In the last decade, the majority of cell phones on the market have moved away from being flip phones. Many younger consumers seem to see flip phones as outdated and relics from the past. But, interestingly, many of the phones that are marketed to older adults seem to be flip phones for seniors. This design seems to appeal to seniors who may appreciate that you cannot inadvertently pocket dial someone with this phone model. There may be other reasons for this appeal as well. 

As more and more phone companies realize the growing market for cell phones for older Americans, the number of available flip phones for seniors on the market has exploded. 

Below, we provide details about four of the best flip phones for seniors. 

The Best Flip Phones for Seniors

#1 The Lively Flip Phone 

This relatively new entrant on the market is produced and marketed by Lively (formally marketed under Jitterbug), which may be a positive selling point for many consumers. Jitterbug had a long track record of producing durable phones at attractive price points that meet senior customers’ needs. The Company simply gets what this demographic wants. And, this can clearly be seen with the features that are part of the Lively Flip.

Streamlined Phone with a Great Camera 

Unlike some of the more basic flip phones for seniors that exist on the market, the Lively version has a great camera, and this can be an attractive feature for older adults who may want to share photos back and forth with their children and grandchildren. But, on the downside, it is not a smartphone, which can be frustrating for some users who rely on their cell phones for Internet access. However, on the other hand, it could be a positive selling point for some seniors who are looking for a streamlined option without features that could potentially be confusing. 

Large Buttons and an Emergency Button

The phone also sports some other attractive features. For example, it has larger than normal buttons that may be easier for those with arthritis and other dexterity challenges to manipulate without getting frustrated! And, the makers of Lively also recognize that many older adults have health challenges that make continuing to live independent lives challenging. To address this and help maintain user safety, the Lively phones have an emergency button, the Urgent Response button. Once a user pushes this button, they will be connected to a real person in real-time who works for Lively. And help will be on the way. 

This phone regularly retails for $99.99. However, periodically, sales can be found on the Lively website. 

#2  Alcatel Go Flip 3 

This Alcatel phone model gets outstanding reviews from both professional reviewers and individual consumers. These consumers highlight that the phone is extremely user-friendly, with highly tactile buttons that help ensure that you are dialing the right number. But, usability does not mean that technological features are sacrificed in this outstanding small phone. Unlike many of its competitor models, this phone is Internet-enabled and works like a smartphone. 

Another great feature of this model is that it enables users to voice-to-text. This can save time and frustration on the part of users. Often, people note that texting on flip phones can be frustrating because it may require tapping on the same button multiple times in a painstaking letter-by-letter process. 

On the downside, this Alcatel model is only available via T-Mobile. In some regions of the country, T-Mobile coverage can be sketchy. And, this can be a downside for older Americans who are looking for reliable coverage. 

This phone is priced at $100, and it can either be purchased upfront or added to your monthly T-Mobile bill. To make this model even more financially attractive, don’t forget that T-Mobile offers a monthly discount on its plans for consumers who are 55 or older. Users who are over 55 can get two phone lines for $70 per month. 

#3  TracFone LG Classic Flip

The TracFone LG Classic Flip does not have a lot of bells and whistles. But, it offers everything that an older consumer may need in terms of talk and text capabilities in a durable and well-priced package. It has limited technological capabilities, so if you are a super technologically savvy user or someone who is on your phone at all hours of the day or night, you can likely cross this model off of your potential shopping list. But, many older people do not want these additional complications on their phones. We should also note that the camera does not take iPhone-quality pictures. However, it is good enough to capture most basic images. 

One of the selling points of TracFone models is that these phones are pre-paid, which allows them to check-in at very attractive price points. This is also true for this LG model. It currently retails for less than $30 at most big-box retailers. 

Some consumers have a natural reluctance to use TracFone products. TracFone does not have its own cell phone towers. Instead, it piggybacks off the towers of some of its larger competitors. And, this may mean that coverage is not always perfect, particularly in some more rural areas. But, for people who do not use their phones a lot, which is much of the TracFone demographic base, they are unlikely to notice this slight dip in coverage quality. 

#4 The Verizon Wireless Takumi eTalk on the Verizon Network 

This Takumi eTalk flip phone model is a pre-paid phone, which can either be a positive or negative selling point for some customers. Also, it is only available on the Verizon network, which can lock customers in. But, since Verizon remains one of the United States’ largest cell phone networks, many people are happy to be part of this family. 

This is a smartphone version of the flip phone, so it may be an attractive choice for older adults who rely more on their technology. As an added benefit, this phone comes with 512 MB of RAM. This amount of RAM is more than enough to ensure that all of the latest apps can operate seamlessly on your phone. This is important because complaints about app usability tend to plague many flip phone models. 

This phone is marketed at an attractive price point – selling for less than $55. Plus, Verizon offers several monthly prepaid talk/text/Internet packages that appeal to even the most budget-conscious consumers. 

The 4 Best Flip Phones for Seniors Revealed

As phones have gotten increasingly sophisticated – morphing into mini-computers that we carry in our back pocket – flip phones, which were staple early cell phone models, have largely been phased out. Yet, many seniors find these models very usable and highly accessible. Because of this, some cell phone providers have stepped up to offer these models and at attractive price points. The article above highlighted four of the best options that an older adult can choose from and the benefits and drawbacks of some of these models. 

