Tracfone For 90 Year Old Father

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

My 90 year old father has a flip phone that we pay $45 a month for. He really never uses it, but has had telephone problems at times in his Independent Living facility. That's the only time he has used it in the past few years. I think we're paying too much for it.

I was thinking about getting him a Tracfone or some type of phone where you load the minutes as you need them. Is a Tracfone the best choice? Does it end up being around $100 a year? That would be so much better than what we're paying now. Do they have a basic phone that doesn't have internet and text messaging? I think that might confuse him. I would prefer one that had the actual number keys that weren't on a screen, and they have a reconditioned one on their website.

Is it easy to set up? I would be the one setting it up for him. I assume they assign you a phone number? Thanks for any info anyone can give me. I have gone to their website but am still a little unclear.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

D Kay · ‎04-20-2010

I've used tracfones for years. I just buy minutes as I need them. - Why pay a monthly fee when he rarely uses the phone? Look on the tracfone website at their different plans. Also look at the Jitterbug phone website. They have phones for seniors with large buttons, etc.

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

Yes it's easy to set up. It probably costs closer to $130 per yr for 1 yr service, 1500 mins, 1500 texts & 1.5gb data.

QVC will have a TSV on the 26th for Tracfone LG Premier Pro 5.3" Smartphone w/ Case & 1500 Min/Text/Data For $85.96 free S&H. You can get to the link from the Tracfone website to take you back to QVC to order it now. It's for CDMA network. Won't work for me since we have to use GSM phones.

They have a reconditioned flip phone for $10 but looks like the 1 yr service is $199 plus the fees & taxes so it's more then the $130 1 yr smartphone.

He does not have to use the other features on the smartphone. He can just press the phone icon to make a call.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

Sure, you will save a lot of money with a Trac phone but your real concern should be whether or not your dad can transition to new phone. Some advanced seniors would have trouble with that.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@D Kay wrote:
I've used tracfones for years. I just buy minutes as I need them. - Why pay a monthly fee when he rarely uses the phone? Look on the tracfone website at their different plans. Also look at the Jitterbug phone website. They have phones for seniors with large buttons, etc.

@D Kay Thank you so much for the Jitterbug recommendation. That looks like it's exactly what he needs.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@chrystaltree wrote:
Sure, you will save a lot of money with a Trac phone but your real concern should be whether or not your dad can transition to new phone. Some advanced seniors would have trouble with that.

@chrystaltree Yes, I don't think he could adjust to one where he touched the numbers on the screen. I looked at the Jitterbug for seniors that one of the posters replying to this suggested, and it looks good. It's a basic flip phones with actual keys to press. It has no internet access. I think he could get used to that. He may not need a phone at all though. We'll have to think about it some more.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

I'll be the negative poster. Bought one from Q few years ago and never hated a phone so much. I gladly pay Verizon. Trac has been in a drawer ever since - just getting Contacts in -

If he's happy with the flip.............let him continue to flip

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

we have a plan with verizon and we have my mom on that plan also. she has an lg flip phone with unlimited talk and text (does not include internet) for $20 a month. we told her we are not getting her a smart phone. she does not use her phone often and sometimes she doesnt even have it turned on. the flip phone holds a charge much longer also so she doesnt have to remember to plug it in that often. she will be 78 this year. it is mostly for her to have for when she is out and to keep near her bedside at night in particular. we told her to keep it in her pocket even when she is just walking in and around her home.

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

@sunshine45 wrote:
we have a plan with verizon and we have my mom on that plan also. she has an lg flip phone with unlimited talk and text (does not include internet) for $20 a month. we told her we are not getting her a smart phone. she does not use her phone often and sometimes she doesnt even have it turned on. the flip phone holds a charge much longer also so she doesnt have to remember to plug it in that often. she will be 78 this year. it is mostly for her to have for when she is out and to keep near her bedside at night in particular. we told her to keep it in her pocket even when she is just walking in and around her home.

@sunshine45 We tried to get our dad to keep the phone with him at all times indoors or outside. Even if you don't have any mins or service days left you can still call 911. Dad would not listen. He fell down & could not get back up. I don't know how long he was laying on the floor before someone stopped by?