What is the best landline replacement for an older person?

Question

I want to do something to replace my mom's landline because it is getting so expensive.  I think around here the cost of a residential dial tone is $35 and that's if she doesn't call long distance.

I'm not sure about getting her a cell phone, touch screens are out for her, I can't get her to understand how to dial a call or answer the phone if it rings.  She is also worried about loosing her phone number.  My parents had an old heavy phone mounted on the kitchen wall until 1973 when the phone company replaced it with a lighter plastic phone and they had that rotary phone until 1993 when that phone was replaced with a newer phone and she's had her current phone since.   She's had the same phone number since 1973.

I was considering a home phone from Straight Talk, then I could just plug in a regular phone, but I'm not sure if I could just port her current landline or if she would need a new number.  Also it's a real pain to port back out of Straight Talk, only the connection center at Walmart knows how to do it.

I've been trying to teach her how to use a cordless handset but it hasn't been easy.

Ogami Itto · Answer

Flip phones are made for old people.Big numbers,no touch.

ron h · Answer

If you do try the straight talk thing and change your mind, THE NEW (original) PHONE CO does the porting in to them.    ALWAYS the company TAKING the number makes it happen.   Just now, I looked at straight talk wireless home and it's $30 per month.  I would NOT make your mother change to save $5.   
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Like one of the annonymouses says, the one that starts 
"If she is low income (135% of the poverty line) or on certain public" is a GREAT ANSWER  . Click the link at the bottom of his answer. 
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And like "a" says, NOTHING beats copper lines for voice.  In 40 years, my copper line has been out about 3 hours.  Total.

a · Answer

Actually a wired telephone line is still the most reliable and best sounding phone you can have.
Cell phones break up constantly and because of the delay you are always talking over people and the audio quality is horrible.
And when fiber optic lines get cut, all cellular, 911, and data goes down but that wired phone is directly connected to the central office which has it's own set of batteries and back up generator that makes sure that phone will work long after every cell phone tower crashes.

Anonymous · Answer

Check out Consumer Cellular. It may be just what you need for her.

? · Answer

Just get a simple cellphone with big buttons and no smart features.
Or a cordless landline phone.

Phoenix · Answer

Make the phone a classic-looking landline, because too many modern bells and whistles are confusing to a senior.  Also, make sure that it has volume control, plus, extra-large glowing buttons.

spacemissing · Answer

There are several alternatives, 
one being a cell phone that looks and operates like a conventional wired phone.   
            
Another is a low-cost cell phone from Consumer Cellular or Jitterbug.   
Ask for the simplest possible device.    
         
Any phone number can be reassigned to a new device.

Anonymous · Answer

If she is low income (135% of the poverty line) or on certain public assistance programs then she may qualify for the Lifeline program, a discount on wired or wireless phone service.

Audrey · Answer

Check out Consumer Cellular. It may be just what you need for her.

DCM5150 · Answer

If you have that many worries about a cell phone and such I suggest keeping the landline and trying to find cheaper alternatives. If she has internet you could get a voip phone that would look and act like a home phone and would probably be cheaper.

If saving $10-20 a month on a telephone line is make or break financially for her there are free programs available and may be something to look into.

What is the best landline replacement for an older person?

10 Answers