Do you need to get your senior a cordless phone, but you are not sure about how to go about it? Are you sceptical about the safety and privacy of older adults when using a cordless phone? Here is what you need to know about cordless phones.
What Are Cordless Phones?
A cordless phone is a phone with its microphone and speaker in one unit together with a dial. Unlike corded phones, it is portable and makes use of radiofrequency transmission. A landline cordless phone is most suitable when used as a home phone. A landline phone is different from a mobile phone in that it is easy to carry around the mobile phone, which is not the case for a landline phone.
How Safe It Is To Use Cordless Phones For Seniors
Most seniors who use cordless phones are sceptical about their safety and privacy. Previously, cordless phones used analog radio signals between the handset and base, making it possible for other devices to pick up the signals. Today, the phones use Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication (DECT), which uses different frequencies to ensure zero interference. DECT uses more than ten frequency channels and allocates any new call to the available channel to use together with the base unit. DECT also allows for audio to be converted to multiple digital signals used to communicate with the base.
The signals are transferred in packets of data that allow several conversations to use the available channels by having the communications broken into many slices. With DECT, handsets can only establish a connection with a base station through an appropriate preset security code. By so doing, it ensures that no other user with a similar device can listen to your conversation. DECT 6.0 was also created to encrypt conversations, ensuring no other device can use them.
How To Choose A Cordless Phone For Your Elderly Family
You must consider the needs of a senior when purchasing a cordless phone. The many factors that you need to consider when getting a cordless phone for seniors include:
1. Answering Machine
One of the greatest considerations should be the recording capacity of the answering system. A good answering system should allow at least 10-30 minutes of recording. An answering machine offers seniors the option to either get access through the handset or have full control of the cordless phone through the base.
2. Caller ID
It is an essential function of a cordless phone. It displays the identification of an incoming call, giving the senior a chance to identify their caller easily. According to the needs of a senior, you may consider having the talking caller ID or the picture caller ID. These options could be essential for a senior who is visually impaired.
3. Multiple Handsets
Phones for the elderly may require multiple handsets. Handsets are already programmed to work with multiple handsets by the time you are purchasing them. Buying extra handsets is cheaper if you purchase the system as a multipack. Even better, you do not have to purchase the handset from the same company where you bought the cordless phone.
4. Mechanical Characteristics
It is good to note that mechanical characteristics make one phone feel better than the other to a senior. Generally, seniors will prefer having bigger buttons to small buttons since they are easy to read. Also, consider getting your senior a phone with a good backlit display.
5. Call Blocking
Nuisance calls have increased significantly today, especially from marketers. Most cordless phones will allow you to block up to 50 contacts. Even better, some phones request to have the caller's identity and keep the call waiting to give you the chance to decide if you want to talk to that caller or not.
6. Range
Seniors should be able to use the phone around the house without worrying about lost connectivity. A phone that has connectivity of 50 metres indoors and 300 meters when outdoors is the best option. However, do not forget that walls are likely to interrupt the coverage, especially indoors.
7. Price
It is advisable to have a budget before you begin looking for the phone. It will help you settle on the brand and the phone type you want to purchase in advance. With so many cordless landline phones on the market, it is easy to get confused about what you want to purchase.
Before purchasing a phone for an elderly person or loved one, you must consider if they have any sort of impairment, such as hearing and visual impairment. This will help you ensure that the phone you purchase allows the seniors the degree of usability they require for effective communication.
It might be difficult to find a landline cordless phone that presents you with all the desired features. Fortunately, it is possible to compromise less important features. For example, you can sacrifice having multiple handsets and prioritise having a picture caller id if your senior has poor eyesight. Modern technologies have made landline cordless phones safer, and seniors are guaranteed privacy.
Buy The Best Care Phone For Seniors At Get About Mobility.
At Get About Mobility, our greatest need is to ensure that your senior can effectively use the landline cordless phone you purchase from us. We offer you guidelines on what to consider when purchasing the phone according to your budget and the needs of the senior.