My Aging Parents

Why to get help and where to find it.

I’m not getting texts. 

My show didn’t record again.

I can’t connect to the internet.

Can you fix it?

And you say yes, because you’re the caring daughter or son who says yes.

This is how you become Mom’s go-to call for tech help when things go wrong. Which happens a lot. 

That’s a problem. Because you don’t have the time. You don’t have the patience. And you can barely keep your own devices and software running.

That’s an even bigger problem. Because being able to use today’s tech is a necessary reality for older adults who want to stay connected, safe, and live independently as long as possible. Especially if Mom or Dad lives alone.

The iPhone Mom uses for voice, text, and video calls can also be used to book a ride to the doctor’s office, or order groceries for delivery. 

Dad’s smartwatch can detect falls and irregular heart rates. 

And Mom can use an Alexa smart speaker to play music, find out what time the pharmacy closes, or call for emergency help. She can also use Alexa like an intercom to allow “drop in” conversations with you and other authorized contacts.

Say Goodbye to DIY

Keeping your parent’s devices working the way they should is essential. So is helping them avoid email, text, and tech support scams. But it isn’t easy.

And that challenge only gets more difficult if Mom’s thinking, memory, vision, or hearing begins to decline.

Tech support might be your problem, but it doesn’t have to be your job. You can get help — if you let yourself.

Here’s the good news: Tech support for your parents might be your problem, but it doesn’t have to be your job. 

You can get help — if you let yourself.

“Adult children feel a huge obligation to help,” says Abbie Richie, Tech Guru for The Smarter Service, a tech concierge service for older adults. 

“You know how to do the basics,” says Richie. “Maybe fix the printer or download a software update. So you think you can knock it out in 10 minutes. But it usually takes a lot more than 10 minutes because you’re their son or daughter, not a skilled technician who knows how to fix tech problems in 10 minutes.”

There’s another good reason to bring in outside help: dealing with Dad’s tech problems can be a flashpoint for frustration.

“The emotional dynamic is huge and often overlooked,” says Richie. 

The time we have with our parents, and the quality of that time, is precious, she says. “Think about the role you want to have with your parents. A lot of us want to enjoy our parents rather than be their go-to tech support.”

Where to Find Help

Don’t want to become a ticking tech support time bomb? A growing number of services specialize in helping older adults. Start here:

• ​The Smarter Service. Personalized, concierge remote tech support nationwide. In-person help available in select areas. Annual membership plans start at $250.
• ​Candoo. Nationwide, remote tech concierge support. One-hour sessions are $75. Annual memberships: $228 for individuals; $340 for couples.
• ​Senior Planet. This online community from AARP and Older Adults Technology Services offers extensive tech resources, including free articles, virtual classes, and one-to-one remote help from trained volunteers.
• ​Cyber-Seniors. Free one-to-one online tech support from trained student volunteers. Cyber-Seniors partners with schools, social service agencies, and community organizations in Canada and the U.S.

Today’s tech can be a game changer. More agency and autonomy for your parents. More peace of mind for you. 

Every day new gadgets and services come to market promising quick fixes for common aging-in-place and caregiving problems.

But quick fixes aren’t lasting solutions. 

There’s a better way to make tech work for you and your parents.

More about how to do that in the next issue…

For More:

• ​Tech Support Scams Are Rampant (AARP)
• ​What You Need to Know About AgeTech​
• ​Three Innovative Services to Lighten the Load​

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