Start with the ears, not the device. For an older adult, we'd almost always begin with an audiologist rather than an over-the-counter kit off a shelf. A licensed audiologist tests the actual hearing loss, checks for wax or medical issues, and programs the aid to match. OTC aids can work for mild loss and a tight budget, but they put all the fitting and troubleshooting on you. In our experience, that's where good intentions stall on a kitchen table.
Hamilton has some real practicalities. Many parents here live in older homes on the escarpment or in Westdale and Dundas, where stairs and a longer drive to a downtown clinic matter more than people admit. If getting out is hard, ask whether the clinic offers follow-up appointments closer to home or handles adjustments quickly, because you'll be back for tuning more than once in the first few months. Winter here is grey and long, and hearing aids get dropped in snowy entryways and lost in coat pockets, so a solid warranty and a loss-and-damage plan are worth the extra cost.
Prioritize three things: real experience fitting seniors, a proper trial period, and responsive service. Style matters for dexterity. Behind-the-ear models are easier to handle for arthritic fingers than tiny in-canal ones, even if the smaller style looks tempting. Push for a trial you can actually use, and ask what happens if it doesn't work out.
Our recommendation: choose an audiologist-fitted aid in a behind-the-ear style with a clear trial period and local follow-up, even over a cheaper or more discreet option. The trade-off is honest. It costs more up front and it's more visible, but the fit, the follow-up, and the odds your parent actually wears the thing are far better. A drawer full of unused hearing aids helps no one.