When your elderly parents are at home and you are at your workplace, the thought that’ll keep bugging you at the back of your mind is their safety. How will you know they’ll be fine, once you walk out of the door every morning?

This is a tough situation faced by many working people in today’s fast paced life. Even if they are connected to their elderly parents through the telephone, they remain worried about them. Will his/ her mum or dad be able to make that one important call on time in case of an emergency?

Well, many companies are now offering specially designed phones for the elderly that are easy to install and use. Even if your parents are living independently, help can arrive just at the pressing of a button. Take the Yale Distress Alarm for instance. It is a panic alarm system with loads of features that are helpful for providing emergency care to elderly people.

The alarm system offered by Yale doesn’t ask for additional monitoring charges or expensive contracts, thus, making it within budget for all elderly people or their working children. The remote push button available with this panic alarm system makes it easier for elderly persons and invalids to let others know that they are in need of help. So, with the help of such a system you can concentrate fully on your work, knowing well that your mother or father will be able to contact you easily in case of an emergency.

With more and more elderly people living alone or independently away from their children, the concern for their safety and health has become a major issue. Even after installing the most secure precautionary devices, the concern for their safety in case of an accident at home or a medical emergency is still not efficiently taken care of.

However, the Tunstall Emergency Response Service changes all that. Even though often mistaken for being just another phone for the elderly or for over-60s couples who live alone, the Tunstall Emergency Response Service entails much more!

It has a stationary unit with a red, illuminated alarm button, which can be pressed in case of an emergency. The resulting action is pretty reassuring to say the least. The operator responds to the emergency call and tries to establish contact with the one soliciting help through a powerful loudspeaker on the unit. Even if one does not respond, emergency help and notification of the incident is sent to two key-holders – family, colleagues or friends – as mentioned in the personal information dossier you have submitted to the service provider.

The unit may also respond automatically to other emergency situations such as a fire (as smoke detectors are installed within the unit). The mobile alarm button allows soliciting help even if you are in the garden or porch, within 50 meters of the unit, and cannot go back into the house.

The Tunstall Emergency Response Service is especially beneficial for over-60s age group, seniors and elderly people, for some of whom, dialing a number on the conventional phone during an emergency may seem a herculean task. And being priced at just 55p per day, it is surprisingly affordable to have this automated security system installed in your home!

Mobile phones can be really complicated to use these days, especially, with the advent of nano-technology and state-of-the-art devices! As a result of this, elderly people are unable to or severely restricted in using the potential of their mobile phones to the fullest.

However, the problem of inaccessible technology and communication barriers are easy to break with the help of simple mobile phones such as the Nokia 1112. Large keypad tabs and a simple monochrome display with a white back-light makes the phone a real boon for elderly people with disabilities or dysfunctional eyesight and hearing.

Moreover, the Nokia 1112 mobile phone provides a comprehensive user-guide demonstration that will help elderly users to handle and manage the technical elements of the phone in a better way. This model of Nokia phone is not only user-friendly but also an exemplary phone as far as simplicity is concerned!

Apart from the regular features, the phone also comes with an allied headset and speaking clock. Both are handy for elderly users as they can plug it to the headphone and keep talking while continuing walking with the help of a stick or while doing similar exercises that require the assistance of both hands.

The phone promises about 5 hours of talk-time and about 380 hours of battery standby. All in all, this feature-rich phone might not look like its state-of-the-art counterparts, but it is surely what elderly people would find very useful.

The last and the most important aspect of this mobile phone is its price, which is cheaper than almost all other Nokia phones. This is definitely a gem of a possession for retired people or pensioners!

Purchase Now – through Amazon UK – Nokia 1112 – Simple Phone

Age tends to soften us up – not only emotionally but physically as well. Most of the people over 65 years of age tend to start noticing a loss of their senses. It is not only hard for them to deal with this but is also difficult for their friends, family and acquaintances!

The loss of hearing or a considerably weak eardrum can pose a lot more problems than expected. For instance, about 18% of people in the USA haven’t been able to access medical assistance in emergency situations due to their inability to comprehend or conduct calls for assistance on phones. The conventional phones or mobiles have a subtle ringtones and voice loudness – making it very difficult for elderly people to communicate.

