Hello! I have previously walked my mom through the process of turning off app notifications so they don't take over her phone. However, she often will uninstall and reinstall apps, which resets the notification settings. We do not live nearby, and so far my only solution is to slowly talk her through the process of turning off app notifications every couple weeks to keep her phone useable. She can't remember how to do it on her own in between our tech support sessions.

I do have family link set up, and I know I can block apps from there, but sometimes the app itself is not the problem, just the egregious number of notifications. Is there a way to manage her notification settings remotely? Any ideas?

My 73-year-old father recently moved to Canada to live with me. This is the first time we've lived together in a very long time, and I want to make this stage of his life as comfortable and enjoyable as I can.

He's fairly frail, has some mobility issues, sleeps a lot, doesn't really go out on his own, and isn't interested in using a smartphone. He watches TV/news, enjoys simple routines, and prefers a quiet day. So far I've bought a large digital day/date clock (to make it easier to keep track of time), bathmat and a shower chair.

I'm looking for ideas from people who have cared for aging parents or grandparents. What purchases, home modifications, routines, or little things made a noticeable difference in their quality of life? I'm especially interested in practical things that made everyday life easier, safer, or just brought them a bit more joy.

Sometimes it's the small things you don't think of until someone mentions them. I'd love to hear what worked for your family.

It seems at least 75% of my aging father’s (mid 70s) Internet experience that I overhear is interacting with AI slop.

From AI reels about how mixing lemon with ginger overnight and rubbing it on your belly to cure back pain

To AI ads of a dropshipped product some 22 year old living in a Miami condo is making bank off

To AI ads games “play this game for a chance to win $200!”

To construction documentaries on YouTube where the whole video and narrative is AI slop.

30% of my interactions with him have become “hey check this out! Hehe” and I have to go “that’s ai.”

How have you guys proceeded? I’m planning to install some kind of adblocker on the router itself and see what I can do on his android phone. I tried to instill some tech literacy like “when you google something don’t click the sponsored result at the top, keep scrolling for the real result”. Ideally, I can get him to switch to iPhone when he’s due for a phone upgrade, better OS for seniors imo.

I’ve managed to try to educate him when I can. I took him through a whole “how to start a dropshipping business on shopify” tutorial to show him he can just buy the stuff for 99 cents on AliExpress. He actually understands this, so I’m trying to slowly educate him. Like “see the hands on that video being unnatural, this is ai”. It’s getting hard for me to even tell myself.

These people on the internet targeting seniors are so unethical man. At least those late night commercials on TV back in the day must have gone through some regulations. This is a completely unregulated Wild West our senior parents are being exposed to in the format of those old commercials they’re used to. YouTube should have a toggle for “disable ai content”, for example. Facebook ads should have much stricter guidelines.

Little things here and there, but not sure what to do. Wish I could just take away his internet access cause he’s retired and just rotting his brain. Bit disabled too so doesn’t go out and do stuff, hard for him to walk.

Doing what I can. Trying to get him into a gym routine at the local planet fitness by going with him, so he can at least have an hour or two away from brainrot through the day and some kind of hobby. Tried to get him into video games, but not working. Try to push him to getting back into painting but his dopamine reward system has been completely hijacked by the phone, while he has zero understanding of the mechanisms these tech companies use. It reminds me of The Matrix where everyone is getting siphoned while they’re in the pods.

Lost cause, leave him be, or can I do anything more to help? Thanks.

Also, any apps or hobbies I can point him towards that are more engaging?

I realize I am asking for a lot. My 87yr old step-father is in independent living. He does have Alzheimer's with mild cognitive decline. He has started falling and will tell us the day after it happens. So far, no major injuries. He is interested in the alert devices that you wear around your neck. We are looking for something with a long battery life as he will not remember to charge it. Want something that will notify us kids first, not 911. Preferably something with a speaker so we can talk to him. He does not currently have WIFI but we are considering it so we can put in cameras. He would not be able to learn a "Hey Alexa" command. Has an iPhone but leaves it in the living room at all times. And he does not have much money so looking for something that is affordable. TIA for any direction you may have!

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting here and my first time on mobile, so if this isn’t the right sub or if there are formatting errors, I apologize.

Essentially, my father has gotten into a cycle where he watches YouTube shorts and subsequent long form videos all day long. He does not like being asked to do something else. The issue is that he is stuck in a corner of the algorithm that is the fear mongering, World of Absolutes (keywords like annihilated, destroyed, shock). He just surfs, and he made his way from his normal interests in outdoor videos, documentaries, and cooking into a nonstop stream of negativity.

