First things first, I’m not affiliated with any of the projects named and any hype I give them is of my own opinion, uncompensated. See Legal Disclaimer.
The Residential Care community I worked at didn't have phone jacks. There's no ethernet outlet, and when the wifi is in the air, there's no router to plug into either. Cell phones get lost, and can be limited on what controls you can implement to protect loved ones from scam calls and more.
So, what do you do?
Tin Can
Marketed for kids to help unplug while staying plugged-in. Friendship and privacy while staying safe, yes. Social media and brain rot, no. It connects to wifi, can only call approved contacts, and the fun design isn't so bad, either. Manage it with a smartphone app and just like magic, residents can stay in touch with their loved ones.
Ooma Telo Air
Ooma has an incredible product - an adapter that works with most landline phones, or you can buy their bundle for stress-free setup. Their Senior Bundle still requires a hardwired connection (Telo), so watch out for that, but they do have wifi (Telo Air) and LTE (Telo LTE) devices too. They boast Advance Call Blocking, protecting users from spam calls, and the ability to limit calls to trusted contacts only. The benefit with the Ooma system is the ability to use the landline you already have, enhancing usability by sheer familiarity - and a more traditional design than Tin Can.
Smartphone, simplified
Personally, I'm more familiar with the Apple ecosystem than Android, but I know there are several devices on the market specifically designed to help users unplug and reduce their access to all the things a traditional smartphone can do.
What I want to note here is the ability for many traditional smartphones to be set up with restrictions to limit access, too. You can browse your device for "parental controls" or look into your Accessibility options.
The Apple iPhone, under Accessibility, has a setting for "Assistive Access" which features larger app icons, paired down to the most essential functions, and has simplified usability. If you're already an Apple family, this option may be ideal for you since you'll already be familiar with the opersystem and be more prepared to troubleshoot any mishaps along the way!
