I know what you’re thinking—landline telephones are so yesterday. With cellular phones, what’s the point in even having one? I mean, I can talk to anyone I want, anywhere I want, with a cell phone. That’s not the case with a landline.
As much as I’d like to say we’re rid of landline phones forever, the fact is, landline phones still come in handy, especially when it comes to seniors. Cell phones simply can’t compare.
- Landline telephones are way more reliable than cell phones
I have a confession to make. I use my cell phone all the time. And when I say all the time, I mean all the time. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I even used a landline phone, so why do I say seniors should have a landline telephone? It sure sounds ageist and hypocritical!
I may not remember the last time I used a landline telephone, but I sure can remember the last time my cell phone dropped a call. I talked for a full 60 seconds before I realized no one was on the other end. That was just yesterday. Landline telephones are way more reliable than cell phones. If granny has an emergency, and if she’s using a medical alert system that’s tied to a landline, you can bet that she’s going to get the help she needs. That’s less likely if she’s using a cell phone.
- Landline telephones still work during a power outage
I can hear the outrage through my computer screen now, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! Cell phones work in a power outage too!” Well, you aren’t wrong. But you aren’t right either.
Landline telephones plug into a phone jack which functions independently of the electrical outlet (as long as you choose a traditional phone; chargeable phones do need to be, well, charged…). Cell phones rely on a cellular signal that can greatly be impacted by local and regional weather conditions (see number one).
Not only are you more likely to keep your connection with a traditional landline telephone during a power outage, you’ll be able to use it consistently, no matter how long that outage lasts. A cell phone will be helpful for the first few hours of an outage, but what are you going to do when your cell phone dies? Plug it in and charge it? I didn’t think so.
- When it comes down to it, landline telephones are more familiar
New cell phone technology is pretty cool. It sure makes my life a lot easier, but I grew up surfing the net and experimenting with the newest cell phones. Grandma? Not so much.
Watching granny dial a touchscreen phone might give you a bit of a kick, but it’s likely to be frustrating for her. You can just forget it if she accidentally turns on the voice command, enters an application, or accidentally turns the phone off. Sure, buy her a cell phone to play around with. Nothing is better to have if she’s out and about and needs to place a call, but make sure she has a familiar landline at home.
It all comes down to safety, and there really is nothing safer for a senior than having a dependable landline telephone at home. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t be surprised if you soon learn that I’ve gotten myself a landline telephone too. What’s old is new again, and I definitely consider myself the trendy sort.
