Most of us senior citizens have to strain a bit when we make a phone call these days. First, in order to dial using those tiny phone buttons, and secondly, to hear what the party on the other end of the phone is saying after our connection is made. We need phones with BIG buttons, and we need phones with ADJUSTABLE sound. In addition, most of us, these days, would also like our phone to have an answering machine

I spent weeks looking for a phone that boasted all three attributes and was delighted to find ClearSounds Photo50, Model V608, which was not only reasonable priced, but which was really nice looking, too. If you've been looking for a land based phone that can fill all your needs, here's what you can expect with the ClearSounds Photo50.

1. ClearSounds Photo50 has large buttons each measuring just over 1" Wide.

The white numbers on a black background make dialing easy, even if you have some visual impairment. In addition to the usual 0-9 numerals, a pound key, and a star, this phone has three large photo buttons at the top of the unit. The photo buttons are even larger than the regular buttons and can be programmed with your 3 most frequently called numbers, along with a picture of the person you are calling, if you wish. (That would make calling Grandpa or Grandma easy for small children in the household who are too young to read and dial numbers on their own.)

2. Setting the time, date, and adding memory numbers on your ClearSounds Photo50 is similar to most other phones.

A hidden control panel just under the photo buttons reveals switches that allow you to easily feed in your greeting message, time, date, and memory numbers. When you finish, you close the panel, and your phone looks sleek and uncluttered.

3. ClearSounds Photo50 has several options for adjustable sound.

If you are hearing impaired, you will love this phone. It has a button where you can adjust the sound coming through the receiver up to 40 decibels even while you are in the middle of a conversation by pressing a "boost" button. If you don't need that much amplification, you will find another volume control underneath the handset that adjusts from 1-9. The boost button will return to normal level after you replace the handset in the cradle so that others who may use the phone will not be exposed to the louder level of sound.

4. ClearSounds Photo50's answering machine lets you know about new messages as soon as you enter the room and it has a speaker phone so you can listen to your calls and messages do other things at the same time.

An ample-sized window shows red, flashing numerals that attract your attention even from the other side of the room. The elongated play button is at the bottom of the unit, and plays your messages immediately after it is pressed.

5.You can use your ClearSounds Photo50 as a desk phone, or mount it on the wall.

If you are like me, your desk is already piled high, so having the option of mounting the phone on the wall is a nice choice.

6. The ClearSounds Photo50 is reasonably priced.

The price of the phone runs a little over $75 most places which seems fairly reasonable, considering all the features it boasts, and the fact that an answering machine is included. The last time I checked, it was a bit higher, but they have frequent sales, and there are many other places to purchase The ClearSounds Photo50, too.

I haven't had my ClearSounds Photo50 very long, but I can tell you that I already like it better than any phone I have ever had. If you are in the market for a new phone, be sure you take a few minutes to check this one out online.

Jeanne Gibson writes from her home in Springfield, Oregon. Check out her blog at http://sowingseedsthatmatter.blogspot.com/2010/07/clearsounds-photo50-large-button-phone.html for more about this really neat phone.