Seniors generally need lots of attention and care, especially those who may be suffering dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re a caregiver and you need to be in constant touch with your aged parents or grandparents, getting a walkie talkie is a wise choice.
But, you must ensure you get a walkie talkie specifically designed for seniors, to ease manipulation and use. Seniors should not have any trouble using a two-way radio, and this post is going to make sure of that.
Imagine having an aged parent who is bed-ridden. When you walk down the street for a gallon of milk, you need to be reachable. Even if you’re just outside handling a few things, there’s no need to tell if you need to talk to them.
While there are numerous brands and models on the market, some brands are uniquely designed with the right features for the elderly. Here, you’ll discover the right walkie talkie options for your aged relatives, including the factors you need to consider before you make a purchase.
Top 5 Best Two-Way Radios for Elderly People: By Best Feature
Buyer Guide: Critical Factors to Consider before Choosing a Walkie Talkie for Seniors
For every walkie talkie, there is a Unique Selling Proposition that seeks to meet specific needs. For your aged relative, it may be ease of operation, range or charging requirement that ticks it. Whatever the choice, here are some factors to consider before selecting a walkie talkie for seniors.
1. Button Size
As people get older, they start to lose hold of their coordination. It becomes hard to steady their hands and fingers and generally get things done smoothly. Furthermore, mental degeneration would be taking place which can generally affect their thoughts and actions.
So, if you need walkie talkies for seniors, be sure you get one that has large buttons, easy enough for them to see and push without much hassle. This will also ensure they don’t erroneously push the wrong buttons and give wrong commands.
2. Ease of Use
Another important factor you must consider before buying a walkie talkie for seniors is how easy it is to use.
How complicated is the operation? Is it a regular Push-To-Talk or does it require some manipulation? How many buttons does it have? What is the size of the buttons? Can it be used hands-free without stress?
You must be sure to get a walkie talkie that your older relatives can use as simply as possible, without calling for help or running into complications and difficulty.
3. Audio Clarity/Reception
Again, like most other parts and organs of the body, hearing can become difficult as one gets older. This is for the simple reason that muscles continue to weaken with age.
There are also seniors who may have diseases that impair auditory abilities. This is why the walkie talkie must have very strong output and clear audio for effective communication.
Imagine you have to tell your aged father what drug to take at a point in time and in what doses and he hears “piracetam” instead of “paracetamol”, or you say “one tablet” and he hears “four tablets” as a result of bad audio. We can’t even think of the consequence.
4. Durable
This is an important factor for any kind of walkie talkie; whether it’s for kids, adults or seniors. Durability is an important factor. Considerations like whether it is waterproof, can withstand a drop, or is able to cope with pressure are some things to pay attention to.
It will be quite easy for seniors to drop objects or even spill liquid on a walkie talkie. You, therefore, need a radio that will stand the test of time and last long.
5. Charging Requirement
Did I mention earlier that as you age, your cognitive abilities depreciate? Well, there you have it. Simple tasks begin to seem more difficult and take more time to complete. Don’t feel bad; your analytical and coordinative abilities have just faded gradually as your brain power reduces with age.
Therefore, a walkie talkie for seniors should have an easy-charge feature. A good example will be a USB charger that only requires connecting to the socket. Charging bases or boards may not be that easy to handle.
Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies for Seniors
1. CallToU Caregiver Walkie Talkie
Best For: Value for Money
When you find a product built for the specific purpose that you need it, grab it! this one comes hugely recommended with amazing features that make it stand out of the pack.
It is very easy to use, making it ideal for your older ones to use without any hassle. It also has an impressive range, between 4 and 5 miles, which is just adequate for communicating in the neighborhood.
The signal is also quite strong, penetrating through buildings and other obstacles, with crystal clear audio. If you desire an efficient walkie talkie for seniors- as a caregiver- this is one that is certainly worth your investment.
Specifications of CallToU Caregiver Walkie Talkie
- A pack of 2 radios
- 3-watt output power
- 16 channels
- Single PTT button
- Attractive exterior design
- Neck strap included
- Belt clip also included
- Easy to use charger
Pros and Cons of CallToU Caregiver Walkie Talkie
Pros:
- Extremely portable
- Easy to carry around with belt clip and neck strap
- Multiple channels for options
- Easy to use
- Audio distortion of less than 3%
- Crystal clear audio
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor.
Cons:
- Range can be better
- Not waterproof
2. CallToU Caregiver Pager – One Call Button for Elderly
Best for: Durability
This is not your regular walkie talkie. Designed like a pager, its popularity is fast growing among caregivers and the elderly. The CallToU Caregiver Pager finds its way into our list of best walkie talkies for seniors as a result of its simplicity, durability, lightweight and incredible affordability.
This is also largely used in old people’s homes. All you have to do is push the button that sends a signal to the transmitter placed in the room, which then sends a signal to the caregiver that help is needed. It is an extremely easy device for elderly to use and is fully water resistant.