The Geemarc Amplipower 50 provides a tailor-made solution to this problem with their corded phones having powerful sound quality. As many elderly people use hearing aids, a hearing aid compatible phone is definitely a much needed product from the manufacturers of telephone handsets.

The Geemarc Amplipower 50 has forged a new direction by taking a progressive step in the quality of amplified telephones. It has a volume limit of 60dB, which is pretty high compared to industry standards. The Geemarc Amplipower 50 is also a hearing aid compatible phone with not only a variety of features but also good looks.

Advantages like toned up outgoing voice and sound quality, hands-free speaker-phone facility and a Direct Vibe option that helps sounds to be converted into vibrations and sent through the bones above the ear, allowing a much better and comprehensible conversation. It has great optical features too with the brightness of the lights turned up a notch to let elderly people locate or identify a ringing phone easily.

Purchase Now – through Amazon UK – Geemarc Amplipower 50

So, are you wondering how your not-so-tech-savvy grandpa might fare while you are on vacation this month? Well, the solution probably can never be more endearing than the Amplicom PowerTel M5000 mobile phone, which has been almost tailor-made to suit the elderly people.

The mobile phone has been acclaimed by critics worldwide for being HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible) – a great success for being an ideal telecommunication device for the elderly. Amplicom PowerTel M5000 also features a large range of characteristics that aim towards helping the aged consumers handle the phone better – especially, in emergencies.

• Large buttons for impaired eyesight
• Over-audible ringtones and sound (up to 100dB)
• Emergency button that can dial up to 5 emergency numbers in a sequence.
• Automatic keypad locking system
• Letters and fonts in larger size to allow easy reading of text and other matter on the display screen
• Other normal features such as red LED lights to showcase malfunctioning, hands-free, etc. are all available for the specified Amplicom mobile phone.

The phonebook and SMS memory is also considerably large in the PowerTel M5000 and can easily become a pet of the elderly person it is gifted to.

With easy to use features, you can relax while on the go, as the aged guys in the house won’t take long to familiarize themselves with the phone. Also, with the extra features incorporated into the Amplicom PowerTel M5000 phone, you don’t have to spend hours teaching your parents how to use it.

The facility to dial up to 5 emergency numbers in a sequence is also a great feature. By pressing a single button 5 pre-determined emergency numbers can be called up from the phone. Thus, even if the owner of the phone is not in a state to call, you will still be notified about any emergency or danger.

Overall, a great phone to ensure the safety of your near and dear ones when you are not with them!

Purchase Now – through Amazon UK – Amplicom PowerTel M5000 mobile phone

This week we have discovered some very interesting posts from across the globe. Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea and read the posts below:

EldercareABC has some very useful Surgery and recovery tips.  The post outlines the challenges faced by Mary, an elderly lady who is recovering from open heart surgery.

Over at SandwichINK, a blog dedicated to the Sandwich Generation, you will find an interesting post for any of you who have an iPhone. Kaye provides an in depth review of this useful iPhone App For the Sandwich Generation.

Seniors Discounts highlights the dangers over 70s face when getting behind the wheel of a car. According to a recent poll 34% of Over 50s Say ‘Yes’ to Driving Tests from Age 70.

If you thought your boots were made for walking head straight over to eldergadget.com. Let them give your the run down on Great Shoes with Elder Friendly Features to Boot.

With the Swine Flu pandemic spreading across the world like wildfire, elderly people are facing a life threatening disease. Swine flu, unlike common influenza, is deadly and has already claimed over 3000 lives, most of whom are children or the elderly.

This calls for preventive measures that not only include wearing surgical masks and washing hands regularly (the clinical aspect) but also to help elderly persons by enabling them to solicit emergency help in dire situations. This is where phones for the elderly come into the picture.

Many think that phones for the elderly are unnecessary this late in life. Furthermore, children tend to avoid buying their parents or grandparents a phone due to the assumption they will not be able to work such a device. However, the importance of a phone in an elderly person’s life cannot be overlooked due to safety reasons.

Phones for the elderly are not only an assurance for them that they can get help easily during an emergency situation, but also continuously improve the independent living style of such elderly people. For those who have elderly parents, phones for the elderly are a very good option to stay out of serious trouble.

