How to choose a phone for someone living with dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s

Choosing a phone for someone living with dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s can be tricky. It isn’t necessarily about choosing the best phone for these conditions, it’s about finding something that feels simple, familiar, and reassuring to use.

If you’re living with a condition like this, the right phone can make everyday communication easier, help you stay connected with loved ones, and provide a sense of independence. But what works best for you and your family is completely individual.

This guide will help you understand what to look for, and how different phones can support everyday life.

The phones and features in this guide are most helpful for people who:

With the right setup, smartphones can be a practical way to stay connected and manage everyday communication.

If you’re supporting someone with more complex needs, it can sometimes help to explore a wider range of guidance. Organisations such as Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, and Parkinson’s UK offer practical advice on communication, safety, and support options beyond choosing a phone.

Before choosing a device, it helps to think about how it will be used. Considering the following factors can make it easier to narrow down the right option:

• Familiarity 
  Sticking with a type of phone someone already knows can reduce confusion

• Confidence 
  Some people are comfortable using apps, others may prefer something simpler

• Physical needs 
  Conditions like Parkinson’s can affect dexterity and coordination

• Available support 
  A well-set-up phone is often more useful than one with more features

Smartphones can be super helpful, but they’re not the best fit for everyone. They tend to work well when you're already used to a smartphone, your needs are manageable with simple adjustments, and you have someone around to help with setup and support.

They can be more challenging or cause confusion when navigation and menus feel overwhelming, there are too many apps and touchscreens or typing become difficult

For many people, the right approach is to keep things as simple and familiar as possible.

Whether you choose a smartphone or something simpler, the below features are super useful:

• Simple layout: Large icons, clear text, minimal clutter

• Easy calling: Favourites or photo-based contacts

• Emergency support: SOS features or quick-call shortcuts

• Location sharing: Helps with reassurance and safety

• Voice control: Hands-free calls, texts, and navigation

• Battery life: Reduces the need to remember charging

• Charging simplicity: Wireless charging can be easier than cables

• Reminders: to aid memory

Most modern phones share similar core features. What tends to matter most is how easy those features are to find and use in everyday situations.

Let’s explore and compare different phone types now.

Phones like the Google Pixel 10a offer a clean and straightforward experience.They include:

• Built-in voice control for hands-free use

• Simple, consistent menus

• Emergency calling and location sharing

• A home screen that can be kept minimal

• Specialist apps to support memory available in Google Play

With fewer unnecessary apps and distractions, these phones can feel more predictable and easier to manage. Google Pixel 10a is a good option if you want a full smartphone experience with less complexity.

Phones like the Samsung Galaxy A57 offer more ways to tailor the experience. They include:

• Easy Mode to enlarge icons and simplify the layout 

• Emergency SOS with location sharing

• Voice assistants for hands-free use 

• Adjustable touch settings to reduce accidental taps

The Samsung Galaxy Series can feel a bit feature-heavy at first, but simplifying the layout makes them much easier to use day-to-day. The Samsung Galaxy A57 is a great option if you’re setting the phone up for someone else and can tailor it to their needs. 

Any recent iPhone, such as the iPhone 17e, includes core accessibility features, such as:

• Siri for hands-free control

• Guided Access to keep the phone focused on one task

• Simple calling through favourites or shortcuts

• Emergency SOS and location sharing

Newer models can make these features easier to use in practice, with faster performance and customisable buttons for quick access to key actions. The iPhone 17e is a good choice if the person already uses an iPhone and feels comfortable with it.

For people living with Parkinson’s, choosing a phone is often about physical ease as much as simplicity. Look for phones that support:

• Voice control to reduce the need for touch

• Larger buttons and spacing

• Touch adjustments to filter accidental taps

• Wireless charging to avoid handling cables

These features are typically available on most modern smartphones, but they may need to be enabled in settings.

It’s easy to assume a more expensive phone will be easier to use, but that isn’t always the case. Features like voice assistants, emergency SOS access, location sharing, and simplified layouts are available across both premium and more affordable devices.

In many cases, familiarity and setup make a bigger difference than price.

How a phone is set up will dictate how useful it feels. If you’re helping someone get started, these tips are key:

Often, it’s not the phone itself, but how it’s set up that determines how helpful it is.

The right accessories may extend the usefulness of any phone for someone living with dementia, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

• AirPods Pro extend Siri's hands-free functionality by responding to head gestures, allowing you to make and receive calls without picking up the phone at all. For example, nod up and down to answer a call or accept a message. And shake side to side to decline a call or dismiss a notification. They also have clinically validated hearing support feature when paired with an iPhone. 

• Samsung Galaxy Buds allows users to use voice commands to answer calls hands free. 

The latest models of Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Google Pixel Watch include fall detection. An automatic emergency SOS call is made if a hard fall is detected and the user is unresponsive. And family members can monitor alerts remotely through their phones. For people with Parkinson's, a wrist-based interaction can be easier than picking up a phone. 

MagSafe or Qi-compatible charging pads work with phones that support wireless charging. Placing the phone on a pad is easier than handling a charging cable for someone with reduced dexterity or tremors.

• A rugged, easy-grip textured phone case is useful to protect against accidental drops. 

• Tempered glass screen protectors can also offer added protection against screen damage from drops or scratches. 

• Phone cases with cross body straps can reduce the chance of misplacing the phone and removes the need to pick it up from a surface or worry about dropping it. 

• Bright or distinctive case colours can also help the phone stand out and make it easier to locate. 

We understand that choosing a phone in these situations is about more than a phone’s features. It’s about helping people stay connected, feel reassured, and maintain independence where possible.

Many of the features mentioned in this guide are built into phones at no extra cost, and we offer additional accessibility support for all our customers who may need help getting set up or with their account.

We’ve written similar guides to for customers living with other conditions, to help them choose the right phone for them  
 
Accessible phones for older users

Support for visual or hearing impairments

 Support if you're hard of hearing or deaf

If you want to find out more about our accessibility services in this area, please visit our dedicated page on additional accessibility support.

When chosen and set up carefully, your phone can make staying connected just that little bit easier. There isn’t a one-size-fits all phone for dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. The best choice is one that feels familiar, is easy to use in everyday situations and best matches your needs.