More people than ever before have mobile phones, however lots of elderly people still don’t have one. A lot of the time, this is simply because nobody has ever chosen to teach them how to use them, and they may not realise or understand just how much of an integral part of daily life mobile phones have become for so many people. With this in mind, you may have been thinking about getting a mobile phone for your elderly loved one. We have put together a list of reasons that this could be a great idea, and you will be able to use this to help you to make your decision.
The ability to get in touch with friends and family
If your loved one is no longer able to get out of the house as much as they once did, if at all, this can sometimes cause them to feel a little lonely, and as though they are not able to interact socially with other people. If, however, they have a mobile phone, this is something that can make a big difference, as they will be able to get in touch with friends and family at the touch of a button. It can mean a lot to people to have that access to conversation, and this could transform the life of your loved one.
It will make them – and you – more confident of their safety
When you have a loved one who is elderly, you may worry about them being on their own. If they had a mobile phone however, this would mean that they could get in touch with you whenever needed if there is a problem. Not only can this put your mind at rest, but you will find that it helps them to feel safer, too, as you will find that the elderly often get a little nervous when on their own when they need a lot of help at home.
They can learn about new technology
There is often a stereotype that the elderly struggle to use technology, however there are many elderly people who are perfect able to use mobile phones – it simply takes someone with a little time to explain how they work. The possibilities are endless when you have a smartphone, and you may find that your loved one enjoys being on social media to see what the rest of the family are up to, or even using their phone to play games, which is something that can help to pass time, which is important when you are unable to leave the house very often. You should never assume that they wouldn’t be able to learn how to use a mobile phone, and you could find that getting a phone for them could give them a new lease of life.
Start a new hobby as a photographer
Most mobile phones have really great cameras that are better than some stand alone cameras. Why not encourage a loved one to use a mobile as a camera and take photographs. They could easily start an Instagram account and start documenting the photographs taken. Many elderly manage to use a tablet and some phones like the iPhone are just the same bit of kit, just smaller.
It could save money
If your loved one currently uses a landline, then depending on what plan they are on, a mobile phone could save them a lot of money. It can cost just a few pounds a month to get unlimited minutes these days, which is much cheaper than having to pay for the line rental on a landline phone. If you know that your loved one likes to spend a lot of time chatting, this could make an incredible difference, and it is something that is easy to sort out. Even the smallest of things can make a big difference to the life of an elderly relative, so there is no doubt that it is well worth thinking about if you are considering what you could do to help your relative at the moment.