I hear the same complaints about Cell Phones from the older generation...
- The buttons are too small and confusing
- Too many damn features
- Can't figure out how to make it work
Take a look at the iNo CP09 from Foresight Technologies. Totally designed with the elderly in mind: buttons you can hit with a thumb, beefy fonts and a loud ringer, too loud maybe? The big monochrome fonts are easy to see and not very distracting.
Just in time for Father's Day.