It would be a mistake to assume that elderly individuals, especially in the year 2024, blatantly struggle with technology. This is quite an old trope by now, as many understand what a smartphone is, how to operate life-assistive tech, and how to work their smart televisions.
But of course, while patronising our elderly relatives or assuming they don’t know how to operate a simple device is bad form, it’s never harmful or hurtful to give them a gentle assistive hand now and then. After all, with the pace of modern technological development, even the most intuitive technology-lover can feel at a loss as they adapt to new platforms.
Giving them a helpful tour of the technology they use to improve their lives or stay in contact with you can be helpful. They might begin to understand why you use WhatsApp as your default family group chat app as opposed to iMessage, for instance, allowing them to be on the same page as the rest of you.
.Moreover, you can help them manage the devices they use, and help them free up spurious or older options, such as with services that allow you to ‘sell my iPhone online’ as you upgrade.
Let’s see how else you might assist your loved one:
Go Through Accessibility Settings
There are many worthwhile accessibility settings on smartphones (and other devices for that matter) – if they have slight vision problems, you might set up larger screen magnification and a high contrast keyboard so they can easily interact with their phone. You could also set up vibration feedback when they touch a key so they know it’s been registered.
Accessibility settings could also mean that the phone scans for Face ID as soon as it’s lifted, meaning they don’t have to press the tactile buttons on the phone to unlock it. Also setting up the voice assistant, such as on the television remote, can help them easily control the device without the same issue. If you go through each setting and weigh them on their utility, you can make the device more intuitive for your relative.
Pre-Set Their Account Logins & Streaming Options
Managing multiple accounts and passwords is a common frustration no matter how old you are. Setting up a simple password manager like Bitwarden that automatically refills a password with a simple PIN, or creating a secure document with login details that you show them if they’re confused, can save countless headaches later.
Some might even be set and forget, and so logging into everything then can help save them time. That goes for organizing streaming apps and subscriptions in a way that makes them easy to find and use – such as arranging them on the hotbar of their smart television.
Set Social Media Privacy Settings
Social media is a pretty great tool for staying connected, but the privacy settings aren’t always straightforward or obvious, and you don’t want your relative posting your family moments for the public to see without knowing.
Going through these settings together helps them see how personal information stays secure and content only reaches the intended audience. It’s worth taking time to understand who can see posts, photos, and personal details and how you connect with one another. A brief explanation here can go a pretty long way.
Set Up Data Loss/Theft Protection Services
Basic security measures like cloud backups and device tracking are important for everyone – if your loved one accidentally resets or damages their phone, having cloud backups means they won’t lose all of their beloved holiday snaps.
Getting these set up properly means photos, documents, and other important information can stay safe even if something happens to the device, and that also goes for keeping their accounts protected. It’s also worth discussing what to do if a device goes missing or stops working, and how to contact you. They may have a nice smartphone, but you could also provide a disposable older phone with all numbers pre-saved in case they need to contact you in an emergency.
Connect Any Related Tech
Smart home systems, fitness trackers, and even smart hearing aid devices now, have more devices connected with one another than ever. Even if it’s just a sound bar in front of the television, your elderly relative might be familiar with BlueTooth and connective functionalities like that, but aren’t entirely sure how to manage them.
Giving them a demonstration and helping them set up any and all connective tech in advance helps them avoid worrying about it, and if they have an issue they can always contact you.
With this advice, we believe you’ll help your elderly relative get to grips with their tech in the best possible sense.
We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with WeBuyAnyPhone.com and Promedcare. For more features, please pay a visit to our lifestyle page.
