Seniors enjoy music and audiobooks as much as the rest of the population. The best mp3 players for seniors should have big tactile buttons, large clear screens, and headphones that are bright and clear to make them easier to use.
Unfortunately, the small buttons on most mp3 players can make them difficult to use.
For a lot of elderly people, listening to music triggers happy memories from their past. These memories can lead to a stress-free and relaxed mind.
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Seniors who live alone or are unable to get around in their homes due to limited mobility or vision often turn to music as a source of entertainment and relaxation.
Some seniors enjoy listening to their favorite radio shows. Others might like to listen to music or audiobooks.
Mp3 players are very good for this because the user doesn’t have to worry about bad signals or the station not playing the songs that they want to hear.
So, here are a few of the best mp3 players for the elderly and seniors.
HIFI WALKER H2 mp3 Player
The HIFI Walker Bluetooth mp3 could be a good choice.
One of the main things you want for a device for an older person is a large screen.
This player has a large, 2-inch high-definition screen which will make it easier to read the information on the screen, like the song title and artist.
The equipment itself is also ideal. It is built to be durable and high-quality, making it strong enough to stand up to being dropped occasionally, thanks to a loss of dexterity in the fingers.
It also has a scroll wheel for controls, which makes it a tactile experience and is easy to control even for people who might have some trouble seeing.
The mp3 player is thick and chunky, and won’t feel too delicate in older hands.
The system is easy to use for older people, as everything is controlled with physical buttons. You can pause, play, go back or forward, and repeat songs with one physical button press.
This means you won’t have to worry about touchscreen sensitivity issues or a fiddly user interface to interfere with the user.
The buttons are the same color as the background, however, which makes them a bit harder to see.
This mp3 player has an affordable price point and great sound quality. For seniors, the tactical feedback and large screen display are an added bonus.
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Sony Walkman (E390 Series)
The Sony NWZ-E393 Series mp3 player is an audio player for seniors, with a chunkier look and feel. It has large, easy-to-use buttons that will give tactile feedback.
A lot of seniors prefer this to touch-sensitive devices that have a smooth surface.
Some seniors might prefer the fact that this device has some more heft to it than other options. It’s thicker, so you can really feel it in your hands.
This is better for seniors who have arthritis, or poor dexterity in their fingers and hands.
The LCD screen is very clear to look at, but it might be a bit small, at only 1.77 inches across diagonally.
The device is easy to learn to use, so you won’t need to pay too much attention to the screen once you have got used to it.
The player is charged via USB or with an included wall charger, and has about 35 hours of playback, giving you lots of listening time for audiobooks or music.
Loading songs is easy, and songs are sorted by album or by artist.
Most popular audio formats are supported, so you can listen to music or audiobooks easily, and the player can be used as an external drive for some other systems.
The player can only support wired headphones, not Bluetooth ones. However, this is probably not an issue for most seniors.
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- Alarm and timer function, Playlists compatible, Earbud style Headphones and USB cable included
Sony Walkman (E390 Series)
Pros
- Quality of material
- Thickness
- Battery life
- Easy to use
- Video quality
- Value for money
Cons
- None
SanDisk 16GB Clip Sport Plus mp3 Player
This digital audio player is no-frills and is usually aimed at runners. However, it is a great choice for seniors as well.
It’s simple to use, with a clear screen and simple controls on the face of the device. There’s also a clip to attach the device to your belt, meaning it’s much harder to lose or drop by mistake.