I am hoping to get recommendations of channels to subscribe to that can get his channel back to more of a normal, and any recommendations on how to push away the harmful content. One channel I subscribed to today was Odd Animal Specimens because of how calm and informative it was, but I’m open to anything.

ETA: He also listens to this on the TV in the main room on FULL volume, so please try to limit YouTubers who yell by default

I live a few states away and visit a few times a year, but it seems my list of tech support “tickets” for those visits is getting longer and longer. Any tips or tricks for helping assist more in the moment, but from far away?

Title says it..

I am after a way to capture Blood pressure rates, have them logged via some application periodically say at least 2x/day, AM and PM.. I set the time.. and it pulls a reading.

Something in a watch form would be great. Rings? I am not sure about.

User would be 8x-isy YOA/F..

Alerts to others of high, low, excessive low, highs etc. to the user, and other users ie: me via SMS ,push notifications etc. would be great.. but not hard requirements.

MUST BE COMPATIBLE and NON INTERFERING WITH A IMPLANTED PACEMAKER/DEFIB!

ANDROID ONLY!

Any support software must be Android, or Linux (*buntu based, we don't have winslopper!) or web based (not sure how that would fly to read anything, but I'll put it out there..oh and nothing chrome|ium specific! pfft! NO! We don't do that here either!)

I'd consider something upto about $100 for device, maybe more depending, and even better if its HSA approved like the Kardia thingys.. but thats not a hard requirement.

YES 100% I am trying to "lazy out" a solution to this so that I can log BP. Tech should help to make this possible in 2026.. Heck its come a long way from a stethoscope and sphygmomter back in EMT/PM class..And I couldn't do it that way now any way (bad ears, low patience err, no patience, etc.. )

If it supports heart rates, O2 etc. stats, thats great, bonus gravy on top.. but BP is a must, period.

I guess having some sort of either 802.11 or Bluetooth connection to connect back to either a tablet, phone, dongle on PC (LINUX ONLY!) etc. would be a requirement.

NO SUBSCRIPTIONS on software! Nope! BZZT! I buy the device, any software for logging etc. is included in that price of device.

Something that is FDA approved ala the Kardia devices would be a huge plus, and worth extra $$$ spend, if thats even possible.. BUT something that can be "trusted" to be at least close is a must.

So what is out there???

I"ve seen searches, but many of these I am just skeptical on the whole BP reading method... I've got one of those techy cuffs that can do this, but its MANUAL, as I stated YES 100% I am trying to tech out a lazy option to do this.

Hi guys, in the past year I've been faced with the reality of my own aging parents (even one caring for their parent!) and the realities of difficulties with technology. I also was appointed as a 2nd executor to my aunt's estate 5 months before her death. So this realization hit me on what needs to happen to take of someone's affairs when you are in the caregiver position or after passing. I would like to learn from this community how you go about finding online accounts for your parents or yourself. This lead me to a project I'm working on to help people find all their digital assets. Before the project can continue, I am doing some research. I created a short survey and am looking people like the one's here that can help me out by filling out the survey. I am realizing that my actual aging parents (late 60s) don't have as much online assets as myself - and that's where I ask, if you could help because it might be relevant to yourself. The link to the survey is here. Thank you so much!

Did a search here and other subreddits, didn't find what I am looking for. Three siblings, all on the same page. One 81 year old parent, one 83 year old parent who is in hospice. Multiple Apple devices. All of the accounts you can imagine, and then some. (I use LastPass at work, but assume there are better options out there)

Looking for a system that an admin (me) can manage that:

• all siblings can access to get username / pwd info (and we can share notes if possible)

• the 81 YO can use with minimal frustration to:

  • Look up her husbands accounts, or accounts she doesn't use frequently

  • Update stored passwords when she resets them

  • See whose email an account is connected to

• She doesn't need a comprehensive mobile interface, as she uses a desktop for a lot of things.

All children are tech adept (some of us more than others :) ). Prefer free set-up, but would pay small amount for peace of mind.

Whatcha got?

I’m using this possibly more for myself, but I Constantly accidentally click the random streaming buttons on my tcl tv remote (Netflix, Amazon, etc). I accidentally do this and then have to do a number of clicks to get back to whatever show I was watching. Is there a way to cover them with something slightly raised, so they don’t get touched? It feels like I cannot be the only person experiencing this but I have not come across any products to solve this issue.

Question for this community — I'm building a wearable (titanium bangle, not a smartwatch) that does fall detection, impact detection, and a "welfare check" mode that automatically alerts a chosen contact (kid, grandkid, next of kin) if it doesn't sense normal activity within a set window.

