Cautionary tale backup to cell phone (computers, charging, battery, cable)

[PacoMartin]

My aunt who is in her 70's and lives alone carries her mobile cellular phone with her everywhere. Last week her knee gave out at the top of the stairs and she flipped over backwards and rolled down the stairs and her phone popped out of her pocket and shattered on the floor. Fortunately she had triple play installed on her cable, so she was able to crawl to a fixed wired phone to call for an ambulance. Many cable companies are actually charging more if you don't have a phone installed.

There are a number of very inexpensive services that can back up your cellular phone. Google Voice costs nothing to operate, and can be installed on computers and cheap phones that can be put in good places. Magic Jack is cheap and RingPlus is inexpensive. Battery backups are also good ideas.

Even "plain old telephone service" with no long distance is fairly inexpensive.

[Charles22]

It's good to have backup.

[Ed_RDNC]

Another option would be to have her keep her previous phone when she upgrades.
Don't include it in the new plan but keep it somewhere easy to get to in the house, plugged in and always charging, as a standby backup phone. Remember, even phones that are not on a plan can call 911.

This is why, if you are upgrading and not keeping your previous phone, don't throw it away, donate it. There are agencies that will give them to at-risk people as a 911-phone. All they need is a working phone and a charger.