Seniors and cell phones - could you (or do you) get along without one? (friend, chores)
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This thread is prompted by the discussion on cell phone use in the "Logging in to SS account...." thread. I felt that a full-on discussion of cell phone use by old people would be off-topic there, hence my creation of a new thread.
And my curiosity here is about older people, say 65 or 70 and above. Yes, I know many folks in their 40's and 50's participate in this Retirement Forum, and I just assume that they have and use cell phones at those ages. (They are certainly welcome to post here about older people they know.)
I am 72 and if my cell phone were taken away I would feel like I lost my right arm. I thought of creating a poll to go along with my thread, but we posters here already use computers in order to participate and (for the most part) do not represent the older contingent (say, over 80) anyway. I am probably the least tech-savvy person on the planet (at least I used to think so until reading that other thread!), but cell phone use in general and texting in particular are child's play in their simplicity, even for someone as mentally retarded as I am.
Yes, I know, I know, we all got along just fine without cell phones for many decades after the development of land line phones over a century ago. But in this day and age it seems to me bizarre that people would voluntarily go without them - sort of like indoor plumbing is a given, at least in this country.
So I am very curious to hear your stories, not only about yourselves but about people whom you know who are older than you - your parents, aunts and uncles, and others.
My mother, who had two master's degrees, was pathologically techno-phobic. About three decades ago my sister gave her a VCR (remember those?) and instructed her in its use. But she never used it, no way. She had had the same car for many years but never learned to re-set the clock, and would ask me to do so when I visited, often months after the time change from or to daylight savings time. Couldn't she read the car's manual, with two master's degrees? It's a mystery to me, which I may never understand despite efforts such as asking about it in this thread. So, no ATM card, no computer, no cell phone for my mother - may she rest in peace.
I got a cell phone last November because I was taking a tech job and pretty much assumed I needed more than email. I was pleasantly surprised with the portable computer, disappointed that whatapp/text/email and so many other quick communication tools are replicated.
When someone asked why I didn't have a cell phone, I said "I can't think of anyone so important that I should be on call 24/7". I know, that made sense 10 years ago when a portable phone was only a portable phone, but not today. Anyone who isn't using a phone should get a portable computer phone, like an iPhone. It's like learning to drive versus public transport in terms of saving time.
... and ... don't be so hard on the Luddite ... sometimes it's good to have one of those around to keep the perspective.
My wife and I had to update our phones recently as TracPhone was going to quit supporting our old flip phones. My smartphone sits on the kitchen table turned off and I throw it in my pocket when I am driving somewhere or am going out walking. Haven't made an outgoing phone call or had an incoming in over two months on it. My wife carries hers in her purse and once in a while may call home when she is out to see if I want her to bring lunch home. We will get some more use from them when we head out on our trip to Tennessee in October.
At home we have phone service with our cable/internet with four phones stationed around the house. Works out pretty good for us.
We still have a flip phone which we carry when one of us goes someplace without the other, or when we go off together. But mostly we use our OOMA home phone because it's only about 5.00 a month and we have phones throughout the house. My husband is hard of hearing and can hear these phones better when they ring, and also can adjust the sound easily when talking on them. So in short, our old flip phone is basically for emergencies and taking pictures when we're away. It definitely isn't the number we give out as a regular contact number. Old fashioned, I know. But I could't care less since my kids and friends still call.
Its my favorite device over my tablet, laptop and desktop. I rely on it for lots, phone, email, text, camera, on line banking, photo storage and social media.
I could easily get by without my MacBook, 2 chromebooks, iPad, Kindles, and TV but not without my iPhone.
I had a flip phone that I made about 5 or 6 calls every 90 days -- maybe less. Then I got hearing aids and needed an iPhone for the app...so I end up using it more now. Email and other stuff has become convenient.
My adult kids are on them all the time. Being a child of the '60's I cannot relate to the need to be tethered to a piece of electronics 24/7. I do however have a cell phone and keep it in the car for emergencies. It came in handy a couple of times in NJ in late night winter snowstorms.
