fortunately, is that the Jitterbug Flip can notwithstanding sync with the "GreatCall Link." Generally, these types of apps only role on smartphones, but this is a special perk of existence under GreatCall. As explained earlier, the GreatCall Link app is free for relatives and friends to download and monitor the activity of their loved 1 with the Jitterbug Flip, equally well equally provides access to other emergency alerts.
Considerations
The same rule applies to the Jitterbug Flip equally with the Jitterbug Smart2: information technology can only be activated under GreatCall'southward service. As well, many online reviews of the Jitterbug Flip explained experiencing issues with reception and phone call clarity, where several had stated they've dropped calls regularly with this phone.
Greatcall Jitterbug Smart2 review
Best Smartphone Option
The Jitterbug Smart2. Photograph credit: GreatCall.com
GreatCall's Jitterbug Smart2 features a list-based menu with universal icons for easy navigation equally well as voice typing for text messages. The phone likewise comes with pre-installed apps, including Google Maps and Gmail. The Jitterbug Smart2 is also designed with a front end-facing speakerphone to maximize aural clarity. Like other smartphones, it has a big, v.5-inch touchscreen with both a behind and forepart-facing camera. Information technology also has 2GB of telephone retention, enabling users to download a few more apps if they choose.
Price & Plans
The Jitterbug Smart2 is priced at $149.99 by GreatCall, a senior-focused carrier that runs on the Verizon network, but consumers can find it for less at Walmart, Amazon, and BestBuy. As for purchasing a phone program, the telephone carrier is still GreatCall. This carrier offers no-contract plans and requires customers to activate the service online. Customers can purchase monthly minutes, text, and data separately, only to avoid extra fees, GreatCall offers an unlimited telephone call, text, and information option for $59.99/calendar month.
In addition to the standard plans, GreatCall offers customizable health and safe packages for a $20 disbelieve on their phone plan. Of the three available packages, GreatCall's Preferred Package is $24.99/month, which includes brain games and the 5star urgent response service from the basic programme, admission to 24/7 urgent care—where users can speak to a alive nurse or doctor for assistance and prescriptions—and the GreatCall Link app for caregivers. With the 20% discount, the combo becomes a $64.98/calendar month payment, which is average for most cell phone plans.
Peace of Mind
Through the "GreatCall Link," a free app designed specifically for GreatCall phones, family unit and friends can stay updated on their loved 1's activities. The app alerts the family when the 5Start emergency button has been activated, the telephone has a low battery, and it too monitors the user'due south location.
Considerations
The Jitterbug Smart2 is marketed as having a "long-lasting bombardment." According to the manufacturer's specifications, this phone'southward bombardment is 3000 mAh, which is the average on most smartphones. Customers should besides know that this phone can only be activated through the GreatCall wireless network. They cannot switch information technology to a dissimilar carrier or add it to a pre-existing family program outside of GreatCall.
BLU Joy review
Best for Affordability
The BLU JOY prison cell phone. Photo credit: BluProducts.com
The BLU JOY features a sleek, shiny exterior and leather backside, giving it a more than modern wait. Weighing only 1.12 ounces, it's very lightweight and includes a few entertainment features that aren't normally available in basic cell phones such as born FM radio, MP3 and MP4 players, and a photographic camera that allows recordings of short video clips in add-on to photos. BLU JOY'due south large keypad and easy-to-utilise navigation make information technology platonic for senior citizens. Priced under $thirty, information technology'southward one of the virtually affordable prison cell phones on the market.
Toll & Plans
Consumers can find BLU JOY at Walmart for as low equally $24.99 and at BestBuy for $29.99. Information technology's also available on Amazon, simply the price varies. The cell phone is compatible with 2G carriers, including T-Mobile, Straight Talk, and Simple Mobile. Regarding plans, BLU JOY comes with dual sim cards that enable users to have reward of different vocalism and data plans. This too allows travelers to have both a domestic and international carrier, avoiding roaming charges.