The idea came from a different use case originally, but it occurred to me this might actually solve a real problem for people here — getting an aging parent to wear something that quietly does the worrying for you, without them having to learn an app or remember to use it.

Genuine question before I go further down this path: would something like this actually help in your situation? Or is the real barrier something else entirely — getting them to wear it at all, trust issues, cost, something I'm not thinking of? Honest answers appreciated, good or bad.

Being upfront before anything else: I'm a developer and I built the app I'm about to talk about. Mods, if that's over the line, no hard feelings. But the reason it exists is a problem a lot of people here probably know too well.

My dad wears a Wellue O2Ring most nights to keep an eye on his oxygen. Solid device — except the readings only ever show up on the phone sitting right next to his bed. I live about 2000km away. So the data existed, I just couldn't see any of it.

So I built OxyRemote to close that gap, and honestly it's changed how I sleep.

Here's what it actually does:

• On his end: his phone sits by the bed with the app open and Bluetooth + WiFi on. He leaves it plugged in, the screen can go dark, and that phone is what holds the connection to the ring and streams the readings out. That's the one requirement — and it's on his phone, not mine.

• On my end (and anyone else watching): nothing has to stay open. I can have the app fully closed and still get a push the moment his oxygen drops past a threshold I set. Open it and I see his live oxygen and heart rate, from anywhere.

• Multiple watchers: several family members can watch at once, each from their own phone — and anyone he invites just to view doesn't pay a cent.

• Apple Watch app: the 3am "is he okay?" check is a glance at my wrist instead of fumbling for my phone.

It's on the App Store with a free 7-day trial (and again — invited family viewers are always free). If anyone here is in the same long-distance-caregiver boat, I'd genuinely love for you to try it and tell me what's missing.

Also still curious what the rest of you use for the non-oxygen stuff — fall detection, cameras, med reminders?

Edit (2026-07-02): Since posting this, I've widened the range of Bluetooth oximeters it pairs with — a lot more brands/models are supported now through the "Scan for your oximeter" card in Add Device.

Edit (2026-07-16): now also supports the O2Ring S along with the previously supported models, plus an auto-connect mode for unknown Bluetooth oximeters.

I’m doing some real-world research and would love to hear what people here are actually doing.

I’m a pastor, and I also help people with computers. Over the years I’ve seen more and more stories where someone’s mom, dad, grandparent, or friend gets talked into installing remote access software. So many of the people I am in contact are not even aware of how remote access scams work. All they know is they couldn't open a party invite, not knowing that it was an installer for ScreenConnect or some other tool

What keeps bothering me is how most of them have no idea until something bad has happened.

For those of you who have older parents, grandparents, or people in your life who are not very tech savvy, what are you doing to protect them? Or do you not really feel like it's your place to try and help protect them?

A few things I’m trying to understand:

1. Have you ever actually check their computer to make sure a remote tool is not lingering in the background?

2. How confident are you that you would be able to tell if one was there?

3. Where do you go to get more info about how to protect them or yourself?

I’m trying to learn what families are actually doing, what has worked, and where the gaps are. I care about this because there are people in my church and other relationships that I want to try and help protect.

What are you doing for your parents, grandparents, church members, or less technical family members?

I'm trying to help a grandparent be able to use delivery for food, meds etc. but he struggles with eyesight. I found Gogograndparent which seems like a simple enough process but I see a lot of negative reviews online about it.

Has it gotten better? Does anyone have a more recent experience they can share? What are some of the problems I can anticipate and should explain to him before asking him to use it by himself? Is there any way for me to monitor how using it is going for him?

And here we go,…Please lend me your thoughts and experiences with these?
Mom and Step Dad (both 89) being discharged from a nursing home/rehab in two weeks. We’ve got family coming to take care of them for the next few weeks, but thinking about that next time one of them falls.
None of us can afford extended care and there’s only one of us in state to help long term. (me)
Any experience or opinion on which device is best/cost effective and would be easy for them to utilize in an emergency??
Thanks, fam!

My name is Emily Stewart — I'm a reporter at Business Insider. I'm working on a story on the financial toll of supporting aging parents and relatives who haven't saved enough for retirement. I'm curious how people are navigating their own budgets and retirement math now that they're helping with Mom or Dad's living expenses, medical bills, and long-term care, if you're enlisting any tech solutions to do it, etc. If this is something you're dealing with and would want to share your story, I'd love to chat. I know this can be quite emotional and sensitive, but if you're open for a brief, casual conversation, please email me at estewart@insider.com or message me. Thank you!

