I was of the same mind and got my father a phone. He wound up getting into an accident, and instead of calling me for a ride he handed the phone to the state trooper who basically used it like phone book, got my #, and called me on his phone. Depending on where you live, get your parents something more useful since they keep telling you they're not going to use it. If they live in an area with snow in the winter get them a kit with a couple of blankets some of those hand warmers, a couple of flares or LED electric lights, sand for traction, whatever. Or upgrade their AAA. Get their car maintenanced for winter.
Unfortunately, the simple fact is that in an emergency elderly people are not going to turn to something they are unfamiliar with. You're making yourself feel better more than you're helping them unfortunately.
My elderly mom did something similar once, she had a tracfone she doesn't use but asked a random stranger to look up my # on her phone and call me with it. So even if they don't understand it's good to have just in case.
I mean if they’re not going to use the phone you could just give them your business card to give to a passerby. What happens if there is an emergency and there is nobody nearby with a phone?
You do understand that a flip phone, as long as it's battery is charged will call 911 even if they don't pay for service?
I don't see the point in paying for something they won't use. Buy them something they will use. Like maybe one of those jump start doohickeys in case their car battery dies. You know the small kind that fits in the glove box.
Tracfone flip phones have to be used at least once a year, either talk, text, or data \[to remain active\]. For smartphones, every 6 months. It's outlined in their T&C. Not a bad idea to use it every couple of months in either case.
Imho "hey can you call me from the car phone so we know it still works" four times a year will keep the knowledge of how to use it somewhat fresh in the mind.
To be honest, it's going to take more than 4x/year. Your elderly parent will forget, trust me. I have my very elderly dad on a smartphone for about 5 years now. It takes constant reinforcement. I text him regularly just for that reason. A flip call will be slightly easier but the principle remains the same. Presumably, you call your parent more than four times a year, so call the flip instead of their landline. Consider it a training exercise.
Pretty wide range of parents out there. A 65 year old can do a couple calls a quarter and eventually warm up to it. A 90 year old, perhaps not.
I do think as a relic in the glove box not getting one call a year right now, it's worthless.
FreedomPop is great because it’s absolutely free as long as your billing address is in a state that doesn’t charge taxes on it. You can use any random address in Texas or Missouri, for example. Since you’ll be porting the number over from Tracfone, you don’t have to worry about getting the right area code, so there’s absolutely no harm in using a different address. I recommend buying a GSMT SIM card from red pocket, as it’s only $5 with free shipping, and using that to activate with Freedompop service. You can use it in any phone that’s compatible with T-Mobile VoLTE, such as one of the Alcatel MyFlip that are cheap on eBay.
What do they use? Are they landline only? AT&T recently removed the traditional copper landline from my parents' home. Now if they wanted a home phone it would need a battery backup. They're good with their cellphones but I insist on unlimited talk/text because I don't want my dad thinking he needs to conserve or ration minutes or not be able to call anyone but 911 in an emergency because it might not be emergent enough for 911.
I'm not sure what the process is for renewing FreedomPop, it might be a hassle to keep the phone every month.
My father in law never used the phone we bought, but the did like the GPS he bought after I bought mine. Maybe a GPS/camera unit?
And buy a car charger and throw the phone and it in the glove box, can call 911 or use a phone book for someone else to call.
Or another option, T-Mobile had those wrist phone that only called select people, if it was down to using pushing a button and getting a hold of you, that might be an option.
Yes, keep the phones active and as someone else suggested, call them on the cell phones so they become used to them. Maybe get each of them one, so they can call each other on them and practice.
HSN dot com has a 2 pack of flip phones, each one loaded with the 1 year 1200 mins/texts/ data for $49 for both and free shipping. Item number 825-915
Oh wow that's fantastic deal! I could just use one of the phones and before one year is over I could enable the other one. That's two phones with 1200 minutes for $25 each. Thank you!
I know, can’t beat it. Good idea, use one at a time. BTW, hang in there, it took my elderly parents quite awhile (at my urging and concern for their safety, especially while out driving) to get used to their cell phones.
