As a caregiver, you know how frustrating it can be to find a cell phone your loved one with dementia can actually use.

Between tiny screens, complex menus, and buttons requiring precise finger control, most smartphones are impossible to use independently.

These phones are designed to be simple and have features like:

• Large, well-spaced buttons for easier dialing
• Bright, clear screens with large text
• Photos of loved ones for one-touch calling
• Loud, amplified speakers
• SOS emergency button

No complicated settings or confusing menus. Just simple, reliable phones that make calling family and emergency services easy for your loved one.

As someone who has been helping older adults choose technological products to make their lives easier, I know how critical it is to find technology that reduces stress for you and your family.

Here are the phones I’d point you to first, and you’ll find the details on each one, including the downsides, further down the page.

Top Cell Phones for Dementia

Here are a few cell phones I recommend for seniors with dementia:

The RAZ Memory Cell Phone leads this category by a mile and is, hands down, the best cell phone for dementia. It has the most useful safety features and it even has a camera too!

It is an extremely easy-to-use smartphone for seniors and has useful features like photo dialing (touch the picture of the person to call them), an emergency button, and displays the time, remaining batter, and signal strength.

Plus caregivers can manage and control the phone settings remotely through an app on your phone or through a simple web portal. So, you can know at a glance the status of the phone and even the location of the user.

The RAZ Memory Cell Phone was designed specifically for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia in mind. Because of this, it can serve as a lifeline for those with memory loss.

How It Benefits Seniors with Dementia or Alzheimer’s

Not only does it feature a primary screen touch-based interface, but it now features names and pictures of up to 30 contacts. In addition, it features an easy-to-see red button to call “911” in an emergency situation. There is one screen and one screen only!

The phone also offers the time in the upper-right corner and the battery level in the upper left. It even prompts the user to charge the phone when it is time.

As you can see, the touch screen is kept as simple as possible to avoid confusing menus or settings configurations. It provides zero distractions to the user.

Nothing is intimidating about using it. Some have said it is even comforting to be able to turn the screen on and see the names and faces of loved ones.

How It Benefits Caregivers and Loved Ones

As a caregiver or remote family member, you can monitor your loved one from anywhere in the US or Canada via an app or website through a very simple portal.

You can do everything from creating and editing contacts, tracking the phone’s location history, checking the battery charge, and even restricting incoming calls, including from known predatory sources.

As a caregiver and loved one, having this type of access can give you the peace of mind you need to know that your patient or loved one is safe and that you have the ability to track them if they end up lost.

New Caregiver Portal Now There is an App!

Raz Mobility is constantly innovating its service and recently added a new app that you can install on your phone that allows you to perform all the remote monitoring functions without having to log on to a portal.

Now, these options and controls can be used remotely no matter how far away you may live.

Monitor Battery Status, Phone Signal, and Strength

For example, the caregiver can check the phone’s signal strength and battery power. This is helpful if you can’t reach the senior or want to ensure they keep their phone charged. You can receive text messages when the battery gets low too.

Control Use of Power Button

Caregivers and family members can also use the app to disable the power button to keep the user from being able to turn it off.

This will help in cases where the senior has difficulty turning the phone back on or accidentally goes into the phone’s Safe mode. The volume button can even be controlled remotely.

Control Incoming & Outgoing Calls

Finally, there is also a “limit incoming calls” option so that only calls from preapproved callers make it through. This eliminates telemarketing and scam calls.

The caregiver can add as many numbers to the white list as wanted. For example, if the caregiver wants the senior to receive calls from his doctor, but does not want the doctor to be a contact, this can now be done.

Reduce Out of Control 911 Calls

You have the ability to redirect 911 emergency calls to the RAZ emergency service team, who can verify there is a true emergency before sending emergency help.

It’s not uncommon for confusion to lead to false and repeated, calls to 911. You can control this with the RAZ Memory Cell Phone, although it is an extra charge.

May Work With Your Existing Cell Plan

This phone is compatible with Verizon, AT&T, and other cell providers. The best option is to connect it to the Affinity Cellular Network, and you could get three months free.

Lively Jitterbug Smart5 Phone

The Smart5 is Lively’s newest smartphone, and Lively calls it its simplest one yet. The menu is easy to find your way around, and the 6.75-inch screen is large.

Real-time call captioning shows the other person’s words on the screen as they talk. For someone who loses track of what was just said, having the words in front of them can make a call less stressful.

It’s a big phone, so make sure it sits comfortably in their hands. The SIM card comes installed, and you activate the phone online.

While not as simple as the RAZ Memory Cell Phone, it suits a higher-functioning person with dementia who still wants a smartphone. Expect a learning curve, and plan to sit with them for the first few calls.

