Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Elderly parents
Original poster

Recommend a mobile phone for my parent?

12 replies

ExpatDaughter · 04/09/2025 14:54

can anyone recommend a mobile phone that is easy to use - or even designed - for elderly people (maybe due to poorer eyesight, less nimble fingers?)

currently parent just leaves phone in the kitchen, never takes it out, never charges and "if i want to contact someone i can switch it on" attitude.

So if i can find something easy to use, that isn't bafflingly full of apps etc, that i can put Whatsap on, i'd be happy to hear about it.

OP posts:
P00hsticks · 04/09/2025 15:37

The DORO range are supposed to be designed specifically with the elderly in mind, with big easy to read buttons. My mothers even has a 'emergency' button on the back that can be programmed to call a set of specific numbers if pressed until one answers. However it's not a smart phone - they may do one - and I think some of the more basic models we looked at were only 2G.

olderbutwiser · 04/09/2025 15:48

DM, DMIL and DFIL all hated their DOROs.

DMIL uses an iPhone. You can easily set them up so the only apps on the Home Screen are the ones they use - phone, WhatsApp, messages. You can also make apps bigger.

I suspect the problem is that she doesn't want to use a mobile phone, not the phone itself.

Also some older people struggle with touch sensitivity. MIL uses a stylus.

Greenangellite · 04/09/2025 15:49

I was going to say doro. Did your parent have a Nokia on the 00's. Can you get one of them. No whatapp though.

Original poster
ExpatDaughter · 04/09/2025 16:11

Parent is fine with a smartphone - i would prefer them to have a smartphone so i can do wifi video calls to see how they are rather than have to accept "yep, I'm fine" when they have a bruised face and have lost a lot of weight.

IYSWIM?

So thanks for the DORO recs, it isn't really suitable for us, and since i recently got them a 3 extention phone set, i don't really want to get another. Yet.

We're all Android users - so a fairly basic Samsung would probably do the trick.

Thanks.

OP posts:
NoBinturongsHereMate · 04/09/2025 17:58

thanks for the DORO recs, it isn't really suitable for us, and since i recently got them a 3 extention phone set, i don't really want to get another.

Doro do loads of phones - not just landlines, they also have basic mobiles and smartphones. They are basic if you're used to a normal smartphone, but quite good as a step up for people who've not had one. Big buttons (on the ones that have buttons, good sound, and you can hide all the features they won't use.

www.doro.com/en-gb/products/smartphones/

Diversion · 04/09/2025 19:47

I think it depends on their ability to use tech. My almost 87 year old Dad has no issues with his iPhone or iPad. My late PIL couldnt use a Doro phone, left if to go flat, didnt answer it and used to press random buttons. They never quite figured out how to use the phone book part and would only ever look at the last called number which they would then phone several times each day much to the dismay of some of their relatives (and us and their other sons). The Doro wouldnt do WhatsApp either.

FuzzyWolf · 04/09/2025 19:48

Generally an iPhone is easier to use, has FaceTime, WhatsApp and can be voice activated.

ThisIsHowWeDoItThisIsHowWeDoIt · 04/09/2025 20:55

My mum is 81 and she has an iPhone and an iPad. She gets on just fine with both. She doesn’t use the phone as a smart phone outside of the house. She wouldn’t use it for Google maps or to look up anything but she uses it as a phone and for WhatsApp. Then she uses the iPad for internet browsing and watching iplayer. And FaceTime.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 04/09/2025 23:46

If its just for videocalls, and won't actually be taken out and used as a mobile, would a dedicated static device like Facebook Portal or Echo Show work? The former can make WhatsApp calls to any device, but for the latter I think you'd need one yourself - or at least an Alexa of some sort.

Original poster
ExpatDaughter · 05/09/2025 10:20

FuzzyWolf · 04/09/2025 19:48

Generally an iPhone is easier to use, has FaceTime, WhatsApp and can be voice activated.

I will never get an iPhone though. Mostly because we all use Android so can't give help over the phone iyswim? Not being in the same country and having useless siblings is a huge issue here.

I'll take parent to phone shop next week when I'm visiting and sort it all out.

Thanks

OP posts:
AgeinPlace · 29/09/2025 10:42

@ExpatDaughter I got a Chatsie phone for my dad and he loves it. He struggled with others. I even set up Spotify (one button) and he listens to old music from his past now. https://www.chatsie.com

Chatsie — Easy-to-Use Phones for Older Adults to Stay Connected

Chatsie is an easy-to-use phone for older adults the helps them independent and connected. Built-in scam protection and UK support give families peace of mind.

https://www.chatsie.com/?source=afah

New posts on this thread. Refresh page