The best part of this walkie talkie is One call button . With just a push of one button could call multiple receivers same time which will help the elderly immensely in the needy time.
Specifications of CallToU Caregiver Pager
- Includes 2 pagers and transmitter
- Neck strap included
- IP55 Waterproof
- Alkaline batteries
- 55 ringtones available
- 500-foot range
- Pluggable transmitters
Pros and Cons of CallToU Caregiver Pager
Pros:
- Easy to use
- One call button
- Waterproof design
- Several ringtones to choose from
- Very convenient
- Extremely affordable
Cons:
- Poor range
- Limited to SOS alerts; no actual communication
3. GOCOM G600 Walkie Talkie
Best for: Price
This two way radio is lightweight and very easy to use. The large buttons are another added advantage, making its operation hassle-free and simple. This reliable radio set is one of the best walkie talkies for seniors on the market for its reliability, affordability and for its great features.
Take its headsets for instance- a great resource for seniors who may have a hard time hearing properly. The included batteries also mean you don’t have to spend extra money on batteries.
Specifications of GOCOM G600 Walkie Talkie
- 22 channels
- FRS Frequency
- Built-in flashlight
- VOX Scan
- NOAA Weather channels
- Belt clip
- Channel number display
- 32-mile range (from a mountain)
Pros and Cons of GOCOM G600 Walkie Talkie
Pros:
- Great mile range, up to 4 miles in town
- Waterproof
- It is a budget walkie talkie
- Long-lasting batteries included
- Hand-free communication enabled
- Features a danger Quick Alarm
Cons:
- May not withstand submersion in water.
4. Motorola T100 Talkabout
Best For: Audio Quality
Motorola is a known name within the walkie talkie circle, and it’s for good reason too. The simple layout is its most unique selling point, but for us; this two-way radio offers the best sound quality you could ask for.
Add that to iconic durability and over 18 hours of talk time and you’ll see why this walkie talkie ranks high among the best radios for seniors.
What’s more, whether it’s an FRS or a GMRS, you can connect with several other brands using this Motorola T100 delight. For a truly rewarding talk time with aging pops, this is one way to go.
Specifications of Motorola T100 Talkabout
- 2 radios in a pack
- Black and blue exterior
- 22 channels
- FRS/GMRS Connectivity
- Dimension at 1.1 x 1.91 x 5.22 inches
- 16-mile range
- 3 AAA Alkaline batteries
- Auto Squelch feature
Pros and Cons of Motorola T100 Talkabout
Pros:
- Amazing audio clarity
- Able to connect with other brands on both FRS and GMRS frequencies
- Great battery life
- Easy to use
- Large buttons
- Portable build
- Extremely affordable.
Cons:
- Range is not great
5. BAOFENG BF-888S-PLUS Walkie Talkie
Best For: Usability
BAOFENG has grown over the years to find itself among the elites of walkie talkie producers. Today, the brand also pops up when we discuss the best walkie talkies for seniors. But who wouldn’t love its mature look, easy operation and large visible buttons?
Besides, this two way radio can be bought on a budget. What’s more, you only need to connect the USB charger to get this one charged up for more talk time.
Whether it’s for outdoor or indoor communication with your elderly, this is one brand you can truly trust for clear connection and reliable power all day, every day.
Specifications of BAOFENG BF-888S-PLUS Walkie Talkie
- Black exterior design
- 16 channels
- UHF Tuner Technology
- Dimension of 2.55 x 1.18 x 4.92 inches
- Power-saving feature
- Low battery alert
- Up to 3-mile range
- Easy-to-use red buttons
Pros and Cons of BAOFENG BF-888S-PLUS Walkie Talkie
Pros:
- Red buttons easy to spot and push
- Multiple channels for flexibility
- USB direct charging for convenience
- Clear UHF Frequency for neighborhood usage
- Stable frequency
- Included earpiece for communication convenience
- Belt clip for easy carry.
Cons:
- Poor range
- Not waterproof.
Comparison Table of Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies for Seniors
| Range | Button size | Channels | USB Charging | Clip/Strap | |
| CallToU Walkie Talkie | 5 miles | Medium | 16 | Yes | Belt Clip & Neck strap |
| CallToU Caregiver Pager | 500 ft | Large | – | Yes | Neck strap |
| GOCOM G600 | 32 miles | Small | 22 | No | Belt clip |
| Motorola T100 | 16 miles | Large | 22 | No | Belt clip |
| BAOFENG BF-888S-PLUS | 3 miles | Large | 16 | Yes | Belt clip |
Final Words:
If you’ve never considered it before, this is the time to do so. There’s no point yelling whenever you need to talk to a senior that you’re taking care of. Getting an efficient walkie talkie will do you both a lot of good. Now that we’re on the topic, you can make a choice from the list provided above based on your own preference and budget. You’re not likely to go wrong with any of these products.
