Expert: DebiN - 2/22/2011

Question
Hi DebiN. I'm determined to get my 80-year-old Dad a cell phone, but he's resisting. He thinks he won't be able to figure it out! I want him to be able to keep it on him at all times so he can call me if there's an urgent matter, but he's resisting, as I wrote. What is the easiest to use, most basic cell phone out there? That's the one for him. A cell phone that's like a land line phone.

Answer
These days, there really isn't a "basic" cell phone anymore. I would recommend just getting him a low cost prepaid phone or if you are adding to your account, just the lowest cost flip phone. Low cost and basic usually go together. There's no cell phone that's like a landline phone. Unfortunately, no way around that one. I would recommend getting him one with the largest screen display possible and/or where you can adjust the display so that he can see the screen. Most of the displays are designed for young eyes, I'm afraid. Tell him that you will program the numbers he calls most often so that all he has to do is to press and hold a number on the keypad and it will dial those numbers for him. And let him know that he really just needs to answer when you call. He doesn't have to use it for anything but dialing the phone so it's not going to be difficult. Just get him a phone from your carrier and ask the store which phone is best for older folks. You won't have many choices and you should only be getting him a phone direclty from a carrier to avoid any potential issues and so that he has a carrier to call in case of problems with the phone. Good luck to you and your dad!