Benefits of special phone systems for the elderly

The world's population is set to age over the next twenty to forty years and it is time to treat them with respect and care, and this extends to telecommunications as well.

The elderly suffer from many health problems, including deafness, lack of sight and mobility difficulties. Numerous elderly people become almost housebound. Therefore it follows that any telephone system woudl benefit them. But these systems should be designed to suit their particular needs.

1) For the deaf their should be a form of phone systems that would amplify sound, similar to those found in some UK public phone boxes. If the deafness is profound, then the phone system should be able to be linked to a screen in a way that allows the voice transmission to be translated into text.

2) For those who suffer from partial sight or blindness the system should either compensate by having enlarged numbers, or be able to be operated by braile.

3) Where people suffer mobility problems, depending how severe this is, a voice activated telephone system should be developed, which will allow the user to be able to activate it from anywhere in their home. This is especially important in cases of emergency need.

4) The elderly should also receive financial assistance with their telecommunication system. This could take the form of offering a set reduced rate for all calls, irrespective of location or time.