My husband who has lewy body dementia can no longer operate his simple cell phone. Should I keep trying to help him learn?

It's not likely that he can master using the phone if he's getting confused. I'd just try to remove that struggle from him. The only option, except for keeping a old style land line phone around, just in case, is to try VOICE activated dialer. If he just tells the phone who to call, that might work, but you also have the problem of him recalling what words to say to activate it and to end the conversation.

No.

Get a land line phone with pictures. As for the cell phone, you can get a cheap flip phone with presets and maybe just show him ONLY how to scroll and find your name and then click the "phone" button or you might have to ditch the cell altogether.

I agree with Pam, have a bunch of land-line telephones around the house. Knowing how to use those phones are ingrained in our minds because we have been using them for half a century or more.

Plus with a land-line phone, if your husband needs to call 911, the dispatcher will automatically see your house address, so if hubby gets confused about what is going on and it is a true emergency, first responders will automatically come to your door.

Last time I looked, Target was still selling the regular looking land-line phones. I have one in just about every room of the house. No searching around for the cellphone. I refused to have a cellphone glued to myself.

Alexander4, I feel your frustration! Does he want to use the cell phone mostly at home? Can you help him each time?

My husband also had LBD. Cognition fluctuates in that disease -- with more lucid periods alternating with confusion. I made sure that I only tried to teach him anything in his lucid periods. I wanted him to carry a cell phone when he left the house. He could still do errands on his personal mobility scooter. Each time he left the house we reviewed how he could call me on the phone, and how to answer it. I made sure it was on.

When I'd call him I knew it would take him a while to get the phone out of his pocket, so I kept hanging up and dialing again until he answered. Our conversations went like this:
Hi honey. Did you get your hair cut?
Yes. It is all done.
Did you have to wait a long time? It seems to be taking longer than usual.
Oh, no. I just decided to stop for an ice cream cone on the way home.
Well that is fine. I'll see you soon then. Be sure to call me if you have problems.

Of course he only went out on errands when he was having very good days. I was very grateful that we could make using the cell phone in this limited way work.

Alexander4 your husband may be beyond the point when he has enough "good days" to learn to use these gadgets. You are the best person to judge that. If he is not able to retain instructions even for a brief period, then try to minimize the frustration and do more helping instead of teaching.

pamstegma, my mom has LBD and she has trouble using a landline phone. I had given her a cell phone a few years ago, but I let it expire (it was a prepaid phone). I probably would not encourage trying to help him re-learn. I think it would just lead to more aggravation on his part. Perhaps you can distract him by using the landline.

I would do just enough to keep him calm. I went through this with my folks when I got them a new cell phone and new landline phones. The layout of the phones was exactly the same as the old ones just with bigger back lit buttons but it was like trying to teach them to land the space shuttle. Mom finally got it but Dad has mild to moderate dementia and is simply not capable of learning new things no matter how simple.

I think trying to teach him how to use the cell will just increase his frustration.

He will do better with just an old fashioned desk phone.
Ask your cable provider about a simple remote with large buttons.