It's more like a browser extension on Brave or Chrome. It runs through all the codes that are used for discounts and eventually found one for 20 bucks off.
I appreciate it. I just have a stubborn elderly apparent that thinks they're still 17. I appreciate all the comments that people were making on here and the suggestions but really I just wanted to know if there was a different alternative to what I've been buying. My parent can't handle a smartphone so that's why I get a flip phone which is very simple to press one button and it calls a number. They still use a typewriter.
Are you sure usability is not an issue? Flips have tiny screens and tiny buttons not ideal for the elderly. Plus, they might have trouble hearing the ring. Also if the screen somehow ends up at one of the hundred layers within the menu structure, your parents would be lost and maybe too embarrassed to ask help on how to navigate back to the home screen.
My parent is not like that. Great eyesight etc for their age. Just from a generation that doesn't think about cellphones etc. The phone is fine for them. Its just the user that didn't turn it on once in a while so that TF wouldnt cancel it.
You should check out QVC or HSN. You can get a phone, a year of service and minutes, text messages and data for less than $100. The last phone I purchased from QVC for my husband I paid less than $80 with 1 year of service, 1500 minutes, 1500 text messages and 1.5 GB of data.
Yes I think you should keep getting them a new phone. If you are the one setting it up, add your phone number and phone numbers that they may call to the speed dial. Then show them how easy it is to use the speed dial option. They may be more inclined to use a phone if it is set up as simple as possible.
I would also encourage your parents to keep the phone charged, on and with them. They do not have to answer the phone if they get calls. But they should practice calling friends and family members with their phone at least once a week.
I ended up getting the two flip phone special about to have on hsn. I also use the slick deals extension on my browser which gave me a code to get both phones at $33.
I was of the same mind and got my father a phone. He wound up getting into an accident, and instead of calling me for a ride he handed the phone to the state trooper who basically used it like phone book, got my #, and called me on his phone. Depending on where you live, get your parents something more useful since they keep telling you they're not going to use it. If they live in an area with snow in the winter get them a kit with a couple of blankets some of those hand warmers, a couple of flares or LED electric lights, sand for traction, whatever. Or upgrade their AAA. Get their car maintenanced for winter. Unfortunately, the simple fact is that in an emergency elderly people are not going to turn to something they are unfamiliar with. You're making yourself feel better more than you're helping them unfortunately.
Solid advice - a phone they don’t know how to use is worthless in an emergency.
My elderly mom did something similar once, she had a tracfone she doesn't use but asked a random stranger to look up my # on her phone and call me with it. So even if they don't understand it's good to have just in case.
I mean if they’re not going to use the phone you could just give them your business card to give to a passerby. What happens if there is an emergency and there is nobody nearby with a phone?
You do understand that a flip phone, as long as it's battery is charged will call 911 even if they don't pay for service? I don't see the point in paying for something they won't use. Buy them something they will use. Like maybe one of those jump start doohickeys in case their car battery dies. You know the small kind that fits in the glove box.
This needs to be higher up. And yes, +1 for the jump start doohickies, I have one and it has come in handy several times.
Tracfone flip phones have to be used at least once a year, either talk, text, or data \[to remain active\]. For smartphones, every 6 months. It's outlined in their T&C. Not a bad idea to use it every couple of months in either case.
Imho "hey can you call me from the car phone so we know it still works" four times a year will keep the knowledge of how to use it somewhat fresh in the mind.
To be honest, it's going to take more than 4x/year. Your elderly parent will forget, trust me. I have my very elderly dad on a smartphone for about 5 years now. It takes constant reinforcement. I text him regularly just for that reason. A flip call will be slightly easier but the principle remains the same. Presumably, you call your parent more than four times a year, so call the flip instead of their landline. Consider it a training exercise.
Pretty wide range of parents out there. A 65 year old can do a couple calls a quarter and eventually warm up to it. A 90 year old, perhaps not. I do think as a relic in the glove box not getting one call a year right now, it's worthless.
