Best Phone Features for the Visually Impaired

Using a regular phone can be frustrating for your elderly loved one if they have trouble seeing properly. In that case, finding a phone with special features just for people with vision problems can be extremely helpful.

The 4 Best Phone Features for the Visually Impaired

When a loved one can’t see well, everyday activities like placing a phone call become much more difficult. Learn about the best phone features for the visually impaired.

1. Contrasting, Vibrant Colors

For older loved ones who can’t see well, colors that don’t contrast with each other can be difficult to distinguish. People with good eyesight can make those distinctions, but your loved one may not be able to. Having a phone that uses vibrant colors that contrast with each other allows them to distinguish amongst the different keys much more readily.

2. Large Keys and Screens

As much as the contrasting colors can help, having a large surface area is just as important. This is because the larger keys allow the manufacturer to use a larger font size. The larger keys are also easier for your loved one to press if they have other motor issues. Larger buttons also leave room for Braille captioning, which can be helpful if your loved one recognizes Braille. Having a larger screen means that your loved one can easily read the caller ID information or see which numbers they’ve already pressed to dial a phone number.

3. Ability to Add Pictures to Speed Dial

Speed dial is a wonderful tool because your loved one doesn’t have to remember or punch in an entire phone number. It can be a pain to try to remember which speed dial setting is associated with which person, however. Some phones offer a feature in which you can associate a picture with a speed dial setting. That can make choosing the right speed dial number much easier for your elderly loved one.

4. Voice Capabilities

Voice functions can save your loved one a lot of time. You can find phones that use voice confirmations to read back the phone number that your loved one dials or that notify them with an audible announcement that they have a message. These types of settings are usually ones that you can turn on or off as your loved one needs or uses them.

Your loved one’s senior home care providers may be able to suggest other features that can help them use their home phone much more easily.

Contact Sonas for Home Care Services in Florida

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today (888) 592-5855.

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.