I just spoke with a friend of mine on the phone. He’s got various tech support issues including worrying that his phone might have some malware on it.
I have the skills to help him, but I don’t have the time. Therefore I’m looking for more options.
My question is: are there services that specialize in tech support for elderly people? Maybe coming over to do tasks for them, or a place that he can go with devices?
I recommended he go to the T-Mobile store for questions about his phone’s security, but I know it can be hit or miss with the expertise of retail employees.
Does anyone know of an IT service that specializes in helping elderly/tech-non-savvy individuals?
Sometimes eyesight, hearing, tremors, and other ailments both mental and physical are too much to overcome for every tech issue. Add to that the rapid state of technological change, and there are likely more worthwhile pursuits for some elderly folks to retain cognitive abilities.
That’s why all the operating systems have disability settings that can be turned on in the control panels, such as larger text, high contrast or colour blindness settings, larger cursors, and text to speech programs like Balabolka.
…I know, because I use these tools, because they’re part of what’s known as the curb-cut effect. So saying old people are too old to use technology is setting them up for failure.
Which do very little to help if their issue is a loose cable, router config, or anything in a system or app outside of ADA compliant areas - which are many, as I’m sure you know then. And also nothing to help with problems presented by various Alzheimer’s and similar diseases, syndromes and disorders, nor someone in physical pain, or limited energy from going through treatments. Many have trouble sticking with basic medical protocols, much less trying to figure out if ChatGPT is giving them a legit answer. Having 87 and 91 year old parents, and a partner who went totally blind at 36 has given me some insight. If they have to struggle to eat vs. figure out why their emails from their AOL account are suddenly not showing up in Google, guess where they’re going to put their limited energy?