Immediate 911 Admission
BLU JOY is designed with a built-in SOS button that, one time pressed, alerts emergency response, including the police, medical personnel, and firefighters. This eliminates the footstep of calling 911, which tin be beneficial for individuals who suffer from slow or limited manus mobility, such every bit with arthritis.
Considerations
BLU JOY is not compatible with major carriers who offer 3G and upwards like AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. Consumers should too be aware that many carriers are phasing out 2G compatibility, which considerably limits options for BLU Joy users.
Our Research
Farther Insight Into Our Methodology
Like other mobile phones, cell phones for seniors come in many shapes and sizes—information technology all depends on the person's needs. Flip and bar phones are well-nigh ever cheaper and have greater battery capacity, given their relative lack of bombardment-draining features. Smartphones, on the other manus, accept larger screens and offering a number of helpful applications and settings for those who want to do more than just make calls and send texts. We also consider the kind of monitoring a phone offers.
Later on looking at a phone's features, we consider a couple of boosted traits. One of them is cost and coverage. Nosotros kickoff consider whether the cell phone model is unlocked. Unlocked phones offer users a choice of carrier, which enables consumers to shop around for the best plan. However unlocked phones must generally be purchased upfront past the consumer, potentially making the full initial costs higher. We besides look at how many carriers service each cell phone. Once we're washed with service plans, we await at a few more points regarding the cell phone's cost.
Last but non least, nosotros looked at customer back up. Given how much older people depend on their phones, strong client support and a solid consumer rating are highly important. Prison cell phones are everyday items and, in the example of an issue or malfunction, it is essential for companies to exist able to provide answers and alternatives.
The industry for prison cell phones for seniors is varied and flexible. With the correct amount of fourth dimension dedicated to research, and later on thorough and meticulous analysis and comparing, finding the best product for your needs can exist washed. Luckily, we already did that for you.
Features
We started by analyzing the specifications of each cell phone, identifying their pattern, whether traditional or contemporary smartphone, size, and weight. We also looked at extended battery life, which can be a lifesaver for seniors who forget to charge their telephone on the daily. Phones with a longer-lasting battery are safer as the user can call emergency services or a family member in case of an urgent situation. Other helpful features we looked for included leisure activities, such every bit cameras and games, reading assistance, such every bit text size control and voice command capabilities, and those for disabilities, such as hearing aids.
Coverage & Price
Taking into account that some senior citizens only use cell phones for general phone calls, we looked at the types of service plans available for each cell phone, including talk, text, data, bundles, prepaid, and no-contract plans.
Another factor we took into consideration was the carrier service of each cell phone. A telephone that'south compatible with more carriers will offer consumers more service plan options. However, no unlocked telephone works with all carriers, consumers should make sure the phone they are considering will work on their carrier of option. One other affair we consider is whether the cell phone requires a contract or tin function on a prepaid plan.
Since senior citizens are more likely to be retired or living off of partial income, we favored providers that offered discounts and deals for senior customers. We listed a price range for each phone to give consumers an idea of how much they'll spend on their cell telephone of choice. Then, nosotros verified if the cell phone came with any special senior plans, which tend to have a lower toll or discount.
So we verify if the phone comes with whatever special senior plans, which tend to have a lower price or a veteran disbelieve. The age to be eligible for senior benefits and senior plans varies, with 65+ being the virtually common. Lastly, we look for any counterfoil fees that customers may incur if they make up one's mind to opt-out of their phone plan.
Support
Due to age-related health concerns, prophylactic and security are generally a priority for senior citizens. For this reason, we favored jail cell phones that included some form of emergency assistance or monitoring service. Phone tracking helps family members who are afraid their loved 1 might wander into the wrong location and desire to go on track of their location. Finally, health monitoring is a fantastic solution for anyone who wants to monitor their vital signs and other aspects of their body.
Helpful information about Cell Phones for Seniors
Cell phones, specifically smartphones, can be confusing, specially to someone who has never used a telephone for anything other than making a telephone call. A mod smartphone has the ability to predict the weather for the remainder of the week. It can have a driver come and pick you up wherever you are without you lot even having to talk to anyone. It tin can fifty-fifty accept groceries delivered to your home (again, without talking to anyone). Modern smartphones exercise and so much more than what a regular phone or fifty-fifty a cell phone used to do, that they could easily be intimidating for senior citizens if they are non already tech-savvy. This is where cell phones for seniors come in.
