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My wife keeps asking for her phone. I have an old phone I could give her. Some issues are 1) logging in, 2) keeping track of it, 3) I know there are more issues, just can't be more specific at this time.

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At some point, dementia patients have to give up their phones. In my husband's case, he eventually lost interest in his phone (and in fact thought it was the TV remote). Since you mentioned her issues, I'm wondering if she's asking for the phone because she recalls it as a comfort, but perhaps she wouldn't be able to use it if she had it? If that's the case, you could give her your old one, make sure it doesn't work, and she can carry it around and be happy.

Now if you want to give her one that works, it could end up being a source of frustration for both of you. Especially when she starts calling Thailand to talk to Lover Boy. It happens.

You'll get some helpful advice here, hopefully telling you of a very simple phone that she'll be able to use for a while at least. IMO, any phone that works isn't such a great idea. You might want to ride out her requests, make excuses why she can't have it, and eventually she'll forget about the phone. My husband used to answer his phone for every ring and talked to some serious fraudsters over time. I barely saved him from sending money at one point. When his phone became the TV remote, I was very relieved!
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Reply to Fawnby
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TouchMatters Feb 12, 2026
Thank you. Appreciate your words of support and ideas. Gena
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RAZ Mobility phone. You control everything from an app on your phone. No internet, no texting. Just calling in & out, pictures of the approved contacts, looks like a smart phone. I have one for my Mom and although she doesn't like me controlling who she calls, it is a necessity to preserve my sanity and protect her.

My Mom also uses my old iPad to play games on. She uses that way more than her phone.
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Reply to Geaton777
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Only a phone without internet access with phone numbers preprogrammed in by you has any chance of being safe and successful
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Try a Lively Jitterbug 2 flip phone. Easy to use, bright red is easy to find, and has no data or Internet access.

Yet my Ex has lost 2 of them already. At least they are cheap.
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SusanHeart Feb 13, 2026
Dawn attach an airtag from apple to the phone. You can track the missing item easily from your phone. I attached many of them including one on the fall alarm wrist band my father wore. He liked to go outside the building to walk around and since he was no longer a flight risk the staff allowed him to do so. It was easy for them to locate him or they called me and I would tell them where he was. The facility was gated so he really could not go far.
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Why does she need a phone? Give her an old one that has no connectivity that she can carry around with her if she wants, but certainly do not provide internet, and best not to provide phone service. Or set it up so the only person she can talk to is you, or maybe any trusted children. Otherwise, it will likely just be a source of frustration and possibly danger.
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TouchMatters Feb 12, 2026
Thank you.
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A big issue with dementia is learning new tasks or skills. So if one is not already familiar with a device, learning how to use a new item is very challenging. Regardless of which phone you provide, I would think it would not likely work well. Based on my experience in Memory Care units……the residents don’t use personal cell phones. I could call my LO at the facility number and they would put her own on the phone.
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Reply to Sunnygirl1
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I got my mom a dementia phone and programmed numbers into it. It's a landline phone. However, it's rare when she uses it. She doesn't remember if someone has called her or not.
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TouchMatters Feb 12, 2026
That is a 'dementia phone."
Is this how the phone is marketed?
Tell us more. Gena
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My husband has vascular dementia and an iPhone .. his OT showed me that his iPhone could be set to assistive access. Settings ..accessibility .. assistive access .. start assistive access .. set a 4 digit passcode ...and follow prompts to customize his needs i.e calls, messages, calendar, mail, clock, his favorite apps to limit online access, music, TV apps, to do list, voice memos, etc ... To exit this assistive access mode, press on/off button 3 times and exit...good luck .. hu by was a little resistant at first but now he is able to do what he wants to do on his phone without confusion. And I have peace of mind knowing he is safe while using his phone ....
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TouchMatters Feb 12, 2026
I didn't know / realize that a person with vascular dementia could even use a phone. Too to know this is potentially possible. Thank you. Gena
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why not go back to an old fashioned land line with pre program numbers. My mom had one while still in IL almost time for MC. I set it up so that included call forwarding so that I could answer for her and monitor her calls and voice mail.. Generally I would not answer because caller ID was also present. If she was not in her room then there was no need to use the phone. I knew the general times she would be in her room so I could call her.
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Reply to MACinCT
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As others have said, get her a RAZ phone if you must, but even this will become a problem after awhile as she will not be able to figure out how to use it and become frustrated. Maybe give her an child's pretend phone to carry around if it makes her happy, or redirect the conversation. It was lost, was broken and out for repairs, etc etc as often as necessary.
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