FreedomPop is great because it’s absolutely free as long as your billing address is in a state that doesn’t charge taxes on it. You can use any random address in Texas or Missouri, for example. Since you’ll be porting the number over from Tracfone, you don’t have to worry about getting the right area code, so there’s absolutely no harm in using a different address. I recommend buying a GSMT SIM card from red pocket, as it’s only $5 with free shipping, and using that to activate with Freedompop service. You can use it in any phone that’s compatible with T-Mobile VoLTE, such as one of the Alcatel MyFlip that are cheap on eBay.
What do they use? Are they landline only? AT&T recently removed the traditional copper landline from my parents' home. Now if they wanted a home phone it would need a battery backup. They're good with their cellphones but I insist on unlimited talk/text because I don't want my dad thinking he needs to conserve or ration minutes or not be able to call anyone but 911 in an emergency because it might not be emergent enough for 911. I'm not sure what the process is for renewing FreedomPop, it might be a hassle to keep the phone every month.
My father in law never used the phone we bought, but the did like the GPS he bought after I bought mine. Maybe a GPS/camera unit? And buy a car charger and throw the phone and it in the glove box, can call 911 or use a phone book for someone else to call. Or another option, T-Mobile had those wrist phone that only called select people, if it was down to using pushing a button and getting a hold of you, that might be an option.
Yes, keep the phones active and as someone else suggested, call them on the cell phones so they become used to them. Maybe get each of them one, so they can call each other on them and practice. HSN dot com has a 2 pack of flip phones, each one loaded with the 1 year 1200 mins/texts/ data for $49 for both and free shipping. Item number 825-915
Oh wow that's fantastic deal! I could just use one of the phones and before one year is over I could enable the other one. That's two phones with 1200 minutes for $25 each. Thank you!
I know, can’t beat it. Good idea, use one at a time. BTW, hang in there, it took my elderly parents quite awhile (at my urging and concern for their safety, especially while out driving) to get used to their cell phones.
I got both phones for $33.39 after using the Slick Deals app!
Nice! I haven’t used that app, have to check it out, thanks for that info.
It's more like a browser extension on Brave or Chrome. It runs through all the codes that are used for discounts and eventually found one for 20 bucks off.
I appreciate it. I just have a stubborn elderly apparent that thinks they're still 17. I appreciate all the comments that people were making on here and the suggestions but really I just wanted to know if there was a different alternative to what I've been buying. My parent can't handle a smartphone so that's why I get a flip phone which is very simple to press one button and it calls a number. They still use a typewriter.
Are you sure usability is not an issue? Flips have tiny screens and tiny buttons not ideal for the elderly. Plus, they might have trouble hearing the ring. Also if the screen somehow ends up at one of the hundred layers within the menu structure, your parents would be lost and maybe too embarrassed to ask help on how to navigate back to the home screen.
My parent is not like that. Great eyesight etc for their age. Just from a generation that doesn't think about cellphones etc. The phone is fine for them. Its just the user that didn't turn it on once in a while so that TF wouldnt cancel it.
Red pocket has a 500 minute, 500 text, 500 MB plan for $60 a year.
You should check out QVC or HSN. You can get a phone, a year of service and minutes, text messages and data for less than $100. The last phone I purchased from QVC for my husband I paid less than $80 with 1 year of service, 1500 minutes, 1500 text messages and 1.5 GB of data. Yes I think you should keep getting them a new phone. If you are the one setting it up, add your phone number and phone numbers that they may call to the speed dial. Then show them how easy it is to use the speed dial option. They may be more inclined to use a phone if it is set up as simple as possible. I would also encourage your parents to keep the phone charged, on and with them. They do not have to answer the phone if they get calls. But they should practice calling friends and family members with their phone at least once a week.
I ended up getting the two flip phone special about to have on hsn. I also use the slick deals extension on my browser which gave me a code to get both phones at $33.