Prison cell phones for seniors are mobile phones that have been designed with older consumers in heed. Their displays, the keypad numbers, the on-screen text, and the icons (for apps) are larger than usual, in social club to make the phones easier to use for those who have conditions that impact their vision. Some phones as well include GPS location services and medical monitoring features, as well as an emergency call button, 24/vii access to registered nurses and doctors, check-in calls, and wellness calls.
For consumers looking for something uncomplicated and easy to utilise, we might suggest a flip phone. These phones feature two hinged sections that are flipped open when the telephone is in use. They are practical, small, and oftentimes considered stylish. Flip phones usually accept big, brightly-colored displays, long-lasting batteries, bigger buttons, and a unproblematic menu. Flip phones are probably the best pick for consumers who are not interested in browsing the net or using apps, and mainly need prison cell phones for making calls and texting.
Benefits of Jail cell Phones for Seniors
I Call Away
Nosotros spoke with Ava Griffiths, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist based in Georgia, who said she encourages cell phones for senior citizens, especially those without family assistance, enhanced medical alerts, in-home nursing, or home care service. Griffiths, who offers over-the-phone therapy for individuals with anxiety and low, has provided services to over 200 elderly clients, those in whom, with prison cell phones, could contact her while away from home or on the go.
You're More Social than Yous Remember
Senior citizens that have express mobility or health complications may not be able to get out their homes as often as the average person, limiting their social interactions. While business firm phones enable them to have conversations, they're nonetheless confined at dwelling house and unable to see and engage with others.
Dr. Ariel Cruz, a geriatrician based in Puerto Rico, shared with united states the necessity of maintaining some form of social interaction:
"The homo is social. Nosotros enjoy and need to share with other people. That interaction is very of import so that we don't feel alone, but instead feel important and needed within our families and communities. This helps us to manage stress, which is a factor of corking importance to maintain our health."
Dissimilar business firm phones, jail cell phones enable united states of america to see our family and loved ones through photos and video chats. We can too interact with and learn from other people through social media, text letters, games, and other apps.
If You lot Don't Utilise It, You'll Lose It
Dr. Cruz, who is also an banana professor of the Family Medicine Department at the Universidad Central del Caribe's School of Medicine, says he recommends to every patient his top seven tips for staying good for you. One of them, unsuspectedly, is a daily mental exercise.
"The mind must be stimulated and exercised just as much as muscles. One must acquire new things every 24-hour interval, such as through music, art, and reading. These offer new experiences of learning that stimulate distinct areas of the brain and help maintain our mental agility."
Virtually cell phones today enable us to download games, puzzles, books, and even tune in to Podcasts for daily learning and mental stimulation.
Types of Prison cell Phones
Near cell phones today are hearing help uniform and accept customizable features, such as ringtones options, merely not every blazon fits each customers' needs. Let'south hash out some key features of the three types of prison cell phones to find which type of telephone works best for you.
THE Basic PHONE
Also chosen the "processed bar" phone, this blazon of cell telephone maintains the classic, boxy design in which you can press each keypad button individually. Some also include pre-installed games, such as the popular, classic game Ophidian. This blazon of phone is considerable for customers who only want to brand phone calls and send and receive text letters.
THE FLIP Phone
While still considered a "basic" telephone, the flip phone'south foldable blueprint enables information technology to become more than compact. Flip phones are considerable for consumers looking for a bones phone that is small, lightweight, and designed to naturally protect its screen and keypad.
THE SMARTPHONE
This type of cell telephone tin can be idea of equally a "mini-computer," as it has dozens of computing abilities, including net access, video calls, notation-taking, GPS navigation, and artificial intelligence features. These prison cell phones are built on operating systems, such every bit Android and iOS.
In our interview with David Payette, founder and president of both upphone.com and payetteforward.com, we discussed the human relationship between smartphones and our order, as well as how senior citizens can get better acquainted with them.
