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How to Choose the Best Mobile Phone for Elderly People: A Complete Guide
Are you tired of seeing your elderly loved ones struggle with outdated and confusing mobile phones? Or are you looking for your next phone and want one that meets your needs more appropriately than your existing device? Well, it’s time to say goodbye to those clunky devices and hello to the best mobile phones for elderly people! At Eastleigh Care Homes, we believe that everyone should have access to technology that is user-friendly, reliable, and fun. Often, having a mobile phone helps our residents stay connected, engaged and entertained. So, here we share some of the best mobile phones out there that are perfect for elderly people who want to stay connected.
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What to look for in a mobile phone for the elderly
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There’s always a lot to consider when buying new tech. Should you get a big button mobile phone? Will the chosen phone work with a hearing aid? Here’s our list of points to consider when choosing a mobile phone for the elderly:
- Excellent screen visibility
Sight problems are common for elderly people. Ensure the screen and/or buttons are large and clear. - Big buttons or large virtual buttons
Whether the elderly person will cope with a smart phone with virtual buttons, or whether they need a big button phone for elderly people is a matter of individual choice. Arthritis and sight impairments may affect which is best. - Hearing aid compatibility and sound
Many mobile phones and hearing aids are now compatible which makes using the phone much easier for hearing impaired people. Check that the phone also has excellent sound quality, including amplified sound across speaker, ringers and notifications. - Emergency features
Many people want to choose a phone with additional emergency features for elderly people. At Eastleigh Care Homes, we would instead opt for a wearable emergency call device that is separate to a phone, which a loved one can press to receive immediate help if they need it. However, some mobile phones also have an SOS button. - Functionality
Not everyone uses their mobile phone in the same way. It’s important to consider how the phone will be used by the elderly owner. For example, voice recognition on a smart phone may be useful for some, but may be confusing for others. Or one person may want to use a smart phone for various apps, or reading, whereas another user simply wants to be able to make and receive phone calls.
As such, there is no single best mobile phone for the elderly. Instead, consider what is best in the individual case. That said, read on to see our top picks for some of the mobile phones for elderly people we’d recommend, including big button phones.
Mobile phone for elderly people options to choose from
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1. Artfone C1 GSM
Image Source: Amazon
This is an affordable phone that is hearing aid compatible. It is the best big button mobile phone for elderly people that we’ve seen. The buttons are easy to navigate and speak the number as pressed, and there’s a clear SOS button. This phone can also be worn as a pendant, ensuring it’s not easily lost, and it’s lightweight to enable this. It doesn’t have smart features though, so isn’t suitable if you want to do more than just make and receive calls.
2. Doro 8100
Image source: Doro
The Doro 8100 frequently comes up as the best mobile phone for elderly people. Doro specifically design phones for the elderly and those with disabilities. It has a digital screen and buttons but it is very simple to navigate. It’s hearing aid compatible, has an SOS button and has a camera too. It’s extremely intuitive to use. It has a charging cradle, making it much simple to charge if dexterity is an issue. There’s also a special feature that allows a friend or family member to remotely help the user with any problems with the phone.
3. Nokia 105
Image Source: Amazon
Nokia has long been trusted as a good brand with simple-to-use phones. They are low cost and classic to use. If you’re looking for a basic phone with buttons and without a touch screen, this is a good choice. The battery has a very long life.
4. iPhone SE
Image source: Apple
An Apple iPhone may be a good choice as a mobile phone for elderly people. They have good cameras and features, such as being hearing aid compatible, but they aren’t specifically designed for the elderly and therefore don’t have things like dedicated SOS buttons but there are many specialist apps which can be downloaded. You can also edit the screen buttons and texts to make them larger.
5. LG G8 ThinQ
Image source: Amazon
The LG G8 ThinQ is reasonably expensive, but it’s a got a big clear screen that makes it a good smartphone for elderly people. The displays are easy to navigate and it’s hearing aid compatible. The phone is waterproof to a degree, which can help ensure the life of the phone. It has an especially loud speaker and uses both touch ID and face ID which can make for easier use. The camera is pretty good too.
6. Swissvoice C50s Comfort and Care Smartphone
Image source: Amazon
An excellent phone for the hearing impaired is the Swissvoice C50s as you can adjust the ringer to be extremely loud and the handset to up to 35 decibels. It’s also handy in that it can automatically send texts to loved ones if there are multiple missed calls or if the battery is low. There’s a clear SOS button too.
Choosing a mobile phone for an elderly person
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There are many different options when it comes to choosing the best mobile phone for elderly people. However, having the right mobile phone can make life easier and more enjoyable, while offering peace of mind to loved ones.
At Eastleigh Care Home, we are familiar with assisting our residents use technology to improve connections with loved ones, engage in entertainment, and simply have some fun!