Any recommendations/suggestions about a easy to use cell phone for those with dementia (late mid stage) that can do the following:
- Limit calls to a set number of people, no option to add new numbers
- Block unwanted calls, spammers as part of set up
- Limit calls/texts to certain hours, such as no calls after 10 pm and none before 7 am or something like that
- Limit or block 911 calls (my mom was permanently moved to a nursing home 2.5 years ago, medical care is right there) or maybe reroute 911 calls to the nursing station at her nursing home?
- Has the ability to take and keep pictures (one reason she has a "dumbed down smart phone now")
- Can still get on WiFi (she has a few "games" she tries to play, will watch youtube videos or people send her short funny videos to watch)
- Has large buttons and screen
- Has loud audio (she has lost 75% of hearing in both ears, refuses hearing aids)
- Easy set up and once set up cannot be changed w/o some code only others know (she routinely now puts her phone on airplane mode or takes it off WiFi, or blocks numbers by accident as she just gets lost in her current "dumbed down" smart phone (I removed many apps and hid some things as best I could but she'll just push button after button having no clue what she is doing).
I have found a few land line phones that can some of this noted above, but I have NOT found any mobile phones with these features.
Thanks in Advance.
As one ages, their eyesight becomes not as clear thus cellphone are hard to read even if the font is placed at the highest level. Also, one's hearing is not clear, as you have already noted on your profile, thus a cellphone is terrible to use as the clarity is like talking to someone in a metal trash can. Landlines are so much clearer, especially landline to landline.
Being your Mom is now in a nursing home, the rental of a landline phone would be so much cheaper than the cost of cellphone/service. I noticed you paid for a lot of things for Mom over time, that's a big bite out of your own savings.
i am in my 70's and am computer/internet savy, but I found cellphones [the worst one I had was that made for seniors] not all that user friendly. The KISS acronym does not apply.
Maybe this might work www.agingcare.com/products/big-button-picture-phone-204799.htm
Maybe someone else has posted a workable idea, but what you want mom to do will probably frustrate both of you.
Consider if you should deactivate her SIM card-most cellphones can retain an internet connection to run a browser, and the camera will still work, but the ability to make calls and receive texts will go away-you need to check w/ the phone provider or do a Google deep dive. https://blog.rottenwifi.com/can-you-use-wifi-on-a-deactivated-phone/
A tablet might be a good optionto use for setting up incoming calls, but I think one of the problems you're going to face is that any new device might not be usable since there's no ability to retain new information. People with dementia can use things they've used for a long time because they retain the rote actions to use those things, until they lose that too. I would test the waters with anything new to see if she can even figure out how to use it. Maybe someone has a tablet you can hand her to see if she can navigate it? Keep in mind that most handheld tech devices are very icon heavy-at some point even familiar icons won't make sense, but you'd have more success if it looks familiar to her phone set up.
I had heard the Amazon's echo Show can be set up to take incoming video calls only, not sure if a Kindle Fire can. The Grandpad would be a good option as well, but perhaps pricier.
Definitely see if you can pick up a refurbished version. If she's used to having her phone that might be the thing she looks for and she won't be able to migrate to a tablet.
https://www.alzstore.com/picture-memory-phone-dementia-s/1843.htm
We had to take away my MILs flip phone because she was nuisance calling everyone in her contacts. We recently got her a land phone with picture buttons but she never adapted to it. Just have tempered expectations as you invest in "solutions" that she may soon forget.
I know nothing about it. I never had concerns like this with my Husband
I do know that probably very shortly your mom(?) will probably lose the ability to use the cell phone.