The nightmare of dealing the the elders tech/phones

[HTTP404]

I'm sitting here listening to my dear wife on the phone with my Mom trying to help her setup her new Iphone. She already had an Ipad but the idiots at Verizon store set her up with another icloud account. So here we are trying to get her logged out of the new (redundant) Icloud and into her old one on the new phone. We are going on an hour + with this call so far.

Earlier her mom was asking about her Tmobile account and we discovered she is paying for a phone that is "locked" and unable to use.

Every week we spend hours on the phone walking the folks through something. We do use remote access tools when possible but that sometimes isn't an option. They can't seem to understand the basic navigation and moving around screens and apps..

They are setup with MFA on important things but I'm afraid they are one click away from getting scammed.

Any other inmates going through this?

 

[endobear]

Yep. Apparently my old man did something to his phone. Just found out he can only message people on the Whats App messenger. Explains why he hasn't returned my wifes, mine or his grandkids phone calls and text messages since August.
I'm not much better with tech.

 

[rivermobster]

I'm sitting here listening to my dear wife on the phone with my Mom trying to help her setup her new Iphone. She already had an Ipad but the idiots at Verizon store set her up with another icloud account. So here we are trying to get her logged out of the new (redundant) Icloud and into her old one on the new phone. We are going on an hour + with this call so far.

Earlier her mom was asking about her Tmobile account and we discovered she is paying for a phone that is "locked" and unable to use.

Every week we spend hours on the phone walking the folks through something. We do use remote access tools when possible but that sometimes isn't an option. They can't seem to understand the basic navigation and moving around screens and apps..

They are setup with MFA on important things but I'm afraid they are one click away from getting scammed.

Any other inmates going through this?

Dude...

If YOU can't fix it, no one can!

 

[HTTP404]

Dude...

If YOU can't fix it, no one can!

I can't do these calls. My wife is a Saint and she is taking the point. But just listening to this call is making my blood pressure go through the roof.

Ugh. They didn't even show her how to lock her phone. Working through that now.

 

[HTTP404]

Yep. Apparently my old man did something to his phone. Just found out he can only message people on the Whats App messenger. Explains why he hasn't returned my wifes, mine or his grandkids phone calls and text messages since August.
I'm not much better with tech.

I would get Whatsapp the fuck off that phone ASAP! Nothing good happens via that platform.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

My father has always been excited about new tech. He went out a bought Windows 95 (on 22 floppies, mind you, that I made him return for the CD-ROM version instead) the day it came out.

He had an iPhone before I did but then decided he didn't like it and went back to a flip phone (Razr). Had to be a flip phone. He’s had a long line of Motorola and Samsung flip phones.

He does not use the flip phone to text, but then he wanted an automatic app to respond back to texts stating he didn’t respond to texts and to email him instead. I couldn’t talk him out of it but the return text doesn’t contain any specifics.

He has ATLEAST half a dozen ipads for some reason. Two for the car, one at home, one at the office, and two others that went somewhere.

I got an iPhone and an iPad specifically because he was always calling me asking how to do this or that. I got tired of looking up directions that I didn't know worked or not. At least now I can replicate the steps.

In addition to that, he insists on having his email app on every single iPad. I tried to tell him just have it on one but nope he wants to be able to check emails on any iPad he can find.

He's also the guy that hates passwords, pin codes, etc. He wants his PC to auto login for him, then auto start Outlook. He doesn't want a pin code on his ipads. Thankfully windows 11 supports windows Hello login with his face so he stopped complaining about having to type in a password (almost as bad as 1234). Apple requires a pin code for email so I had to explain it couldn’t be shut off.

The day he has to start using MFA I’m going to hate life. I already have to keep all his passwords memorised because he can’t remember them then calls me asking what it is. At least he’s not writing it on a post it note and putting it on his monitor.

Then there’s my brother. He’s younger. Younger people are supposed to master technology better but he can’t change a light bulb and complains just as much how complicated computers are and how stupid the PC is for not letting him do simple things.

I think if either could get their way we’d go back to cavemen in loincloths struggling to make fires in caves.