The trade-off is that it only works with Lively phone service. Add the monthly plan to the price before you decide.

Lively Jitterbug Flip3 Phone

The Flip3 is Lively’s newest flip phone, and Lively calls it its easiest cell phone yet. It suits someone with dementia who can still dial a number but doesn’t need a smartphone’s extra features.

The big, backlit buttons and large text make dialing easier. With speed dial set up, calling you can take a single press.

There’s a Help button on the phone as well. Add Lively’s Urgent Response service, and it reaches help 24/7 in an emergency.

Many older people prefer a flip phone because it is less intimidating than a smartphone, at least at first.

The trade-offs are a small 3.2-inch screen and a plan that only works with Lively. Check the monthly price before you buy.

Alcatel GO FLIP V Phone

The Alcate GO FLIP V 4051S is a plain flip phone for someone who just needs to make and take calls. It’s a renewed phone, meaning it has been used before and refurbished. It was originally a Verizon phone and is now GSM unlocked, so it can work with Verizon and with GSM carriers.

The keys are large and backlit, so the numbers are easier to see and press, even in a dim room. The menus are meant to be easy to move through, which matters when a long list of options is the thing that causes the frustration.

Inside, the screen is 2.8 inches. That’s enough room to read a name or number without squinting.

It also supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and HD Voice. In plain terms, calls go over the 4G network and tend to sound clearer. That helps when your loved one has trouble following a conversation.

The design is compact and durable, so it should handle being carried around. And a flip phone has a built-in way to end a call: you close it.

A few things to keep in mind. A renewed phone is previously owned, so it’s worth looking at what the seller says about its condition. You’ll also need a service plan from a carrier it works with.

It’s still a phone with menus and keys. If your loved one is in the later stages of dementia, even this may be more than they can manage, and someone else will probably need to set up the contacts first.

Easyfone T200 4G Phone

If you want a basic phone that does calls and texts and not much else, take a look at the Easyfone T200.

It leaves out the internet and the camera on purpose. For someone with dementia, that means fewer things to tap by accident and fewer screens to get lost in. It suits a person who has used a mobile phone before and just needs a plainer version.

There is a special SOS button. Keys #2 through #9 can also be set as speed dials, so you could set one key to call a son and another to call a daughter. The sound is described as clear and loud, which helps if hearing has faded.

It also has a few extras, like an FM radio, alarms, a flashlight, Bluetooth, a calendar and some mini-games. Those can be a pleasant touch for one person and a distraction for another, so think about which one you are shopping for.

Charging is through a Type-C port, and the battery is rated for up to 120 hours of standby. Someone still has to remember to plug it in, though, so a nightly routine helps.

The one big catch is the network. The phone comes with a SpeedTalk prepaid SIM that runs on T-Mobile, and it also works with T-Mobile prepaid plans and Tello Mobile. Other carriers may not work with it, so check T-Mobile coverage where your loved one lives before you order. If you want to keep an existing plan on another carrier, this is probably not the phone for you.

What Makes a Cell Phone More Appropriate for Someone with Dementia?

Here are some specific features and options you should look for when you need an easier to use smartphone for people with memory issues.

Simple Functions That Are Easy to Understand

It is somewhat obvious, but you want to choose a phone that is easy to understand and use. You want a phone with minimal options that don’t require accessing multiple menus. Quick, one-touch functions buttons are best.

Big Buttons That Are Easy to Read

Look for big buttons with bold, well-contrasted print. Not just the number buttons – all the buttons should be clearly labeled and easy to read.

For smartphones, the on-screen buttons should also be large with clear print and complementary colors. These features add to the overall ease of use of these devices.

Long Battery Life Between Charges

Let’s face it. They will forget to charge the phone at one time or another. So, get one with a long standby time. That way, it will be functional when they need it.

The Raz Memory Phone even lets you monitor the phone’s charging status remotely. So, you can prompt the user when it’s time to charge the phone.

One-Touch SOS Emergency Button

I really recommend phones with one-touch speed dialing for storing phone numbers for quick calls during emergencies. Even better if it’s red or clearly labeled SOS!

Bright, Clear Large Screen That is Easy to See

The digital screen should be brightly backlit with big, bold print so that it can be read easily – during the day and the night.

RELATED READING: Best Smartphones for Seniors and the Elderly

Summary and Final Recommendations

There are so many ways that seniors can use smartphones. And, as you can see, several good cell phone options exist for seniors with dementia. Just look for one that is easy to use with large buttons that can be easily read.

Think about emergency situations too. You want your loved one to have quick access to help if there has been a quick access to medical attention after a fall or a medical problem.

Do you know of other cell phones that are good for seniors with dementia? Let me know about them in the comments below.