Best Phone for Parkinson's

[J_sister]

My brother is in the later stages of Parkinson's and has trouble using a smart phone because of his tremors. When he holds the phone, he tends to tap on the screen when he doesn't mean to causing all kinds of issues. Is there a phone that would work better for him?

[rescuema]

I can't think of any smartphone easier to use than iPhone, especially when using siri voice calls.

My family resorted to using a phone similar to the one below near the end-stage where you can program the buttons with photos.

amazon.com/Future-Call-FC-0...

photo dial

[J_sister in reply to rescuema]

My brother is in the last stage of Parkinson's. So, holding a phone that has a touch screen is hard for him as he keeps hitting the icons by accident. he wants a phone he can carry with him. So, it needs to be a cell phone

[rescuema in reply to J_sister]

Teach him how to use siri voice call/text (using the side button just holding it down) and use the speakerphone. I almost never hold the phone close to my head for EMF, and always use the speakerphone feature whenever possible.

For example, press the side button and say

"Call {contact} on speakerphone"

"Text {contact} what's for dinner" send.

If he doesn't need a smart phone, then look into these options. amazon.com/s?https://www.am...

[kevowpd in reply to rescuema]

What personal experience do you have with the 'last stage of parkinsons'?

I only ask because teaching someone at that point to use voice calling is probably going to be quite a challenge, because they need:

- the dexterity to activate the button

- the executive function to speak into the phone at the appropriate time

- to avoid dropping the thing entirely whilst they are focused on the two above items

- to avoid touching the screen whilst doing the above

- to make sure they don't fall over/pee their pants/do some other thing they don't want to do

Its actually a pretty big ask of someone whose hands basically do anything other than what it is they want about 95% of the time and who likely have great difficulty with even basic multitasking

Unless he is texting a lot, or using apps, he probably just needs a dumb-phone.

Nokia 225 etc

[J_sister in reply to kevowpd]

Thanks so much. His wife is around to help him but he still wants to be somewhat independent. He doesn't need a smart phone but he does want a cell phone.

[kevowpd in reply to J_sister]

They are called 'feature phones' (ironically) these days. Or dumb phones. There are some with big buttons on Amazon. Search for 'senior phone'

Just need to make sure the one you buy supports the same frequencies as the phone company your brother is with (or change carriers to one that supports the phone you like)

[Hikoi]

I cut people off just holding the phone to my ear. I have resorted to putting the phone on speaker phone and putting it on the table so i dont wiggle it around. Works ok most of the time.

[cleo in reply to Hikoi]

yes I too find that the most helpful method and improved by about 80%.still have the unplanned calls when I have pressed a button in error- learned

not to do anything on phone during the night- to ring someone at 3am doesn't make you popular

[J_sister in reply to cleo]

Thanks, Touching the screen by accident is a problem. So, I think he needs to have a cell phone that has actual buttons.