The Best Cell Phone for Senior to Use
Cell phone for senior are distinguished from the common cell phones and smartphones for their ease of use. A good phone for the senior is easy to use. Keyboard with large numbers, simple and clearly visible display, enhanced volume and above all the SOS button for emergencies. Let’s see what are the best models and what features to consider to buy the best cell phone for senior.
Easy to use, comfortable, and with few essential functions, this is required for seniors’ cell phones. While technology is making strides and offers increasingly intuitive and application-intensive smartphones, older people with disabilities or limitations need simpler and more effective tools.
Problems of sight, hearing, or difficulty using hands and fingers make it almost impossible to use smartphones and touch screens. Therefore, buying a good mobile for the elderly means choosing among the best brands for this market. In addition to the elderly, people with sight and hearing impairment in any age group benefit from this cell phone type.
Cell phones designed for the elderly are also useful for children. If we want to give them a mobile phone for emergencies but fear that the Internet, social networks, or games can distract them and involve them too much, this is the right choice as they are almost always without an Internet connection.
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How to choose a cell phone for senior: Types and Characteristics
Cell phones for seniors include high-end items with various features such as a camera, Bluetooth, or MMS, now available in all cell phones. So we focus only on the specific characteristics common to most cell phones for the elderly that serve as support and are rarely present in other types of cell phones.
Large keys
One of the older cell phones’ key features is that the keyboard is large, raised, and often backlit keys to dial phone numbers or text messages more easily—the ideal solution to meet those with visual difficulties. In addition, the keys can be connected to acoustic tones and sometimes to voice readers to confirm the pressed key further.
The big keys are a decisive and distinctive phone feature with physical buttons. But unfortunately, the first beneficial benefit was often impossible to match even with the best smartphones designed for the elderly.
Quick selection keys
To avoid looking in the phone book, it is advantageous to associate some contacts, usually at least two, with dedicated keys. This way, you can start the call in a few seconds to connect with relatives, assistants, or friends. Using these buttons to set up calls to the most expensive people is recommended, but they are closer physically to an urgent call or request for help.
SOS button
The mobile phone for seniors with an emergency SOS button is used to request immediate assistance. You must record a help message and set the recipient’s phone number. Some models allow you to set multiple numbers in order of importance. If the first number does not answer within a certain number of rings, the call is routed to the second number in the list, and so on.
The automatic message is essential because it allows you to send a request even when the elder cannot speak, in a state of confusion or difficulty in general. In addition, some mobile phone models have a GPS tracker to track the caller’s location.
Display with large characters
The displays are not as large as those in smartphones and do not have touch screens, but they display much larger characters to be read easily, even with vision problems. With high-resolution color displays, you can also have the function to see and call 3 or 4 contacts by associating a phone number with a photo to call without searching in the phone book.
Enhanced volume
The volume is adjustable as in other mobile phones but is enhanced and can even reach 100dB, a feature often unparalleled by the best smartphones dedicated to the elderly. In addition, call alerts, alarms, and other voice features will be easier for those with hearing problems. Some cellular models are also compatible with hearing aids.
Battery and Recharge
It is better to orient yourself on a battery that guarantees good autonomy to avoid continuous recharges or find yourself without a phone in a difficult moment. Although we have to say that older cell phones, unlike others, have less evolved displays and are lacking in complex applications, they offer a longer duration.
For this purpose, the charging base is handy. When not in use, the phone is placed on the base. In this way, the battery is always charged. The phone also remains vertical, with the display always visible in case of calls.
LED torch
A simple but handy tool is the LED torch. The flashlight is essential both at home and outside, illuminating a lock, steps in the shade, a notice hanging on the wall, looking for something in the bag or in a pantry. In addition, it supports all those simple gestures that become problematic as we age.
The best cell phone for seniors to buy
Below is the best cell phone ranking for seniors, in a price range between $30 and $70 approximately. The cost is accessible to all, and cell phones have all the basic features suitable for emergencies and easy reading of keys and displays.
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Therefore, any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to purchasing any products.