 

[HTTP404]

My father has always been excited about new tech. He went out a bought Windows 95 (on 22 floppies, mind you, that I made him return for the CD-ROM version instead) the day it came out.

He had an iPhone before I did but then decided he didn't like it and went back to a flip phone (Razr). Had to be a flip phone. He’s had a long line of Motorola and Samsung flip phones.

He does not use the flip phone to text, but then he wanted an automatic app to respond back to texts stating he didn’t respond to texts and to email him instead. I couldn’t talk him out of it but the return text doesn’t contain any specifics.

He has ATLEAST half a dozen ipads for some reason. Two for the car, one at home, one at the office, and two others that went somewhere.

I got an iPhone and an iPad specifically because he was always calling me asking how to do this or that. I got tired of looking up directions that I didn't know worked or not. At least now I can replicate the steps.

In addition to that, he insists on having his email app on every single iPad. I tried to tell him just have it on one but nope he wants to be able to check emails on any iPad he can find.

He's also the guy that hates passwords, pin codes, etc. He wants his PC to auto login for him, then auto start Outlook. He doesn't want a pin code on his ipads. Thankfully windows 11 supports windows Hello login with his face so he stopped complaining about having to type in a password (almost as bad as 1234). Apple requires a pin code for email so I had to explain it couldn’t be shut off.

The day he has to start using MFA I’m going to hate life. I already have to keep all his passwords memorised because he can’t remember them then calls me asking what it is. At least he’s not writing it on a post it note and putting it on his monitor.

Then there’s my brother. He’s younger. Younger people are supposed to master technology better but he can’t change a light bulb and complains just as much how complicated computers are and how stupid the PC is for not letting him do simple things.

I think if either could get their way we’d go back to cavemen in loincloths struggling to make fires in caves.

My Mom was pretty tech savvy in the early 2000's. She really only needed to know how to email stuff and work the WWW. But now with different platforms, age combined with the never ending software updates that rearrange everything I struggle to keep up.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

My Mom was pretty tech savvy in the early 2000's. She really only needed to know how to email stuff and work the WWW. But now with different platforms, age combined with the never ending software updates that rearrange everything I struggle to keep up.

Visiting my dad involves tracking down all his tech and running updates on everything while I’m there and dealing with fixing everything I couldn’t walk him through over the phone.

I at least have him setup so I can remote into his PC from anywhere for issues that crop up there (and including running all the windows and other updates). He is not an admin on his own pc for his own protection. Slightly more annoying but at least him getting hacked is a little less likely.

 

[HTTP404]

Visiting my dad involves tracking down all his tech and running updates on everything while I’m there and dealing with fixing everything I couldn’t walk him through over the phone.

I at least have him setup so I can remote into his PC from anywhere for issues that crop up there (and including running all the windows and other updates). He is not an admin on his own pc for his own protection. Slightly more annoying but at least him getting hacked is a little less likely.

I used to have to deal with backing up their data since they had shittty internet. Thank God for Elon and Starlink and Google drive.

 

[TrollerDave]

A few years ago my wife had her mom take a picture of us on my wife’s iPhone. Her mom put the phone up to her eye to take the picture.
The poor lady had trouble finding the channels on tv because it’s a smart tv. She had to get a new tv when they changed the signal a couple of years ago. She keeps a flip phone in her glove compartment for emergencies. Up until 2 years ago, she did not have any internet capability at her house. She would go to the library to check her email.
I feel really bad for the older generation that have to try and learn how the world is changing at such a rapid rate. It doesn’t help that mental faculties might be declining as well.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Mom always said I was "an old man trapped in a young body." I'm apparently much like some of ya'lls parents, even grandparents I'd guess. I'm 47, and have a 5 year old Android phone, and some HP laptop about the same age. The most modern device I own is my scan tool, and it's way more technology than I'm comfortable with.

Not a fan of loin clothes, but at times I can see a certain draw to living in a cave

 

[C_J_J_C]

My father was a lawyer with common sense his whole life and still got scammed multiple times in the last few years.
The more technology you can take away from them the better. Make everything as simple and low twch as possible.

 

[callbob]

Hey now, I resemble these remarks. Getting old aint for pussies, just remember that.

