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Choosing the best cell phone plan for a senior could be as complicated as choosing the right living arrangement. If you or a family member is over 50 and searching for a cell phone plan, you can find that big-name service providers just may not be suited to your needs.

Luckily for retirees and seniors, there are companies and plans catered to users with a little more life experience – and you will even obtain the assurance of 24/7 use of emergency help if needed.Nearly 80% of adults ages 65 and older own cell phones, and nearly 30% own smartphones, according to the Pew Research Center.

Although many senior smartphone owners use their cell phones much like younger adults — keeping up with news and posting to social media — the majority of these people want to avoid the extra hassle, money and confusion of bloated, data-centric plans.Many carriers have done away with “senior plans,” but there are still a handful of cell phone plans designed with seniors in mind.

These plans are typically prepaid and have fewer minutes and frills than standard plans. That means you can stay connected without committing a large chunk of your monthly income.

Now many wireless companies attempt to provide various cell phone plans for seniors to cater the seniors’ needs, of course, that is good to have this variety of plans to choose from, but it also may be confusing to choose the best cell phone plans for seniors. The best cell phone plans for seniors should be simple and work best to achieve the seniors’ needs by including the suitable features and options at affordable prices.

Before picking a cell phone plan, consider how you’ll use your phone. Want to text and talk with your children? Then you’ll want a plan with enough minutes and messages to keep you connected. Want to keep up with your friends and grandkids via Facebook? Look for a plan that includes a few gigabytes of data, minus the extra fees. Simply want a phone for emergencies? A simple plan with minimal minutes will give you and your family peace of mind.

Here are some popular network carriers and their plans.

In addition to a great phone and great service, you’ll also get unpaid services like the phonebook and MyCalendar to help keep you organized. There’s even a Daily Health Tips feature made just for seniors. There are evidently several options, then, for customers who don’t need cutting edge cell phones and substantial nationwide coverage with all the whistles and bells.

The LG Revere 3 is perfect for those who prefer the simplicity of a basic flip phone with a few advanced capabilities, such as web browsing. The Revere 3 includes physical keys, making dialing and texting a breeze. For ease of use, its 2.2-inch color LCD screen has a menu with a large font size.

The rugged DuraXV+ by Kycoera is ideal for seniors who enjoy the outdoors. The flip phone meets US military standards for extreme conditions, whether that means working on an outdoor project or whitewater rafting. The DuraXV+ features a 2.4-inch internal display and a 1.08-inch external display, plus a 5-megapixel rear camera.

Seniors interested in trying a smartphone might like the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime, which is great for beginners. Its “Easy Mode” simplifies the phone’s home screen, increases the size of fonts and icons for improved readability. It also makes the most-often-used features, such as email and camera, easily accessible on its 4.5-inch WVGA screen.Family members can add a phone for $20 a month (plus taxes and fees) to Verizon’s plan, which keeps things simple with five data sizes starting at $30 a month (plus taxes and fees) that range from 1 to 18 gigabytes.

If you need more data, you can switch sizes any time. All sizes let you share data with your devices and feature unlimited talk and text.Even if you don’t subscribe to Consumer Reports Magazine, most community libraries do. Ask your librarian for the February 2015 issue. This edition includes a valuable article on cell phone plans that you should be allowed to photocopy for a small charge.

This article goes into great detail about the benefits and drawbacks of plans from the large companies as well as some of the smaller ones. Under “Best Carrier for Your Needs,” the author lists the best of the major carriers, the best values and the best prepaid services according to their research. I’d suggest a trip to your local library if you are interested in helping a senior who is fairly tech savvy and would like a smart phone, but wants one with the most efficient plan for his or her needs.

Cell phones can literally be lifesavers, but they can also be complicated for some aging individuals to use. Not to mention, plans can be expensive. It pays to know your loved one’s unique limitations, if any, and then do the necessary research.