It's Never Too Late to Get Savvy: Smartphone Basics for Older Adults
Stay connected, confident and safe
So, your grandkids convinced you to get a smartphone. Or maybe you just made the leap on your own. Either way, welcome to the digital age! Today’s smartphones are incredibly powerful tools for staying connected, managing your health and enjoying life.
And yes, you absolutely can learn this. Let’s start simple.
First, the basics
Get comfortable with these everyday functions:
- Volume buttons are on the side, and great for adjusting calls and media.
- The Home button (swipe up from the bottom for iPhones) takes you to the main screen.
- Pinch and zoom with two fingers to make text bigger on any screen.
- Go to Settings → Display → Text Size to permanently increase text size for easier reading.
- Restart your phone weekly. It clears memory and fixes small glitches.
Don’t be afraid to ask your carrier’s store for a free tutorial. Most are happy to help.
Navigating the Internet with confidence
The Web is an amazing resource once you know the basics:
- Use Google Chrome or Safari to browse websites. Just type your question in the search bar like you’re asking a friend. You can also type in a specific web address or URL (such as www.regalmed.com) to browse the site like you would on a computer or laptop.
- Before entering any personal information on a website—your name, address, bank details or password—look for the padlock icon in the address bar (or the https prefix in the URL). This means the website is secure.
- Bookmark your favorite sites so you can find them easily. To do this, tap the star icon (Chrome) or the share button followed by “Add to Bookmarks” (Safari). Your saved sites will then be one or two taps away whenever you need them.
- Perhaps one of the greatest gifts a smartphone can give you is video calling. This feature allows you to see your loved ones, not just hear them.
The most popular video calling options include:
- FaceTime is built into every iPhone and iPad, and wonderfully simple to use. If the person you’re calling also has an Apple device, you can reach them by tapping on their name from your Contacts.
- Google Meet is similar to FaceTime and an excellent option for Android users. It’s also free to use.
- Zoom works across all devices and is particularly popular for group calls, so you can have the whole family on screen at once.
Video calling has transformed how families stay connected, especially when distance or mobility makes regular visits difficult. Yes, there may be a small learning curve, but the moment you see your grandchild’s face light up on that screen, or share a laugh with a friend you haven’t seen in months, it becomes worth it.
QR codes (i.e., those funny little squares)
QR codes are everywhere: menus, flyers, even prescription bottles. To use one:
- Open your phone’s camera app.
- Point it at the QR code.
- Tap the link that pops up to be taken to the website. That’s it!
Email mastery: stay in the loop
Email is still one of the best ways to communicate. Remember to check it regularly, organize messages into folders and always think twice before clicking links in emails. More on that next.
Staying safe from online scams
This is important. Scammers specifically target older adults online. Protect yourself:
- Never share your Social Security number, passwords or bank information via email, text or phone.
- If something feels urgent or “too good to be true,” it probably is.
- Ignore pop-ups claiming your computer has a virus.
- When in doubt, call a trusted family member before clicking anything.
Technology is a gift that’s never too late to unwrap. Take it one step at a time, ask for help when you need it and enjoy staying connected with confidence.
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