Erika Jayne’s Pink Windbreaker Jacket

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 Episode 8 Fashion

While she might not be a natural at tennis (same girl, same) Erika Jayne is a natural at rocking athletic wear with a little edge, like her hot pink windbreaker topped off with a leopard hair tie. And though Crystal Kung Minkoff claims to be very competitive, here’s to hoping she doesn’t get too fired if someone else wins in the cute jacket department.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her K-Way Windbreaker

Originally posted at: Erika Jayne’s Pink Windbreaker Jacket

Erika Jayne’s Black Pearl Studded Leather Jacket

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 Episode 8 Fashion

While I definitely would want to be on the receiving end of the birthday gift giving of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast like Garcelle Beauvais, I’d definitely be up for simply borrowing Erika Jayne’s pearl studded leather jacket. I have always been obsessed with embellished jackets, and the pleats in addition to the pearls make it a total keeper. Then again, maybe if I just mention I like it she’ll just get it for me for my birthday.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her Comme Des Garcon Jacket

Originally posted at: Erika Jayne’s Black Pearl Studded Leather Jacket

I’m going to tell you something that
should not surprise you: Diets don’t work. After all, if they did, we’d
all be skinny – and healthy.

As a physician, I see many patients
who are following one diet or another. In fact, it’s the exception for me to
see someone NOT on some sort of restricted eating plan.

To Diet or Not to Diet?

For most people, the diet they are
following represents a drastic departure from their normal eating pattern. And
sometimes the departure is not only drastic, but may actually be dangerous.

Take the Keto diet for example. It is arguably
one of the most popular diets of 2018, where you are restricted to consuming
under 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. That’s less than what’s in one apple.

Fat? No problem! Protein? Good to go. Steak, chicken, and cheese consumption is encouraged even though eating animal products all day long (since carbs come from plants) has repeatedly been shown to be health destroying. For example, cancer rates go up linearly in relation to animal protein intake.

A diet that promotes eating in a way
that increases cancer risk is a diet no one should follow. Especially since the
opposite approach – a whole-food plant-based diet – is what has been
repeatedly documented to be the cornerstone of healthy longevity.

Many people who try fad diets like
Keto usually justify their dieting habits by only dieting for short periods of
time, often to lose a certain amount of weight.

While a diet may be effective in helping
achieve weight loss goals, the results are often short-lived as many people
report gaining the weight they’ve lost (plus more) when they go back to their
regular eating habits.

Think about the last diet you tried. How
long did you last on it? How successful were you at keeping the weight off
after you stopped? Why would the Keto – or Paleo, or Atkins, or Cookie, or
Grapefruit, or Cabbage Soup – diet be any different this time?

All evidence and most people’s
personal experience points to the fact that diets are ineffective, and any
results will be short lived.

When you’re trying to lose weight, you
don’t have to diet. I’ll say that again. You do NOT have to diet to lose weight
or improve your health. The first thing you have to do is change your focus.
Many people diet to lose weight. But weight loss is not really the point. Being
healthier and feeling better is.

Focusing on your health, not your diet,
is actually pretty simple.

Here are the 4 steps to take to
improve your health and lose weight, without dieting.

Look at the Big Picture

If you are
overweight, unhealthy, and feeling poorly, the first step is to recognize that
what you’re doing now is not working. And that a short-term drastic change in
what you eat is not the solution.

The solution
is to change what you’re doing for the long haul so you’re not perpetuating
your current health status. That means making attainable, sustainable changes that
you can see yourself sticking to.

Focus on the Small Steps

Forget the word “diet.” Instead, start
to make small, healthy swaps within your current eating plan that you can see
yourself sticking to.

Instead of a soda with your lunch,
have a water. For dinner, increase your vegetable intake from one veggie
option, to two. Or omit meat from one of your meals daily. Or even make this
subtle change – instead of having meat with vegetables, have vegetables with
meat.

It’s a small shift on your plate, does
not ask you to give up the foods you love, but because food consumption is so
cumulative, you will see significant health benefits over time.

In addition to supplying more
vitamins, micronutrients, and antioxidants, that small shift could represent a
100-point swing in your daily calorie intake. Do that for a year, and you will
lose 10 pounds.

Incorporate Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Although the most efficient way to
lose weight is to reduce calorie intake, adding in regular exercise will
increase your overall metabolic rate, so that you burn those calories faster. The
good news is that you don’t have to train for a marathon to see an improvement
in your health.

Exercise can be in the form of an
evening stroll around your neighborhood after dinner or an aerobics class at
your local gym. All physical activity is good for you and will help with
calorie balance. Plus, exercise improves mental and emotional health.

Science tells us that to make up for
the negative health effects of sitting for 8 hours we need to move our bodies
for at least 1 hour. If you don’t do much exercise now, just keep that as your
long term goal.

You can start by moving your body for
as little as 5 minutes per day. And then increase that by 1 minute every day or
every other day – or every week. Even if it’s just by one minute every week, by
the end of the year, you’ll be almost at that 1 hour goal!

Eat Food. Not too Much. Mostly Plants

Writer Michael Pollan said, “Eat food.
Not too much. Mostly plants.” I encourage everyone to live by this statement. It
refers to eating food that your great-great-grandmother
would recognize
(hint: it’s not Mountain Dew, or Doritos, or Hamburger Helper).

The beauty of Pollan’s simple advice
is that it allows for great flexibility, recognizes the diversity of various
global cuisines, and preserves the ability to eat delicious food. And, unlike
all the advertised diet plans, this approach doesn’t require deprivation
because it celebrates moderation.

So, don’t waste your time, energy or
effort on dieting to lose weight. It’s not worth it. Instead, make small,
sustainable changes to your lifestyle that promote health. That means eating
more whole-food plant-based items and moving your body slightly more.

No crazy food routines required. You’ll
not only end up healthier, you’ll actually feel better. And that weight thing
will just take care of itself.

Which famous diet have you tried? What
were the results? Did you bounce back to your original health and weight after
the diet plan was over? Where do you think is the problem with diets? Would you
rather eat healthy than diet? Please share your thoughts and experiences with
our community!