Phones, apps and other technology products for senior citizens
Old age problems like failing memory, hearing and eyesight hinder the usual pace of life. Read the article to know about some unique phones, apps and other technology products designed especially for senior citizens.
Old age problems like failing memory, hearing and eyesight make it difficult for our elderly to carry their day to day works. Most of the phones in market are meant only for youngsters. They have all flashy designs, small keypads and complex features which senior citizens find difficult to use. Fortunately, some brands have come up with phones and apps which are designed exclusively for elderly. So, now you can be relieved about their safety and comfort while you are away at work. This article tells about some technology products that can monitor health, give constant reminders, adjust size of keyboard screens and alert family members at the time of emergency.iBall Aasaan
This mobile phone has an extra-large keyboard designed especially for elderly. The monochrome LCD and backlight are kept quite bright to add to the visibility. You will notice that even the call volume and ringtones are much louder than in usual phones. If the user is in a trouble and needs help, he can alert the neighbors and family members instantly. Just by pushing the SOS slider of the phone, a loud alarm will ring. Simultaneously, an automatic alert SMS will be sent and call will be made to five numbers set in the speed dial list of phone. This product is available on amazon.
Price- Rs 2,799
Samsung Jitterbug Plus
It is an oval flip phone with a 1-inch external and a 2-inch internal display. The keypad has large buttons and fonts on both the displays. The backlight feature allows the user to read the display even in low light. The interface is much simplified. Two 'yes' and 'no' selection buttons on the keypad take care of almost all functions. The best feature of the phone is GreatCall which gives a personal operator service. Users can call a personal operator and he will add all events and reminders for them. People with hearing impairment can adjust the earpiece volume to high levels. Features like camera, Bluetooth and voice dialing are available on Jitterbug Plus. It has an impressive standby time of 25 days. The Samsung phone is more stylish than most senior citizens' meant phones in market. It is available for sale on eBay and Amazon.
Price- Rs 6,500
SpareOne
This phone has an exceptionally long lasting AA battery. It gives a talk time of ten hours and if you leave it switched off, it will stay charged for upto 15 years. The design is not much impressive but the product scores in comfort. The 0.15 lb phone is waterproof and speaks the numbers pressed on the keyboard. The SOS button can be dialed for emergency numbers. For times of distress, there is a panic siren which buzzes if the volume button is held for ten seconds. The only drawback is that the phone has no display and users can only make calls, not send messages. SpareOne is available on its official website.
Price- Rs 8,800
Med-e-lert Pill Dispenser
This is an automated pill dispenser with 28 compartments. Just store your pills in the compartments and the product will alert you on the time fixed. Till the person removes the pill, a loud buzzer keeps ringing. This is good for those who tend to forget their medication. The dispenser is available at ebay.
Price- Rs 8,500 Doro 618 Phone
Doro 618 with large fonts, big buttons, bright display and security features is designed exclusively for senior citizens. Doro 618 is a flip phone with smooth edges. Seven volume levels are provided for clear sound along with hearing-aid compatibility. Bluetooth service is also provided so that people can talk on phone without using hands. There is an easy to access emergency button which makes automatic calls to the contacts in speed dial list and rings alarm. The battery life, however, is small with only 4 hours of talk time. Doro is a U.S. based brand that makes low price phones with simple features. It gives one year 100% risk free guarantee. Doro 618 is available at Sears online store. It is a GSM phone that is shipped world-wide.
Price- Rs 4,998.44
Timex Health Touch Plus watch
This watch, when worn on wrist, monitors heart rate without requiring extra sensors. This is very useful for people suffering from blood pressure problems. The easy to read large text on display shows all health related updates like calories burnt and distance travelled. The watch is available on all Timex showrooms.
Price- Rs 4,995Memo Caregiver app
Memo Caregiver app allows caregivers or family members to send reminders/memos related to medicine, weather & other issues to the elderly. To use this app, go to the official website of Memotouch and subscribe for caregiver service. The app can be downloaded on any Android tablet or iPad.
Price- FreeSimple Phone Seniors app
This app replaces the default user interface of an Android phone with large fonts and tiles, making it ideal for people having weak eyesight. The whole menu including the SMS inbox, call log and address book are displayed in a clear, large font over white background. To download the app on your Android, visit the official website of Simple Phone Seniors.
Price- FreeBig Buttons Keyboard app
The free version of this app has all the features of Simple Phone Seniors app but if you are looking for advanced features like word prediction, spelling correction, adjustable screen height and all errors correction, opt for the premium version of Big Buttons Keyboard. To download this app, visit the official website of Big Buttons Keyboard. Note that all android keyboard apps, during installation, display a warning that the app collects personal data but Big Buttons Keyboard does not use internet and all your passwords remain safe. You will find the same thing if you read their privacy policy.
Price- Free; Rs 182 for Premium version
Read The best Android Apps for personal accounting and finance management
Is there any facility where we can remove sos facility from I-phone senior citizen. Please help because by mistake it rings automatically and cannot disconnect.