Senior-Friendly Cell Phones Carry the best senior-friendly phone on the market.

There are a great many cell phone models to choose from—and most of those are designed for younger users, including tiny keypads and features you'll never use. Our best tip is to look for a phone designed specifically to meet the cell phone needs of seniors, such as the Doro PhoneEasy. Through an exclusive arrangement, Consumer Cellular is the only wireless service provider in the U.S. to carry the Doro cell phone at this time.

The big-button Doro cell phone is the perfect communication device for seniors, people with limited dexterity, or those who might be partially sighted or hard of hearing. It features an easy-to-read color display with large text, and a host of other useful features, from speakerphone to Bluetooth wireless technology. And it’s Hearing Aid Compatible (T3/M3), making it the perfect device for later in life.

Beyond the Doro, each phone style has its tradeoffs. As cell phones get smaller, they do get easier to carry around, but they can also be harder to use, especially for senior citizens. When deciding on a phone, here are some things to consider. As you review the points presented below, you’ll see why the Doro PhoneEasy 410 is not just a great choice but the best, as well.

More about the Doro PhoneEasy™ : Award-Winning, Ergonomic Designs

Doro products have been developed in collaboration with Ergonomidesign, renowned specialists in the field of inclusive design, otherwise known as design for everyone, including individuals with special needs.

Their collaboration has resulted in several award-winning telephones and mobile phones, and even a very simple to operate TV remote control. In 2008, Doro product designs won the French Janus Award, a BIO 21 Honorable Mention and, most notably, the IDEA® Bronze Award. More recently, Doro won the Stevie Wonder and Friends Vision Free Product Award at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

What about Hearing Aids?

Many cell phones on the market today are designed to work with (or at least not interfere with) hearing aids. The FCC regulates the classification of hearing aid compatible phones.* Those that are compatible with hearing aids are identified with a rating of M3/T3 (good) or M4/T4 (excellent). The “M” stands for microphone and the “T” stands for telecoil coupling, or t-coil. While these ratings are useful, it is still best to actually try out the phone to make sure it works well with your particular hearing device.

Most of the phones offered by Consumer Cellular are hearing aid compatible. You can use our cell phone comparison tool to help you select the cell phone which will best meet your needs.

*Go to Center for Hearing Loss Help for more detailed information.