Published: November 7, 2024
Updated: November 7, 2024
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone is designed for seniors who need a simple solution, perhaps because they are experiencing cognitive decline.
Unfortunately, many seniors who have cognitive decline also experience hand tremors or lack of mobility as a result of Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or arthritis. For these individuals, the RAZ Memory Cell Phone offers a special “mode” described below. But first, here is a general description of the phone.
The Phone Starts and Ends with Simplicity
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone focuses on simplicity, making it a great option for seniors with mild cognitive impairment, dementia or who want a simple solution. To achieve simplicity, the RAZ Memory Cell Phone has one primary screen. There is no menu system. The screen includes a maximum of six contacts, with an option for up to fifty. Contacts appear on the screen as photos with names underneath.
The photos make it very easy for seniors to initiate a call: They tap and hold the photo of the person they wish to call. That’s it! There is no menu system, apps, or ability to access settings, …etc. No phone is as easy to use.
To further simplify the experience, the volume button is disabled and set to the highest possible volume (most seniors require the loudest volume setting), and there is no lock screen that the senior needs to circumvent with a password or other action.
RAZ Mobility participates in the AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative. The cell phone won the Collaborative’s 2022 Connect and Thrive pitch competition.
Control the Cell Phone from Afar with Remote Manage
Typically, a cell phone is managed by the user herself. Not so with the RAZ Memory Cell Phone. To maximize ease of use, caregivers manage the phone through a groundbreaking feature called Remote Manage. Remote Manage allows caregivers to manage all of the RAZ Memory Cell Phone’s features from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada using a mobile application called the RAZ Care app. The senior does not have access to the device settings. Instead, the caregiver controls these settings and all phone features through the app.
Remote Manage, available through the RAZ Care app, provides caregivers with many capabilities. These include:
- Manage contacts – Create, delete, and edit your senior’s contacts, including the contact pictures.
- Limit incoming calls to those from contacts – Block incoming calls from anyone other than contacts to prevent phone fraud.
- Video calls – Video call your senior through the mobile application.
- Quiet hours—Set up times of the day during which the senior cannot call certain contacts, such as in the middle of the night.
- Loneliness alerts – To fight social isolation, caregivers can receive an alert when the senior does not participate in the desired number of calls.
- Text message alerts when the battery is low – When the RAZ Memory Cell Phone battery is low, a text message alert will be sent to the caregiver. The caregiver can then remind the senior to charge their phone.
- Remind the user to charge – When the battery is low, the senior will receive a reminder to charge.
- Missed calls – Provide the senior the option to be notified of missed calls.
- Reminders – Send your senior reminders of things they should do or upcoming events.
- Status information—Check the status of the phone’s battery, signal strength, location, whether it is currently being charged, and whether it is powered on or off.
- Auto answer—After two or three rings, Phone calls will be answered automatically without the senior having to press “Answer.” This can help someone with mobility difficulties.
- Calls to the speaker – Calls will automatically go to the speaker.
- Keypad – A keypad icon can appear on the display to provide access to a keypad.
- Voicemail – A voicemail icon can appear on the display to provide easy access to voicemail.
- Toll-free calls—A keypad will appear automatically when the user dials a toll-free number, allowing the senior to navigate the automated phone system.
- Receive a text message when the user calls 911 – Up to 3 people will receive text messages when the senior calls 911.
- Announce that battery is charging – The phone will say “phone charging” when charging.
- Hear the caller’s name – The phone will announce the caller’s name out loud during an incoming call.
- Day of the week, month, and date—The RAZ Memory Cell Phone has options to include the day of the week or month and date in the status bar.
Special “Mode” for Seniors with Parkinson’s, Hand Tremors, or Arthritis
With this mode activated, instead of six (6) contacts per page, there will be only two, and the contacts will be much larger. This will make it significantly easier for a senior with Parkinson’s, hand tremors, or arthritis to initiate a phone call. Further, the Emergency, answer, and hang-up buttons are much larger.
The caregiver can activate this special mode through the RAZ Care app and customize the contact icons by selecting the color schemes. For example, the contact names can be yellow and the background black. Customizing the colors is a major benefit to seniors with vision loss.
Another feature that makes the cell phone significantly easier for seniors with Parkinson’s disease, hand tremors, or arthritis to use, is Auto Answer. With this feature activated, voice and video calls will be automatically answered after three or four rings and will go to the speaker. The senior does not have to press any button to answer the call! The senior does not even need to pick up the phone! This is a helpful feature for someone with mobility challenges.
Also, a wireless charging set is available that can significantly benefit someone with Parkinson’s, hand tremors, or arthritis. Instead of charging the phone by connecting the charging cable to the phone’s charging port, the senior can place the phone onto a charging tray. This wireless charging set is an accessory that costs $59.00.
Price and Wireless Service
The RAZ Memory Cell Phone costs $349.00. It is compatible with all major wireless providers, including Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Ultra Mobile, Mint Mobile, Affinity Cellular, and Consumer Cellular.
The phone is unlocked, so the user can select his or her wireless provider and plan. It comes with a free SIM card and three (3) free months of service from Affinity Cellular.
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