This senior friendly mobile phone roundup comes from our guest author, Ellen Geotz, a writer for AllAssistedLivingHomes.com and GuideToNursingHomes.com. It's quite useful.
Over the last year the number of senior friendly mobile phones on the market has increased, and in the last few months a number of new models have debuted or been announced. While most mobile phones seem to target the younger, tech savvy demographic, there is a small faction of mobile phones that look to have a focus on marketing towards seniors citizens. Some of the mobile phones on the market are even hearing aid compatible, which make it easy for seniors to hear properly, but there is still a chance the senior will have an interference that may cause static buzzing sounds. There are a variety of options when shopping for a senior friendly mobile phone, and each one has a unique set of features that help make it easy to use. Below we have a roundup of some senior friendly mobile phones that have been recently released on the market.
Samsung Jitterbug J - Earlier this year Samsung showed off the Jitterbug J in Red mobile phone at CES 2010, and it was launched to help support the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement. If sales go well for the Jitterbug J in Red, then Samsung will donate up to $500,000 towards the AHA's Go Red For Women movement. There are a variety of features on the Jitterbug J line of mobile phones which make it one of the most senior friendly options on the market. These include Jitterbug's 24-hour LiveNurse service, health and wellness apps, and “Daily Health Tips” application. Additionally it has a large keypad and display, Bluetooth, and no contracts or prepaid hassles. For only $99, the Jitterbug J is a great deal for a senior friendly mobile phone.Amplicom PowerTel M6000 - Released in the U.K., the Amplicom PT M6000 has a large 2 inch color display, large buttons, and a fall sensor that triggers and emergency call. In addition, the mobile phone has amplified volume on the ringer and headset, plus it is fully hearing aid compatible. This senior friendly mobile phone is reasonably priced at £119.00, plus £3.99 for delivery.
Motorola i365 - This mobile phone is larger than most of the options on the market for seniors, as it is designed to be much more durable and rugged. This is not to say you can drop it frequently, but the sturdy design gives the appearance that this phone does not have to be handled in a delicate fashion. The display is a bit smaller than other senior friendly mobile phones, at only 1.62 inches, but the sharp colors help to make everything easy to read. All the buttons on this phone have a rubberized covering, which makes it easier to use, but the button size is not very large. The Motorola i365 is available in most areas in the U.S., and the price is only $99.99 for those who get a new 2 year contract.
Just5 - This mobile phone has a clear mission to be extremely easy to use by offering big buttons with a very nice layout. Additionally the volume is much louder to allow for a better user experience for seniors. In an emergency, seniors can preset up to five phone numbers for critical contacts like 911, family, friends, and doctors. When a senior presses the Just5 emergency SOS button, it sends a text with an urgent message to these five numbers, then it dials them in prioritized order. While some marketers focus on bringing the most high tech mobile phone to consumers, others have a more basic approach, and want to simplify things to differentiate themselves in the market. The Just5 will run $119.99, which is a not too expensive for a sleek and simple senior friendly mobile phone.
Samsung Haven - The senior friendly Haven mobile flip phone from Samsung is aggressively attacking the market, with Verizon Wireless offering it for only $39.99 with a two-year agreement. It has a 2.2-inch display, large adjustable fonts, and good sized buttons to make it easy for seniors to use. Some of the other senior friendly features are medical management tools, dedicated 911 keys, and ICE (In Case of Emergency) buttons.
Clearly, the mobile phone industry is starting to answer the need for senior friendly mobile phones. In a world where people expect quick and easy communication from any location with the push of a button, mobile phones continue to impress and saturate the market. As the generations of mobile phone users start to enter senior living homes, we should expect to see even more advancements in cell phones for the elderly.
About the Guest Author:
Ellen Geotz is a writer for AllAssistedLivingHomes.com and GuideToNursingHomes.com. She grew up on the east coast and spent 10 years working in assisted living homes during her 20's and 30's before taking a break to raise her 3 children. Now that her children are in college, Ellen uses her knowledge of senior care to help her write about all of the latest industry news. Ellen is a fabulous seamstress, and when not writing about the senior care industry, you can find her sewing away on her latest fashion creation.
