I would believe the service contracts are different. You can check to see if the phone service offers different package deals that would include free information calls, plus free long distant calls. If long distant calls aren't needed, a landline would be more affordable.
And for an elder, a landline is very important in case the person calls 911 but is unable to talk due to a stroke or another type of medical emergency. The 911 dispatcher screen will automatically show the person's home address and name, and any other information that is important such as the code to a lockbox with key to the house. With a cellphone, the dispatcher would only get the closest cell tower, unless the cellphone had the added option of location.
Using the telephone is a common source of agitation and confusion for people with dementia. And the cognitive impairment need not be severe. My FIL has what's still considered mild dementia and after 3-4 pm, he gets all weird about the phone.
You can selectively allow only certain numbers for the person with dementia to call.
You can supervise the person's use of the telephone. Monitoring their calls is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not it's still safe for them to use the phone.
You can make the phone unavailable at times during the day when the person with dementia is confused and dialing phone numbers without purpose.
Check your phone bill. Whatever times the calls start not making sense, that's the time the phone goes bye-bye.
As the dementia progresses the person is no longer capable of performing this ADL and you may have to take the phone away altogether. Do not do that without having a system in place in case of emergencies.
5 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
I would believe the service contracts are different. You can check to see if the phone service offers different package deals that would include free information calls, plus free long distant calls. If long distant calls aren't needed, a landline would be more affordable.
And for an elder, a landline is very important in case the person calls 911 but is unable to talk due to a stroke or another type of medical emergency. The 911 dispatcher screen will automatically show the person's home address and name, and any other information that is important such as the code to a lockbox with key to the house. With a cellphone, the dispatcher would only get the closest cell tower, unless the cellphone had the added option of location.
You can selectively allow only certain numbers for the person with dementia to call.
You can supervise the person's use of the telephone. Monitoring their calls is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not it's still safe for them to use the phone.
You can make the phone unavailable at times during the day when the person with dementia is confused and dialing phone numbers without purpose.
Check your phone bill. Whatever times the calls start not making sense, that's the time the phone goes bye-bye.
As the dementia progresses the person is no longer capable of performing this ADL and you may have to take the phone away altogether. Do not do that without having a system in place in case of emergencies.
ADVERTISEMENT