The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: ObviouslyNotAGolfer on October 17, 2020, 02:43:16 PM
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I am looking for a big, easy, large-print, no-batteries-needed, corded land-line phone for my elderly parents, who likely will not be living on their own too much longer. They sometimes forget to charge their cellphone, or lose the charger, or forget where the phone is. Also, they cannot seem to figure out voicemail--just talk and text (In their defense, I detest voice mail, right up there with fax!)
They have had a landline for years, but a very crappy old phone that barely works--tried to talk them into canceling, but what the hell, it's only money!!
I am going to get them a landline phone in case of emergency--no cordless handset to lose! nothing complicated! Just a large, easy phone with big push buttons and maybe a few pre-sets. Any suggestions? Where should I buy such an item (online)?
(Maybe the Smithsonian has a few examples hanging round!)
Thanks.
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I would probably just get something like this - 13 bucks in black, 15 in white: https://www.amazon.com/AT-Trimline-Corded-Required-Wall-Mountable/dp/B000050FZP
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This one (https://amzn.to/37h0FHN) is a bit more expensive, but it has really big buttons.
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My grandmother who had macular degeneration used a landline that looked like this: https://www.amazon.com/One-Touch-HePesTer-Protection-Mountable-Emergency/dp/B07V7VJLWX/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2HTSO6FO9B2LR&dchild=1&keywords=low+vision+phone+for+seniors+with+large+digits&qid=1602981601&sprefix=low+vision+phone%2Coffice-products%2C136&sr=8-5
There is a similar one that allows you to use photos for contacts.
It depends on what their medical issues are, but either one seems like they will be more reliable than a cell.
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JUST going through this with my mom. She has a bit of dementia and is forgetting to charge her cell phone. She cannot figure out zoom. We usually just look at her ear when we FaceTime.
Just bought a Viewclix video phone for her (for us). It works on wifi. Just put it in her home yesterday. It's literally made for seniors. even the instructions and setup are made for someone else (you) to be the administrator and to set it up FOR THEM.
The nice thing is that you can set it up so that it only takes one button (any button) to answer a video call and in a few years if needed, you can change that setting so that it answers automatically. We had to jump straight to the answer automatically. I think it's gonna be a winner for us. We already had a nest installed so that we can yell thru the camera to try to remind her to charge the phone, but without the visual feedback, she just was getting more confused by it. Anyway, put it at the table, have dinner together, when there's no call, it shows pictures.
More expensive than a vintage phone, but there is no monthly charge (other than wifi)
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I got my mother this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Serene-Innovations-HD-40P-Definition-Amplified/dp/B001LK0W2O/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Serene+Innovations+HD-40P+High+Definition+Amplified+Photo+Phone&qid=1603987137&sr=8-1
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I got my mother this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Serene-Innovations-HD-40P-Definition-Amplified/dp/B001LK0W2O/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Serene+Innovations+HD-40P+High+Definition+Amplified+Photo+Phone&qid=1603987137&sr=8-1
LOL- the memories! Years ago my mom got something like that for my granddad while he was in a nursing home. Grandma made my mom take her number out of it. We thought she was just a mean old bitch (she was), but now we understand. my mom doesn't remember talking to us 5 minutes ago, so she'll call multiple times to see if we have already spoken. Almost every call now starts with "I see you called". Yep, and we spoke too.
As an update to my viewclix experience: it's good. We have a very limited number of people who can call her. She cannot dial out using it. I basically just use it now when she doesn't charge her iphone or when she doesn't answer. Let's me see in her apartment immediately and hear what's going on. It's giving us great peace of mind so far.