Phone: 0161 250 5341 | Email: info@livingsupported.co.uk
Using Technology to Stay in Touch: A Beginner’s Guide
A friendly, jargon-free guide for older people to video calls, tablets and smart speakers, with tips on staying safe online.
In short
- Video calls let you see family and friends from home.
- A tablet with large icons is often the easiest place to start.
- Never share passwords or bank details with anyone who contacts you.
Why it is worth a try
Technology can bring grandchildren’s faces into your living room, help you shop from home and keep you connected with clubs and church. Many people start in their eighties or nineties.
Good places to start
- A tablet with large icons and a simple home screen
- Video calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Zoom
- A smart speaker for music, radio, reminders and hands-free calls
- Large-button phones if a smartphone feels too much
Learning at your own pace
Ask for one thing at a time to be set up and practised, such as “call my daughter”. Write simple steps on a card. Libraries and community centres often run free digital help sessions.
Staying safe online
- Never share passwords, PINs or bank details
- Do not click links in unexpected messages
- If in doubt, hang up or close the message and ask someone you trust
Read our guide to staying safe from scams. Our lifestyle support companions can set up devices and practise with you.
Where to get help
- Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602 (free, 8am to 7pm, every day)
About Livingsupported: we offer private, non-regulated companionship, home help and lifestyle support across South Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire. We do not provide personal, nursing or medical care, counselling or therapy. Request a free home visit or call 0161 250 5341.