Visually-impaired phone equipment

[JHZR2]

I just lost my grandfather

and my grandmother is visually impaired. She can dial a phone, but for any time on her own, I think a cellphone may be smart. My thought is perhaps porting her home phone to a cell, then setting it up with Bluetooth and a large push button standard phone through a cell to handset box.

This way she could have something like an old iphone, use voice dialing, always have it with her, and be able to use a handset at her chair.

Any suggestions? I may be off here.

If I port their phone to my account, can I use an iphone just for cell service?

Interest is ease of use, voice commands, always with her, etc.

Thanks!

 

[Barkleymut]

Sorry about your grandpa

. My wifes grandma is still around at 94. She has a basic flip phone and still has trouble using it. It is not the visual part, it is that she used an old school basic corded phone most of her life. She answers by flipping it open, but never hits the button to answer. When she calls she just sits there and waits for it to start rining, it never does because she forgets to hit send. She eventually figures out what she did wrong, but it is VERY frustrating for her. I would suggest you take grandma to the store to see if she even can use a phone. I like the idea of an iPhone because they are easy to use....but the first time she accidentally hits the settings or opens some app she may get really frustrated.

 

[rjundi]

Sorry about your loss.

Personally I would leave her home phone device alone for now. She has to transition enough in life with a major loss why learn something new all of the sudden. Even if you pay more for a bit.

There may be a way of having the existing line work on same service as a cell phone and make it appear no different.

 

[BobsArmory]

My father is in the same boat. He went with a Doro PhoneEasy 618 from Consumer Cellular. Larger buttons and very simple.

They also have a wireless phone home base so that you can use your home phone on your cell plan.

I think my Dad pays $30 per month for 1,000 minutes.

BTW, they use AT&T cell towers so they will have similar coverage.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Sorry about your loss.

Personally I would leave her home phone device alone for now. She has to transition enough in life with a major loss why learn something new all of the sudden. Even if you pay more for a bit.

There may be a way of having the existing line work on same service as a cell phone and make it appear no different.


This is a good point. It's why the Bluetooth hubs are nice, use old POTS phones with a dial tone, yet can have the cell along too.

The big button phones aren't an issue. It's the element of voice recognition that I'd like to get working for her. My grandfather was her eyes for a great amount.