A Simple Cell Phone for Cognitive Loss

RAZ Mobility specializes in helping people with disabilities by providing mobile assistive technology. The RAZ Memory Cell Phone is a good option for people with cognitive loss that are on a cellular plan. It reduces confusion by having no applications, settings, notifications, voicemail, or requests to update the operating system.

Home Screen

The screen is always on and has pictures of contacts to work as a simple photo dialer. There is a thin rectangular button that says emergency 911 at the top. You need to press and hold it for a couple seconds and it will ask if you want to call 911 and you can press yes or cancel. This can help with mistakenly pressing it.

Caregiver Portal

The caregiver portal is a website that allows you to:

• Create and edit contacts with pictures (up to 24)
• Restrict incoming calls to contacts
• Allow incoming calls from designated numbers outside of contacts
• Disable outgoing calls if memory loss results in repeated calls to contacts
• Track the location of the phone
• Check the battery power
• Check the signal strength
• Disable the power button
• Place all calls on speaker phone by default

Volume

I appreciate the volume on this phone. The earpiece volume reaches 77.4 decibels, and the speakerphone reaches 103.9 decibels.

Optional Extras

There is the option to have RAZ pre-install a wireless charging adapter. You can choose from the wireless charging pad for $49.99 or a wireless charging stand for $59.99. These prices include the wireless charger, installation, and a protective case.

You can also purchase a coiled charging cable available for $19.99 which may help some associate a familiar looking cable with the phone.

A subscription to RAZ Mobility Emergency Service will make the emergency button call a dispatch agent instead of 911. The agent is aware of the caller’s condition and will assess the situation to see if it warrants a call to 911.  This can be helpful for those who may perceive a false emergency or repetitively call 911. Text messages can also be sent to designated caregivers, allowing them to cancel the emergency call. This plan is $79.99 per year with no activation fee.

Compatible Cellular Plans

This phone is compatible with Verizon, AT&T, Consumer Wireless, T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Mint Mobile, Straight Talk, Sprint, Red Pocket Mobile, and TracFone. Currently, anything that works off of Verizon towers will provide the best coverage in North Dakota.

Top Complaints:

Battery Life

The battery will only last a little over a day. One thing I would like to see improved is the ability to elect turn off the ‘always on’ feature of the phone’s screen in the caregiver portal. There are currently no plans for this, but it could preserve battery life and be better for the individual who forgets to charge the phone every night. The ability to turn that feature off would also prevent unwanted dialing.

Mistaken Dialing

There are no plans for a screensaver, but RAZ is working on a double tap feature to assist with avoiding mistaken calls. I hope this double tap feature becomes an option that can be chosen in the caregiver portal rather than as a standard. One current feature that can help now is the phone requires you to hold down on the contact for 2 seconds to call them. There is also a flip case available to cover the screen to avoid accidental calls when picking up the phone, and it will still be able to wirelessly charge with the case on.

 

If you or someone you know is a North Dakota resident who may be interested in a solution like this, contact us and check out our Specialized Phone Program!