Are your grandparents struggling to use their smartphones? If you answered “YES”, you have arrived at the right place.
Due to the lack of experience with tech, elderly loved ones often struggle to use the latest tech gadgets, and smartphones are no different. Sometimes they also end up tapping on the wrong buttons and they call you to fix it. This happens due to a lack of guidance from your side.
When you set up the smartphone for your grandparents, it will be easier for them to use it in the right way. However, it doesn’t mean that you have to give a one-hour complete lecture on how to use a smartphone. Instead, just pick the tips that seem most relevant for your elderly loved ones.
With that said, here we will discuss some of the ways to make any smartphone friendly for your elderly loved ones. So, let’s get started:
1. Set Up The Lock Screen
While it may not sound like a good idea at first, setting up a lock screen is important for them. Today, smartphones come with face ID unlock and fingerprint sensors. You should guide them well on how to use these screen unlock functions.
Otherwise, you will have to set up a digit code or pattern which they can easily remember. Setting up a lock screen can eliminate the risk of data theft. Thus, you should consider setting up a lock screen for them, too.
2. Make Text More Readable
Eyesight deterioration is a part of aging. Thus, your grandparents won’t be able to read the text properly if the font is too small. So, the obvious way to address this issue is to increase the font size to make it more readable for them.
On the iPhone, tap on Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size and increase the font size. On the Android phone, go to Settings > Display > Font size. You can even change the font style.
3. Make Sure The Device Runs Smoothly
The biggest problem with smartphones is that they become slow after a couple of months of use. So, when your grandparents are using the smartphone, you don’t want the phone to hang in the middle of something.
However, to make the smartphone run faster, it’s always better to clear browsing history once in a while. Even keeping the smartphone updated with the latest versions can help.
For example, if your grandparents have an iPhone, you can click on this link to know how to clear history on Apple devices: https://setapp.com/how-to/clear-history-on-iphone-ipad
4. Increase The Notifications Sound
While most of us prefer to keep our smartphones silent, it’s always better to turn on the sound when you are setting it up for your grandparents. It can prevent your grandparents from missing important calls or messages. Also, make sure to turn on the vibration as well.
On the iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and then use the slider to turn up the volume.
On the Android phone, tap on Settings > Sounds & Vibrations and make sure you have ‘Sound’ selected. Also, enable ‘Vibrate while ringing.’
Wrapping Up
Giving a phone to someone who hasn’t used it before can be a nerve-wracking task. You will have to teach your grandparents basic things like how to make calls, send a message, and put the phone on silent.
Once you follow the tips mentioned above, your grandparents are all set to step into the world of the latest technologies.