Smartphones connect us to the outside earth and each other, Payette explained. Getting a smartphone empowers seniors to have access to the same data that the rest of u.s. have, while too keeping in contact with their families. For grandparents who love to stay in touch with their grandchildren, kids today are much more comfy sending a quick text message.Payette, who was formerly a technician for Apple before starting his own business concern, performed diagnostics and repairs for smartphones. From his observations, older people fear the idea of a smartphone because it sounds complicated, reminding usa that senior citizens grew upwardly in a fourth dimension where computers would easily break.
What to Watch Out For: Cell Telephone for Seniors
Marketing Gimmicks
During our research, we learned almost the power of advertising. While in that location are dozens of jail cell phones marketed towards senior consumers, very few of them are transparent about their features. For example, we came across several cell phones that were advertised for having long-lasting batteries, only to notice after that their batteries have the aforementioned energy capacity of an boilerplate cell phone.
Telephone Scams
We know that scammers will get the extra mile to deceive consumers out of their money. Unfortunately, senior citizens are an easy target. One of the well-nigh notorious frauds towards the elderly is the "grandparent scam," where scammers call and pretend to be the recipient's grandchild in need of money for an emergency.
Some other common cell phone scam that targets older customers is the social security scam, where people have received robocalls stressing their social security number has been stolen. In our video beneath, our team shares what you should know most social security scams and explains how to avoid becoming a victim:
["Social Security Scams Explained" YouTube Video]
Expenses
David Payette and his UpPhone team member, David Lynch, advised that seniors understand their telephone plans, as some companies take reward of elderly customers:
"We would steer seniors away from plans that accept minute restrictions and where they can get unexpected charges. Prepaid plans nowadays are very affordable. AT&T has one that'southward $25/month, and there are others as low equally $ten/month."
FAQs about Cell Phones for Seniors
How sometime practice I take to be to purchase a senior phone?
While you practice not have to be a certain age to have a senior-focused cell phone, certain cell phone plans do accept age requirements for discounts. For example, Sprint'south Unlimited55+ and Verizon's 55+ Plan both offering unlimited data use and discounts on extra lines added on the program. Likewise, some carriers offering discounts for AARP members, in which all people ages l and upwards are eligible for full membership.
Do cell telephone companies offering senior discounts?
Jail cell phones labeled "for seniors" are designed to exist easy-to-employ for anyone with mobility, vision, or cognitive difficulties that make information technology difficult to use a regular cell phone. Because of this, many of these cell phones feature larger buttons, an emergency alarm to quickly phone call medical services, easily-free operation, and simpler controls than an average cell phone.
How are senior cellphones different from regular cellphones?
Cell phones labeled as "senior cell phones" are designed to be easily used by anyone who has trouble using a regular cellphone due to mobility, eyesight, or cognitive difficulties. Because of this, many of these cell phones feature larger buttons, an emergency alert to phone call medical services with one-touch, hands-free functioning, and simpler controls than the regular touchscreen smartphone.
What safe features practice senior cellphones take?
Prison cell phones intended for those aged 65+ usually accept multiple security features, the main one being an emergency or SOS button that the user can press if they need help. These buttons work by connecting the user with emergency services in their area and automatically relaying the user's location to commencement responders. Certain cell phones, similar Jitterbug, go a stride further by providing an Urgent Care feature, which can connect the caller to a 24/seven nurse or doctor who can give advice or even prescribe medications over the phone. There are other security measures available as well such as heart charge per unit and oxygen monitors, and, for those with retentivity impairment or who might be at risk of getting lost, some offer a geo-fencing option, which can alert caretakers if the user leaves a pre-established perimeter.
Practise I accept to exist a certain age to have a senior phone and programme?
While you lot do non have to exist a certain age to have a senior cell telephone, at that place are certain cell phone plans that practice have age requirements. For example, every bit the name implies, Sprint's Unlimited 55+, T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+, or Verizon's 65 Plus Plan, and others have age minimums to employ.
What Is Aarp's Low Cost Phone System,
Source: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/cell-phones-for-seniors
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