I was wondering if any of my fellow OzBargainers might have experience/advice regarding the most simple, user-friendly mobile phone currently on the market. It's for my elderly father who's never had much experience with technology and is struggling with the basics like texting and phone settings, as well as finding that his large fingers make things even more frustrating. Thanks in advance.
Seeking Advice Re User-Friendly Mobile Phone for Elderly Father
LuvABargainSYD on 20/06/2019 - 11:16
Last edited 20/06/2019 - 11:24
Last edited 20/06/2019 - 11:24
Comments
Is the 3G network likely to be around for a while? He had to give up his last/favourite mobile phone when 2G ceased!
Rumours that it could be shut off as early as 2020, but no official word from any telcos. I doubt it will be 'around for a while', but also doubt it'd be shutdown next year as they'll need to give more notice for their customers. Might be an OK transitional phone. But as above, going for a 4G for a few extra $ will future proof it (for a few more years!)
See here - March 11, 2019
May as well get an iPhone for him. Everyone can use it, from babies to the elderly. And more importantly everyone can help him use it. iPhone SE is good, or 6S was on sale today on the front page too for a bigger iPhone. No matter how scared of technology your father is, I bet he's at least a little curious about all this "apps" stuff everyone keeps talking about.
Lots of older people have trouble with touch screens, accidentally tapping multiple times instead of once, and unintentionally swiping instead of tapping.
They end up in places they didn't want to be and don't know how to get back from. Trust me, it ends in tears.
Definitely could be a problem as I didn't think to mention it in my initial post but he also has Parkinsons.
When out & about:
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/spacetalk/spacetalk-kids-smartwatc…
Photos & social connectivity - an iPad.
At home:
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/phones/Home-Phones/uniden/uniden-s… along with https://uniden.com.au/product/sse-pendant/I'm watching a friend who is in his early 70s go through something similar. He says that he's never had anything to do with technology and he won't touch the computer at home. He lets his wife do that. She has an iPhone of unknown vintage. He has a very basic flip phone with a small screen but large keys. He won't use her iPhone.
He and I (and a few other blokes) get together each week to have coffee together and have a chat. When I send them all an SMS to remind them of our coffee meet up, he cannot read the whole message. He can't work out how to scroll through the message using the physical arrow buttons. But he proudly tells me every time that he has received my message. If he can't make it for some reason, he never sends me an SMS. I don't think that he knows how. It would be too complicated. But he does ring to tell me that he can't be there. I think that an iPhone would be ideal for him, preferably a Plus model because of the larger screen, but he's scared of the technology - any technology, as he sees it.
If you ask him to do anything practical, he'll leave me and most other blokes I've ever known, for dead. But tech? Forget it. As a result of what I'm seeing, I think that the OP really needs to involve his dad with the decision as much as he possibly can. Otherwise, the phone will get left on the bookcase or wherever and it'll be wasted money and, I suspect, everyone will feel disillusioned, frustrated, or worse.
I haven't given you any recommendations for a phone, but just some observations which, hopefully, are of some use.
Cheers.
Tough question. Part of the problem is that newer messaging apps would actually be very useful for them too. There are simple launchers for android that try to make it easier, I just found this one that seems to be simple, with a remote administration app that you could use to help them out.
I feel like the ideal would be something that lets them easily make calls etc, but also has whatsapp right on the front so they can open it, tap on a name, and send and receive voice messages, and never have to tap out messages again.
Hardware home buttons would be good. But I recently saw someone using a new, cheap samsung (possibly this one and the screen quality was pretty great, looked like one of those dummies with the paper screens. Seemed very comfortable to look at, less harsh than many other options.
New Nokia 3310 for $68?