Simply put — Yes.
Smartphones may come in handy for seniors for a lot of reasons. It makes it easier for them to communicate with friends and family; they can easily summon emergency help through calls or make use of GPS to help them navigate when going somewhere, and they may even reduce how often they need to visit the doctor or take unnecessary trips to the shops with apps to monitor their health and to have groceries delivered and other necessities delivered.
But what smartphones do seniors need? As a person gets older, some senses decline, such as sight, hearing and even the use of their fingers and hands may worsen over time. So, to make it easier for them, seniors need smartphones specifically designed for them.
The spread of the use of smartphones for adults above 65 has increased drastically from 18% in 2013, to 42% today. The use and adoption of the internet by seniors has also increased from 12% two decades ago, to 67% today.
The elderly know all about the convenience of the internet and smartphones, and they want to be a part of it. Some of the leading smartphone brands have listened to this and developed smartphone features that are senior friendly.
If you want to learn about some of the senior-friendly smartphones you or your grandma can get their hands on, keep reading.
Senior-friendly smartphone features
Simple menus.
Elderly people may not have as much dexterity with using technology compared to younger generations. So to combat this, some brands have created smartphones with menus that are streamlined and straightforward.
Higher volume options, and larger buttons and fonts.
As we mentioned earlier, our eyesight and hearing abilities does tend to reduce as we get older. To combat this, smartphones have been developed to allow for larger font options, larger screens and louder volume options, Meaning they may be able to see their screens better and hear phone calls or listen to music from their smartphone easier.
Alerts, alarms, and timers.
A lot of us use our smartphones as an alarm clock each morning – but they are also handy for setting alarms and reminders to remember to take medications and go to appointments. The ability to set multiple alarms can make it a lot easier for people to stay on top of their reminders.
Emergency buttons.
Some senior friendly smartphones have emergency buttons and apps that make it even easier to get in touch with the emergency services that dialing 000.
Benefits of seniors owning smartphones
Technology certainly shouldn’t be discriminatory, senior citizens can certainly benefit from the advancement of technology just as much as any young person.
Some of the ways seniors benefit from owning a smartphone includes:
It may help them control other smart devices. Seniors living alone would mean they would have to need to go around the house to control the lights, thermostat, and more. But smartphones now have specialized apps that seniors can use to access smart devices in their homes.
They may use it for entertainment. Seniors have long battled against boredom and are looking for ways to entertain themselves, just like the rest of us. Through smartphones, they now have apps to fight against boredom, because they can now access social media, games, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Smartphones may be used for greater sharing capacity. Seniors tend to capture so many pictures and videos, so they need a device with a great sharing capacity. With smartphones, they can easily share pictures and videos with loved ones, and connect with them through video chatting as well.
Smartphones have a lot of practical apps available. Some applications exist to make their lives easier, and could help them live independently. These applications remind seniors whenever it is time for medication, or alerts them of the weather, or any current events that may mean it is not safe for them to go out.
For brain simulation. Applications to help improve memory and logical thinking exist, and seniors are one of the top people who can benefit from these braintraining apps. As people age, brain function can become fragile and reduce over time – memory decline can also happen. So, apps for brain simulation would be of great use for them.
Virtual assistants. They eliminate some tasks that elderly people need to do, such as typing in full sentences, or opening applications that may be difficult to find. These assistants may be generated through voice recognition, so they respond through voice commands.
The downside
Just like pretty much anything, there is a drawback to seniors owning a smartphone.
Seniors may have a hard time learning how to use it. Seniors may struggle to operate them as some do not have the technical skills for it. Some are used to basic phones which only had limited features, whereas smartphones nowadays may be too complicated for them. Some are unwilling to invest time to learn this new device.
Smartphones are expensive. Basic mobile phones are quite cheap in comparison to smart phones – though there are affordable smartphones for seniors out there, often they can be quite pricey.
Their smartphones may be stolen. Seniors with smartphones are susceptible to theft, especially since smartphones are high in demand nowadays.
Accidental spendings. Seniors may end up spending online once they learn to. And since they are not as techie as youngsters are, sneaky in-app purchases may bait them into purchasing something they are not even aware of.
Hard to set up. Seniors may face difficulty in setting up their new phone, as it is much more complicated than basic phones that they are used to.
Smartphones available for seniors on the market
While there are some downsides to seniors owning smartphones, the positives certainly outweigh the negatives. So, we’ve put together some information about some of the smartphones out there that have friendly price points and unique features that specifically cater for the needs of the elderly.
Telstra Lite 2 Z2315
A phone that’s sure to fit your budget, the Telstra Lite 2 not only has access to Wifi and mobile data, but also has other features such as an FM radio, camera, music player, and calculator. It may even double as a flashlight when the need arises!
Other features:
- Blue Tick for better coverage in Telstra networks
- Telstra 4GX VoLTE phone with mobile Wi-Fi hotspot function
- 2.8 inch big display
- Clear 2MP main camera with flash
- Front Camera for selfie
- 1800mAh big battery
- FM Radio, Music Player, Contacts, Torch, Calculator
Telstra ZTE Essential Smart 2.1
Do you want your grandparents to have the full smartphone experience? Opt to get a Telstra ZTE Essential Smart 2.1 for them!
Because it’s locked to Telstra, Australia’s leading networks, coverage even in rural areas won’t be a problem! This makes communication with your grandpa or grandma easy and hassle-free, both on your end and theirs!
Its 5 inch screen is also large enough to display videos and apps and its size is large enough to fit into their pocket but small enough to bring around conveniently.
Other features:
- Telstra Blue Tick certified phones offer better coverage in rural and regional areas
- Compact handset with 5.0" capacitive touch display
- Quad core 1.4GHz CPU, 32GB internal storage
- 5MP Main Camera with Flash + 2MP Front Camera
- 2000mAh Battery
- FM Radio
- Android 9 P GO Edition
If you’re looking for a smartphone or a mobile phone for an older person, why not check out our range of senior-friendly phones. At Auditech, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the convenience of technology, including the older folks. Shop with us for great prices, fast dispatch and a huge range of tech gear.