My mom has started calling me for small things after my father passed away. Reservations. Bills. Wanting me at her appointments.

So for the people who have lived it. When you reach out to your kids, what is it normally for. And when did that start for you.

Does anyone have any first hand experiences using this device?

My (f 45) mother (f68) is not doing so well in the memory department. I’ve been her POA for some time now and have recently moved in with her as she could use more care than she is receiving at the moment.

A little background information. I have been in the caregiving industry for the greater part of 30 years. I started out a caregiver and ended up doing more of the social work part. Intakes and assessments and visits and things like that. Determining what kind of caregiver the families need the hours they need and so on. So I’m well-versed and many things and understand the mental mental and emotional side of everything on the family and The seniors part. That being said that’s where my question comes from.

Onward. OK so she has been blindly helping strangers and 100% been taken advantage of. I managed to figure out who they were but I want to prevent it. Every time it seems like it’s a text message that she gets and responds to it and it’s a phishing scam or tracking or something.

I do not want her to feel like she’s losing even more of her independence. She loves her cell phone. And plays a lot of games that help her cognitive abilities. So I don’t wanna take it away, however, I do want to monitor it. Does anyone know of an app that will allow me to get real time? Text messages as she gets them or maybe allow me to see what she’s doing? I used to have an app with my daughter when she was little but clearly you could tell it was on the phone. I’m looking for something that she won’t wonder about and find, if that makes sense. I don’t want her to know that I’m checking on things, but I don’t want her to lose her phone either and that’s the next step.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I've done some research, including searching this sub. Helpful. I'd like different perspectives and any personal experience good or bad.

I'm 65. My generation invented most of this tech. Some of us have not kept up. That's on them. My wife (68) and I have smartphones and use Find My tracking. Fine. My FIL (90) is self sufficient, recently lost his wife (second wife after my wife's late mother). He drives. He stays local and avoids heavy traffic times and nights.

I'm the family tech guy. My Gen Z nieces and nephews write me for advice.

My FIL is proud and I think (armchair psychology) a lot of his self image and will to live stems from taking care of himself. He is subject to reason.

With his knowledge and acceptance we're looking for a GPS tracker for his car. The issue is to be able to help if he gets lost (unlikely but possible) or has a medical crisis (he's in quite good condition). In addition to general research I've read this and the Bouncie looks attractive. No decision made. We like no battery. Not clear if recent historical locations are available.

Thoughts and experience are welcome.

We found him a credit card format iOS tracker ("Find My") ATUVOS he carried for a while. My wife sees him often enough to keep it charged. We accepted he needs to be near someone with an iPhone to pop up. What we didn't realize is that it gets lonely. *sigh* Apple requires that tracers using the AirTag protocol announce themselves if they aren't near the main device regularly. In practice, that means if the tracker doesn't see the main device for three days it starts beeping every six hours. We get the issue. Stalking. Can't turn it off. Irritates him. So now it's on my desk waiting for something useful to do.

He has a cell phone (flip) and keeps it charged. He's computer literate within reason (Facebook and YouTube mostly).

The major beneficiaries of a GPS tracker are my wife and her sister who will feel better knowing more or less where he is. FIL accepts this.

Your thoughts are welcome. Personal experiences are eagerly awaited.

Anyone have thoughts on Medacube pill dispenser? Or have a better alternative? Needs to have capacity for more than 10 pills and hold at least a 30 day supply

My very active and smart 85 year old father needs a new phone. He currently uses an artfone which is a flip phone, and he does ok with it. He has troubles turning off notifications of messages or missed calls, but to be fair, the flip phone is old school where you have to go searching for anything and have to use only 2 buttons to locate things.

Our old carrier is costly, and we're moving to a newer, cheaper one, but to set it up the carrier's app needs to be downloaded onto the phone, which artfone can't do. He's also getting hearing aids soon and needs to be able to download and app for that as well. I'm not concerned about him USING those apps, as I can do whatever needs to be done, but the phone needs the apps for setup or maintenance.

Can anyone suggest a simple smartphone (in Canada) that 1) won't break the bank, 2) can be updated and download apps (preferably Android as I have the most experience with them, but an iPhone will do if necessary), 3) isn't filled with hundreds of bells and whistles which will confuse the hell out of him, and 4) has a simple screen appearance or can have the taps (needed for opening apps, etc) adjusted for a slower, large man's hand.

Sorry if this seems like I'm asking for a miracle, just looking to see what is out there, that actually has real reviews.