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    Caregiver Phone Setup

    A 12-step checklist for setting up an aging parent's phone.

    For adult children

    Mom or Dad got a new phone. The default settings are NOT designed for them — they're designed to look pretty in store demos. These 12 changes turn any phone into a phone for someone over 70. Takes about 30 minutes.

    The Checklist

    1. Make text BIG. Settings → Display → Text Size → push the slider as far right as they can comfortably read.
    2. Bold all text. Settings → Display → Bold Text → ON.
    3. Bigger app icons. iPhone: Settings → Display → Display Zoom → Larger Text. Android: Settings → Display → Display Size.
    4. Set up Medical ID — emergency info on lock screen. (See our Medical ID Setup tool.)
    5. Set up Emergency SOS — one button calls 911. (See our Emergency SOS Setup.)
    6. Add favorites. Open Phone → Favorites → add your number, spouse, doctor's office, pharmacy, and one or two close friends. They tap a name — no scrolling.
    7. Set up tap-to-pay. Apple Pay or Google Pay. Safer than swiping a card. Show them how once. (See Tap-to-Pay Setup.)
    8. Turn on two-factor on Apple ID / Google account, email, and bank. Add YOUR number as a backup. (See Two-Factor Coach.)
    9. Block spam calls. iPhone: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers → ON. Android: install carrier's free spam filter. (See Block Spam Calls.)
    10. Photo of each contact. Open Contacts → tap a name → Edit → Add Photo. Now when family calls, their face shows on the screen. Big help for memory.
    11. Set up Find My / Find My Device. So if the phone is lost, you (and they) can find it. Add yourself as a family member.
    12. Print the cheat sheet. List of important phone numbers, the home Wi-Fi password, the Apple ID/Google email and password (in a safe place), and 5-10 things they ask about most often. Tape it to the fridge or inside a kitchen cabinet.

    Bonus moves

    • Family Sharing (Apple) or Family Link (Google) — lets you see if their phone is offline, share their location, and help with App Store purchases.
    • Add yourself as Legacy Contact on their Apple ID / Google account. (See Digital Legacy Setup.)
    • Set up a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden. They forget passwords; the manager remembers. Set up Emergency Access so you can help.
    • Schedule a 6-month checkup. Put a calendar reminder to come back, update apps, check storage, and refresh the cheat sheet.
    • Practice video calling. FaceTime or WhatsApp. If they only ever video-call once a week, that's still a huge win.

    Apps to install

    • Their bank's app — set it up together so you've seen their login.
    • Their pharmacy's app — refills are 2 taps.
    • MyChart or their hospital's portal — for results and messaging the doctor.
    • WhatsApp — if cousins or grandkids use it.
    • Maps (Apple Maps or Google Maps) — even if they don't drive much, useful for store hours and directions.
    • Magnifier (iPhone has a built-in one) — for reading menus and price tags.

    Most important

    Don't try to teach everything at once. Pick 2-3 things they'll use this week, and only those. Come back next month and add 2 more. Confidence beats coverage every time.