Tech tips for older adults and their families.
Plain-English guides to phones, tablets, scams and staying in touch, for older adults in the DC area and the people who help them.
Guides by topic
Scams & safety
How to spot a scam call or text
The warning signs that give most scams away, and the phone settings that stop many of them before they reach you.
Read the guideScams & safetyClicked a scam link? What to do right now
A calm, step-by-step plan for the first hour after you click a bad link or let a stranger onto your computer.
Read the guideScams & safetyMedicare and bank scam calls: how they work
What real Medicare and real banks will never ask you for, and a simple way to check any call that worries you.
Read the guideScams & safetyPassword managers, made simple
What a password manager does, whether you need one, and the simplest way to get started without losing access to anything.
Read the guideScams & safetyHow to block spam calls on an iPhone or Android phone
The settings that quiet robocalls and scam calls on iPhone, Android and landlines, and how to make sure family still gets through.
Read the guideScams & safetyThe grandparent scam: how it works and how to stop it
Why a crying voice on the phone isn’t proof anymore, and the one family habit that shuts this scam down.
Read the guideScams & safetyTech support scams: fake pop-ups and calls explained
How to close a scary virus warning safely, why Microsoft never calls you, and what to do if a stranger got onto your computer.
Read the guideScams & safetyGift card scams: how to spot them and what to do
One simple rule spots every gift card scam, plus what to do in the first hour if you already read the numbers to someone.
Read the guideScams & safetyAmazon scam calls and texts: how to tell real from fake
A $999 iPhone order you didn’t place? Here’s how to check your Amazon account safely in under a minute, without calling anyone back.
Read the guideScams & safetyEmail hacked? What to do right now
A calm, ordered checklist for when friends get strange messages from your account, or you can’t sign in at all.
Read the guideScams & safetyOnline banking safety tips for older adults
The handful of settings and habits that make banking on a phone or computer safer than paper statements and checks.
Read the guidePhones & tablets
Setting up a new iPhone for an aging parent
The settings worth doing on day one, from bigger text and Medical ID to account recovery, so the phone is easier and safer to use.
Read the guidePhones & tabletsHow to make text bigger on a phone or tablet
Step-by-step settings for larger text, bigger icons and easier reading on iPhone, iPad and Android.
Read the guidePhones & tabletsChoosing a tablet for a senior parent
iPad, Android or Amazon Fire? How to pick the right tablet, the right size, and the setup that makes it easy from day one.
Read the guidePhones & tabletsThe best phone for an elderly parent: how to choose
There’s no single best phone. There’s the right phone for your parent’s eyes, ears, memory and habits. Here’s how to decide.
Read the guidePhones & tabletsHow to clear storage on an iPhone without losing your photos
Storage full? Here’s how to free up space safely, starting with the steps that don’t delete anything you care about.
Read the guidePhones & tabletsHow to update your iPhone or Android phone
Why updates matter for safety, where to find them, how to make them automatic, and what to do when one gets stuck.
Read the guidePhones & tabletsHow to connect hearing aids to an iPhone or Android phone
Stream phone calls, FaceTime and music straight to your hearing aids. Here’s how to pair them, and what to try when they won’t connect.
Read the guideSafety & health
How to set up Medical ID and Emergency SOS on your phone
Ten minutes now means first responders can see allergies, medications and who to call, even when the phone is locked.
Read the guideSafety & healthApple Watch fall detection: how to set it up
Which watches have it, how to turn it on, what happens after a hard fall, and the settings that make it work when it matters.
Read the guideSafety & healthMyChart and telehealth visits, made easy
Signing up, messaging your doctor, finding test results and joining a video visit without the last-minute scramble.
Read the guideStaying in touch
Video calling the grandkids, made simple
Which video calling app to use, how to start a call, and small tips that make the picture and sound much better.
Read the guideStaying in touchHow to share photos with family using iCloud or Google Photos
A private family photo album everyone can add to, without Facebook, email attachments or texting photos one at a time.
Read the guideStaying in touchWhatsApp for seniors: a simple setup and safety guide
Installing WhatsApp, sending your first message, photo and voice note, and the settings that keep strangers and scammers out.
Read the guideHome & TV
Smart TV and streaming basics
What streaming actually is, the three remote buttons that matter, how to keep free local channels, and one scam to avoid.
Read the guideHome & TVWi-Fi not working? Simple fixes to try first
Most Wi-Fi problems are fixed with a proper restart. Here’s the order to try things, and how to tell whether it’s your home or your provider.
Read the guideHome & TVAlexa for elderly parents: setup, reminders and safety
An Echo can remind a parent about pills, call family hands-free and help in an emergency. Here’s how to set it up thoughtfully.
Read the guideLocal help
Senior tech help near me: how to choose a safe helper
What to look for, what to ask, and the warning signs that separate a trustworthy tech helper from a scammer.
Read the guideLocal helpTech help for seniors in Northern Virginia
Patient, in-home and remote tech help for older adults in Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and nearby, plus what a visit actually looks like.
Read the guideLocal helpIn-home tech help for seniors in Maryland
Help with phones, tablets, computers and scam protection for older adults in Montgomery County and much of Prince George’s County.
Read the guideLocal helpSenior tech help in Washington, DC
One-on-one help with phones, computers, TVs and online safety for older adults in every DC ward, at home or by video.
Read the guideStart with a free 15-minute call.
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