This is my situation exactly, even to keeping the cell phone in my car (which is always in the garage when I'm home). I have a landline and the cell phone is for emergency use only. The last time I used it was during Hurricane Ike in 2008.
I, too, can not relate to the need to be available to anyone and everyone who might want to call or text me 24/7. My time is my own. Period.
This thread is prompted by the discussion on cell phone use in the "Logging in to SS account...." thread. I felt that a full-on discussion of cell phone use by old people would be off-topic there, hence my creation of a new thread.
And my curiosity here is about older people, say 65 or 70 and above. Yes, I know many folks in their 40's and 50's participate in this Retirement Forum, and I just assume that they have and use cell phones at those ages. (They are certainly welcome to post here about older people they know.)
I am 72 and if my cell phone were taken away I would feel like I lost my right arm. I thought of creating a poll to go along with my thread, but we posters here already use computers in order to participate and (for the most part) do not represent the older contingent (say, over 80) anyway. I am probably the least tech-savvy person on the planet (at least I used to think so until reading that other thread!), but cell phone use in general and texting in particular are child's play in their simplicity, even for someone as mentally retarded as I am.
Yes, I know, I know, we all got along just fine without cell phones for many decades after the development of land line phones over a century ago. But in this day and age it seems to me bizarre that people would voluntarily go without them - sort of like indoor plumbing is a given, at least in this country.
So I am very curious to hear your stories, not only about yourselves but about people whom you know who are older than you - your parents, aunts and uncles, and others.
My mother, who had two master's degrees, was pathologically techno-phobic. About three decades ago my sister gave her a VCR (remember those?) and instructed her in its use. But she never used it, no way. She had had the same car for many years but never learned to re-set the clock, and would ask me to do so when I visited, often months after the time change from or to daylight savings time. Couldn't she read the car's manual, with two master's degrees? It's a mystery to me, which I may never understand despite efforts such as asking about it in this thread. So, no ATM card, no computer, no cell phone for my mother - may she rest in peace.
When was your mother born? I am very impressed that a female from her generation achieved so much academic success! I am not surprised that she was reluctant to use her VCR. It was probably just foreign and modern and unnecessary. The ATM card
I have to say that it really depends on the personality of the person. Some people who are young are more interested in technology than their contemporaries. I have friends who refuse to text and others who refuse to make a phone call.
For an elderly person who may also have poor vision or manual dexterity problems, using a smart phone is not going to be as easy as it seems. It is just going to be frustrating.
Personally, I am not in the right age group to answer, but I would encourage everyone to have a cell phone because of the safety benefits that it offers. I would feel so much more comfortable if my 80 something friend had a cellphone than if she didn't. There are so many ways that it can save your life or at least make your life more convenient.
I am just a little curious tho, the OP mentioned that his mother had two Masters yet could not set the clock in her car and maybe some other things. I wonder how much of that was determined by the side of the brain she was strongest in. I had a friend who was extremely logical but could not understand anything if it was not logical.
I have known a lot of people with masters, that were experts in their fields, but setting a clock was not one of their expertises.
Many people are smart at certain things, and dumb as rocks in others.
I'm 69, wife is 67. We both use flip phones from TracFone, to keep costs down. I cannot justify an $800 phone on a $100+ monthly plan. Between the two of us, we pay less than $200 per year to keep out two $29.95 phones active.
But it seems that love conquers all, and removes all barriers. My grandkids all have phones now; the older ones have smartphones. They have been texting me right along, and I text back to them.
Recently, we had a situation where we needed another phone number for privacy reasons. I could not find another flip phone of quality. My oldest grandson sent me a gift -- an inexpensive smartphone for TracFone, cost $35 on Amazon.
I expected I would use it for the new number/contact exclusively, and then put it away. But my grandkids began sending me photos of what was going on in their lives, and now I use this cheap little smartphone, a Moto E, for everyday use.
But I don't bring it everywhere, go online with it, or walk around glued to it. I doubt if I ever will. It is gratifying to hear that others leave their phones turned off, too. I have been scolded by the grands for not returning texts in a timely manner.
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