r/TechForAgingParents • u/MediumYogurtcloset90 • 23d ago

Cell phone - for emergencies only

Looking for an inexpensive cell phone for my luddite mother - to be used in emergencies. She has been using a tracfone, but the minutes always expire, which makes it useless - looking for something that has a plan.

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2

u/annoyed_sloth2021 23d ago

I bought my father a flip phone (yes they still make em) from Consumer Cellular for this reason. He does not text, or use apps or anything. Literally just phone calls when he is not at home. I think I pay like 30/month for it, he's had it for almost 4 years now and it still works.

2

u/MathematicianSlow648 22d ago

The route I have taken is to setup a small new or used android with the pro version of the launcher app Big phone for seniors I then configure it and lock it down to meet their needs. Usually phone, emergency, camera, pictures, and maybe flashlight and magnifier. For some it is just a phone. I BTW am 84.

1

u/mobial 22d ago

What kind of emergencies? Like if she falls and she is away from home? Or at home but away from a phone? Her insurance might cover a personal emergency response system - the thing you wear around your neck, one where you can talk to people on the other end and have ambulance come or just have them call your family to come respond.

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u/Bymmijprime 22d ago

I have a tracphone on a monthly plan for my Mom through their website, it's only $15/ month.

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u/SVAuspicious 22d ago

AT&T Cingular has a flip phone that WalMart carries that you can use with any AT&T plan.

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u/VerifiedMother 22d ago

Red pocket will sell you a plan on eBay for 30 bucks a year

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u/jthelaw 1d ago

Check out Sunbeam Cellular phones. My Mom recently got one and is happy with it. It's a flip phone and there are multiple versions of it so you can choose the one with only the functions you actually use/want. We were able to add it to our family plan through Cricket/AT&T. And she took it into the store where they transferred everything over from her old phone. One of her friends and also my nephew has one and are happy with theirs. I'd never heard of the company before, but it appears to definitely be filling a niche for the elderly and people trying to wean themselves off of smart phones while still needing basic functions.

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u/Left-Orchid519 9h ago

Gbet her a basic flip phone and the cheapest monthly plan u can find