 

[TPC]

We don't call them our kids anymore, they're Information Technology assistance technicians.

I did get the Starlink mini from opening the box to up and running in under 10 minutes by myself.

Wife has a work program that is a MFSOB to run.
Maynard usually has to step in.

 

[TPC]

My father was a lawyer with common sense his whole life and still got scammed multiple times in the last few years.
The more technology you can take away from them the better. Make everything as simple and low twch as possible.

We've locked down cash flow for the elders in the family.
Two of us have to approve any transaction over $200 and we have access-monitoring to all accounts.

 

[TPC]

Mom always said I was "an old man trapped in a young body." I'm apparently much like some of ya'lls parents, even grandparents I'd guess. I'm 47, and have a 5 year old Android phone, and some HP laptop about the same age. The most modern device I own is my scan tool, and it's way more technology than I'm comfortable with.

Not a fan of loin clothes, but at times I can see a certain draw to living in a cave

My dad likes to say "If it wasn't for women, we'd still be living in caves."

At 105 years old imagine all the technology he's seen developed.
Thought the disc brake was a bad idea, "It's only because it's cheaper to build." His Porsches had drum brakes and no question it was the way to roll..

He's still talking moving to Texas where he won't need Gavin Newsom's permission.

I remember when he turned 50, "the Big Five-O." The end of the world.

 

[gqchris]

These fucking kids in the mobile stores take pure advantage of seniors when they come in.

My Dad did this shit last weekend. I call him and Im like, “What ya up to”. He is like me and wife at Verizon store getting new phones. Im like wtf. You should have told me.

Anyways. They sold them a bunch of extra lines. Fucked up their iphone accounts. I spent all day yesterday fixing that. I told him to NEVER do anything tech related without me being in the know.

True story, I got the police called on me at the ATT store in Seal Beach last year for a Torta that tried to slip in a extra line on my upgrade. She refused to call the store manager and called cops on me, with my daughter in my arms. Lol.

Seal Beach cop came and was laughing, says he gets called all the time and knows the shit they try to pull there. I was so heated. Took it to ATT corporate but you knoe how far that got me.

 

[outboard_256]

I gave up and don't help anymore. They would ask what should I get, I research all the different products and say get this "xyz phone/computer/wifi router/secreuity camera/etc" and they come back and say we bought "abc" because it was half the price but we can't get it to work. Now I have to figure out how to get this cheap device to work with the other cheap devices they bought against my advice and guess what, 2 months later something stops working. I pay extra for my stuff to get everything that works with each other and the best I can afford so I don't have to deal with these problems.

Here is a tech tip for those in my situation, when on the call with them turn on airplane mode in the middle of the conversation. It will disconnect the call instead of hanging up and give them a "retry call button" but it just goes to a message like your phone is out of service. They will hopefully give up and call someone else. When they ask later just say you have spotty reception.

 

[Motor Boater]

To be fair, I can’t keep up with all the passwords, portals for your doctors, apps, etc. whoever figures out how to not need 500 different passwords for everything you do in life will be a billionaire.

As far as my parents, they refuse to get iPhones so I just tell them I can’t help them because I don’t know there android. My kids end up helping and setting up things like Netflix etc for them. It’s brain damage.

 

[2Driver]

True Story...

I was helping an elderly neighbor with getting into his account and he forgot his Password and ID. Going through some of his notes he said, Ah here it is, the password is 8 dots.

 

[HTTP404]

To be fair, I can’t keep up with all the passwords, portals for your doctors, apps, etc. whoever figures out how to not need 500 different passwords for everything you do in life will be a billionaire.

As far as my parents, they refuse to get iPhones so I just tell them I can’t help them because I don’t know there android. My kids end up helping and setting up things like Netflix etc for them. It’s brain damage.

This is the reason she got the Iphone yesterday. She was on android forever and we told her we can't help on those.

 

[HTTP404]

True Story...

I was helping an elderly neighbor with getting into his account and he forgot his Password and ID. Going through some of his notes he said, Ah here it is, the password is 8 dots.

I helped an old guy I know from the dog park setup his fingerprint and pin code on his phone. It was unlocked/unprotected.

