Mobile Phones for the elderly

Seems like a pretty common problem for older people. I tested his phone today, he already has a protective cover. I suspect the problem now lies with the reception. He was moved recently from an upstairs room into a courtyard, ground level room and the reception was very poor for all of our phones. Oh well. Many thanks for all of the suggestions here, I just wish someone would invent a tablet sized phone with clear, large icons on the screen to assist with sending and receiving calls, but that would be going full circle I suppose.

I bought my aunt a Nokia 130 big button phone. Be warned, when I rang her just after it arrived she said it wasn't working She'd also said her previous phone, the Dorio, wasn't working. I am 350 miles away, her neighbour came in to help her luckily.

Link to the phone here - might be able to get it cheaper somewhere else.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074PTD3GM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

I searched for a way around the 'top up' problem, and found a provider called 1pmobile offering a £36 'year' SIM. Even having explained this to her, she's forgotten, she asked me how to top the phone up the other day.

My phone is in a case which opens like a book. When using it I hold it as if I was reading.
Like this one.

I have a case on my phone and I still manage to press the volume buttons accidentally! It would need to be a rigid case to prevent that....

MiniMoon. That would be worth a try. I will have a look at his phone when we visit tomorrow and see if it would be suitable. Thank you.

Would a protective phone case work. Maybe you could find one which has the control buttons slightly inset.
There are quite a few rugged cases, my DD has one for her phone as she has rheumatoid arthritis and is prone to dropping hers.

Yes, thank you, we have tried that. He is in his own room most of the time, so the speaker isn't really a problem. I think that the problem is caused by him grasping the phone exactly where the volume buttons are. My mother used to do the same, they hold the phone very tightly, for fear of dropping it, and inadvertently switch it off. I wondered if anyone could recommend a different make, with maybe alternative volume adjustment.

If someone can show him how to press the speaker button, this will enhance the sound.

The downside is that everyone around will hear the two-way conversation but it very much louder and clearer. If your father in law is in his room, it would be perfect for him.