It's easy to teach someone how to make a video call when you're sitting beside them. You can point to the right button, answer questions, dismiss the unexpected notification, and quietly rescue the entire operation when the screen suddenly does something neither of you expected.
The better test comes later. Can your loved one do the same thing when you're not there?
If an older adult wants to text, look at family photos, or video call the people they love, the technology needs to work on an ordinary Tuesday when nobody is available to provide live technical support. That doesn't mean your loved one has to master the device. It means the device and the instructions surrounding it should be simple enough to use without remembering a miniature training seminar. These senior technology tips can help.
Take a look at your loved one's current setup and see how well it passes these tests:
Can they recognize who they're trying to reach? Names buried inside a long contact list aren't always the easiest way to find someone. Add clear photos to important contacts, place frequently called people in Favorites, and create shortcuts when possible. If your loved one can recognize a person’s face immediately, let that recognition do some of the work.
Can they get there without choosing among several apps? Try to standardize how relatives communicate with your loved one. Perhaps everyone uses one app for video calls and regular texting for messages. It doesn't matter if another platform has more bells and whistles. The best option is the one your loved one can reliably use.
Can they see and hear what's happening? Look closely at text size, icons, screen brightness, contrast, ringtone volume, and call volume. Explore accessibility settings that might make the device easier to operate as well. If tapping a tiny icon requires several attempts or incoming calls are difficult to hear, technology instruction isn't addressing the actual obstacle.
Can they recover from a wrong tap? This is an important one because wrong taps are inevitable. Show your loved one how to return to a familiar screen when they accidentally open something else. A simple “get me back to where I started” strategy can be more useful than knowing what every mysterious screen means.
Can they follow the directions without you translating them? Write instructions using the language your loved one understands rather than technology shorthand. Instead of “launch FaceTime and select the contact,” write something closer to “Tap the green camera picture. Then tap DAVID.” Keep directions short, use large print if helpful, and add screenshots or photos when a visual reminder works better than words.
Can they repeat one important task? Ask your loved one to make or answer the same type of call several times rather than practicing a collection of unrelated features. Let them complete each step while you watch. Repetition helps turn a sequence of unfamiliar choices into something recognizable.
Can you simplify whatever still isn't working? If initiating video calls remains difficult, don't make it a requirement for staying connected. Have children, grandchildren, siblings, or friends initiate the calls instead. If typing long messages is frustrating, explore whether voice-to-text is easier. The solution doesn't have to be learning the original method better; sometimes the smarter answer is changing the method.
Once you've gone through the list, resist the urge to keep adding features because your loved one is doing well. Success with a few useful tasks is enough.
Someone who can reliably answer calls, exchange a few messages, and see the grandchildren on video doesn't need to understand everything happening behind the screen. Most of us don't understand everything our phones are doing either.
It also helps to accept that the setup will occasionally need attention. Apps update, screens change, passwords expire. When that happens, simplify again rather than assuming your loved one has forgotten everything they've learned.
Sometimes Technology Needs a Human Assist
Even a carefully simplified device can't eliminate every frustrating moment. Your loved one may occasionally need help answering a call, finding a photo someone sent, reading a message, or getting back to the right screen after an accidental tap.
Having someone nearby can keep those small obstacles from becoming reasons to stop using the technology altogether. Commonwise Home Care can provide companionship and assistance at home, helping your loved one stay engaged with the people and activities that matter to them.
If someone you love in Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, the Shenandoah Valley, or coastal South Carolina and the surrounding areas could benefit from more connection, senior technology tips, or a helping hand at home, call Commonwise Home Care at 833-888-3633. We can talk about how home care could give your loved one more opportunities to stay involved, both on the screen and beyond it.