There have been several instances where elderly persons, having contacted the concerned relatives, friends or emergency paramedical personnel in time, have lived to see happy and healthy days in their life. So, if you have been contemplating getting a phone exclusively for a parent or grandparent, do it now. It may pay off rich dividends than you can ever imagine!

Home Phones and Big Button Phones for the Elderly

There is a large selction of big button phones suitable for people who can’t see as well as they used to or have impaired vision from ailments such as cataracts and macular degeneration:

Big Button phones in the United States
Big button phones in the United Kingdom

Simple Cell Phones and Mobiles for the Elderly

Simple Cell Phones – United States
Simple Mobile Phones – United Kingdom

Upgrade to the Amplicom PowerTel 50 Alarm Plus for reassurance in the case of an emergency involving yourself, parent or grandparent.

Emergency Call Pendant

In the event of an accident or fall the emergency pendant, which can be attached to the wrist or around the neck, can be pressed. A wireless signal is sent back to the handset activating the telephone to automatically call 3 phone numbers programmed in to the Amplicom PowerTel 50. Landlines, mobile phone numbers and emergency services can be added as contacts. The emergency pendant is also water resistant for added protection.

For the hard of hearing the call volume can be increased up to +40db and the built in induction loop makes the phone fully hearing aid compatible. If you have difficulty hearing your current phone changing to the PowerTel 50 should fix that problem. The ringing volume can be increased to 90dB, which is the equivalent of a heavy truck passing or the noise of city traffic – so you will never miss a call!

The phone has big back lit buttons for easy dialling and a large simple to read caller display. Up to 30 numbers can be programmed in to the phone and there is also a hands free speaker phone option.

Features at a glance:

• Amplified Telephone with Emergency Pendant
• Call Volume up to 40dB
• Ringer Volume up to 90dB
• Hearing aid compatible – Built in Inductive Loop
• Backlit Large Button keypad
• Name and Number Directory x 30
• Caller Display
• Handsfree Speaker phone
• Speed Dial Buttons x 2
• Wall Mountable

Purchase Now – through Amazon UK – Amplicom PowerTel 50 Alarm Plus

The mobile phone market in the UK is one of the most vibrant and widely adopted in the world. With over 70 million handsets servicing a population of just 60 million every age range and demographic has been thoroughly hooked on mobile phones for some time now. However, manufacturers have recognised that not every group requires the same kinds of functions from their phones, and that some modern handsets are difficult to use and understand for an older generation who may not be used to this particular technology.

As a result there are loads of great mobile phone out there that are specifically designed for elderly users. Every eventuality has been taken into account, whether it`s the simplification of menu screens so that you don`t need to work your way through superfluous menus to get the best out of a mobile phone, or if you`re having trouble using standard mobile phone interfaces and need some thing more accessible. Here are just some of the examples of mobile phone handsets made with the elderly user in mind.

Binatone Speak Easy Mobile Phone – If you’re looking for a big button mobile phone that`s great value then this is the handset for you. With its large, uncluttered button interface it`s easy to type in numbers and make calls no matter the levels of your dexterity. For those of you with digital hearing aids you`ll be pleased to hear that the Binatone Speak Easy is compatible with these devices, meaning you’ll never be left unable to hear a call again. It`s also doubles up as a handy tourch, and there are plenty of large hot keys for making calls to your three most frequently used numbers as well as a direct access to sending SMS text messages.

ITT Easyhelp – If you want slightly more from your mobile phone but want it to retain the ease of use of the Speak Easy then the Easyhelp has lots to offer. Not only does it have large buttons and a vibrant high contrast display, it also has an address book with the ability to store 100 different contacts. This phone also takes on some swiss army knife qualities thanks to the built in torch and flip out magnifying glass. If you want to talk without clasping the phone to your ear there`s also a particularly loud hands free mode, allowing you to sit back and converse whilst the phone is on the table or your lap.

Doro Phone Easy 410 Clamshell – Merging modern style with easy to access functionality, this is the worlds first digital hearing aid compatible phone that flips open like the aforementioned mollusc. It has a vibrant and easy to read colour display and also supports Bluetooth, a technology which allows you to connect a headset to the phone and make call without the need for wires. A modern phone suitable for elderly users who are unsure of how the technology works but want to learn more.

There are loads of mobile phone deals for the elderly online, and getting accessories like Bluetooth wireless headsets and neck loops for your phone is easy if you use price comparison sites.