How do I convinve my 88yo parents to cutback on phone and cable expenses?

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How do I convinve my 88yo parents to cutback on phone and cable expenses?

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How to convince them to ditch their land line and cable (both expensive) and modernize to internet TV and viop phone saving $3500 a year? All can go thru internet they already have. They're hesitant to learn new things, which I understand, but $3,500 is nothing to sneeze at.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Financial Planning Senior Activities

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Expecting elders with dementia to learn ANYTHING new, especially in terms of electronic devices, is an exercise in futility. Soon they'll forget how the TV remote works and begin trying to use IT to make a phone call. Pick your battles here, my friend, and this one isn't worth it.

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Reply to lealonnie1

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BCjake, do not give up the landline. If your parents have an emergency, such as a stroke and cannot talk, when calling 911 the dispatcher automatically has their home address on the screen. The dispatchers are trained to know if the call is from a stroke victim, or another emergency where one has trouble taking.

One thing to remember, with a landline there is no need to charge the phone if the phone itself is an attached landline. My Dad had landline portable phone but he started to forget to put the phone back in the cradle to charge. And when the power goes out, if the phone is not bundled with the internet, the phone would still work.

Learning today's new technology has been a challenge. Back in the 1990's I could master any software program and taught others how to use it, and my Dad was still writing Code when he was 75 years old, onto floppy discs.

Getting older is stressful enough without being forced to learn new technology. I am pushing 80 years old, yet, I am bewildered by how to use the cellphone as the software doesn't make sense. The old KISS Theory was tossed out the window. Gone are the days of plug-and-play for TV's, etc.

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Reply to freqflyer

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Those portable phones do not work if the electric goes out. Mine don't. The main phone is plugged into the wall so I have my Voicemail and caller ID. I have a cheap phone with with the handset and no xtras. This one works when the electric is out.

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Nope, don't do it unless you want to be their on-call 24/7 tech support. They cannot adapt to the new tech. My 96-yr old Mom pays $265 p/mo for her crappy cabel channels and it drive me nuts, but she can barely manage a new remote. Do not change their tech unless you want to give yourself a big fat headache of your own making.

I bought my Mom a RAZ Mobility phone where I control all her contacts and it has big pictures for them. I bought the phone outright ($390 at the time) and she's on our Verizon plan at $10 p/mo for her line. No data, no internet, no texting, no camera. Lots of control for the caregiver, though. I don't know how much a landline costs anymore but I pretended her handheld phone broke, removed it and never replaced it. She mostly used a flip phone, and when that broke I got her the Raz, which looks like a smartphone and was easier for her to see, hear and handle.

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Reply to Geaton777

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I taught my mom how to use the internet when she was 88 years old. A few years later she developed dementia and completely forgot how to use it constantly calling me about problems she was having. In time she would use the remote to answer the phone & forget how to use the toaster oven.

If they can afford it let them be and enjoy it while they still can

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Reply to Jada824

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A landline is a back up safety feature for when power goes out. Many states also require the old style copper landlines to be the utilities first restored in case of a disaster. Many of us keep landlines for that reason. AT&T has put out a notice that no new landlines will be put in after Oct 15, 2025 so don't be in too big a hurry to get rid of one. There are also some upsides to cable, belieive it or not.
I agree the landline and cable are both frightfully expensive; I have both myself.
Modernizing and saving money are not everyone's priorities.

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Reply to RedVanAnnie

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You cannot "convince" anyone to do anything they don't wish to do. Assuming you have already explained your willingness to teach and to get installed this program you are suggesting, that's about the size of it. Save yourself a whole lot of angst by accepting you aren't in charge of their choices, and be GLAD of not being yet in charge; I've been there, and "in charge" is no fun.

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Reply to AlvaDeer

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First get them a very basic phone and phone plan and see how that goes, I'm pretty sure that it won't take long for you to realize they can't make the switch.

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Reply to cwillie

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Depends on whether you are in the house with them and if you want to be the channel turner. Mom is 83. I originally lived 300 miles away. I have the same tv models and would give tutorials on my weekend visits. Eventually, I moved in with her. I'm now her tech support. We determined what channels she actually watches. I placed her on a lower tier plan. She had already upgraded to a new HDTV and 3 years later still has issues with the channels. We reviewed how to change channels weekly. Also, I changed her land line to OOMA, who charges less than $10 a month. I upgraded her phone to a Moto with big pictures on the home screen so dialing was easier for her. I changed her to an $15 unlimited cell phone olan. I only made these changes once I was under the same roof. If you live elsewhere, and if they can afford it, might be better to keep them on the systems they're comfortable with.

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Reply to MsWarren28

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My Mom at 88 has spectrum -you know 7000 channels but each repeated 4 times! Difference is she does not have internet and wouldn’t know what to do with any of it anyway. She’s content and knows what channel numbers she likes best. She is confident and comfortable with what she has. anything new like streaming would be way too much to learn now. So I look at it this way… Mom is happy and can control the tv by herself without any difficulties. So she spends $200/month. she’s happy. she’s comfortable. My siblings complain because they see money wasted… their inheritance wasted… but it’s not wasted if Mom is happily independent and ok. God bless.

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Reply to stressedmess

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I have mentioned removing the phone to my mother. She cannot remember how to make a call nor answer but it seems to be a comfort to her to have it so it is a battle I choose not to fight. I just went with a cheap phone and a very basic plan for $25 /month.
We hate to see our parents “wasting” money but I think as long as they can keep what gives them peace and they can afford it, let them have it.
What if you suggested changing up the plans? If they only watch a few shows maybe reduce the subscription or get a simpler phone plan. Might make it cheaper but still keeping the systems they know.

How do I convinve my 88yo parents to cutback on phone and cable expenses?

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