 

[RVRKID]

My Dad got us tickets for the Charger game this Sun, after accidentally buying 5 tickets for the Charger Bronco game that flexed to next Thursday(those are for sale BTW), and I have been to his house and texting him for the last 2 days trying to get them in his wallet. Told him this morning I might not go to another game they make it so miserable trying to get the tickets after buying them.

 

[HTTP404]

Today's challenge. Turning up the volume on the phone.

 

[bowtiejunkie]

I have more problems with my wife and technology! Get her on the laptop and I swear she snaps every time. She's not even 50 yet!!

I feel really lucky, as my parents at 74 yo get around computers and phones pretty good (dad much more so than my mom). But Dad worked at Edison at a desk so more exposure. Conversely, my Uncle was a crane operator at Edison and he is terrible with technology. I mean bad. Anyway, Mom takes her laptop to Best Buy for service when needed and they seem to treat her fine.

My wife took her mom (67) last week to T-Mobile to transfer from Verizon and get a new iPhone. A bit of a shit show (on her mom's part), but T-Mobile guy got it all dialed in and her data transferred from the old phone.

I would think >80 yo, tech is a bit rough for those people on average. Under 80, they should generally have some computer / phone exposure, unless just stubborn or zero interest.

 

[Cobalt232]

It's a constant battle. Everytime something isn't working, its 'broken'. Uh, mom, you switched your ringer off. 'it's the switch on the side of your phone mom.'

Another problem is mom and dad (mid to late 80's) have a shared email address and iCloud account. That makes it really difficult to change certain things.

 

[BabyRay]

I gave up and don't help anymore. They would ask what should I get, I research all the different products and say get this "xyz phone/computer/wifi router/secreuity camera/etc" and they come back and say we bought "abc" because it was half the price but we can't get it to work. Now I have to figure out how to get this cheap device to work with the other cheap devices they bought against my advice and guess what, 2 months later something stops working. I pay extra for my stuff to get everything that works with each other and the best I can afford so I don't have to deal with these problems.

Here is a tech tip for those in my situation, when on the call with them turn on airplane mode in the middle of the conversation. It will disconnect the call instead of hanging up and give them a "retry call button" but it just goes to a message like your phone is out of service. They will hopefully give up and call someone else. When they ask later just say you have spotty reception.

So many uses for that tip!

 

[whiteworks]

I’m kinda over trying to keep up with new tech myself, I feel like I have all the tech in my life at this point I’m ever going to need.

 

[HTTP404]

Now my MIL managed to get her CHROMEBOOK fucked up with popups and other malware. I give up.

 

[napanutt]

Now my MIL managed to get her CHROMEBOOK fucked up with popups and other malware. I give up.

I’m so glad me and the wife are fairly knowledgeable with our iPhones because we wouldn’t get any help from our son or my dad.
Dad’s 80 and son is 40. Both android users. Both fairly proficient with their devices but no way we can help each other.

 

[BabyRay]

I’m so glad me and the wife are fairly knowledgeable with our iPhones because we wouldn’t get any help from our son or my dad.
Dad’s 80 and son is 40. Both android users. Both fairly proficient with their devices but no way we can help each other.

I was on Android, and switched to Apple years ago because I needed to support my wife.

I bought her a new iPad for Christmas, and a moment ago she asked me to fix her Yahtzee game because the settings didn’t transfer over. I laughed and told her good luck with that. Maybe I’m an asshole, but geezus, figure out her damn Yahtzee settings for her? Should I do that between changing the sheets and washing the dishes?

 

[stephenkatsea]

A winter visit to the AT&T store in LHC is an adventure. Those who work there have the patience of saints. I don’t know how they do it.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I think the best thing you could do with an elderly love one that has an iPhone is to teach them how to use Siri. Siri is such a great tool and allows voice driven commands instead of them fumbling with the keyboard. Almost all of my messaging is done through Siri. "Hey Siri, call Pops mobile", my Dad picks up the phone. Genius...

 

[Mandelon]

Internet was out this morning at the house. I took it upon myself to unplug the modem and router for a minute, them plug them back in.

Lo and Behold! I am a tech genius! LOL At least my wife was impressed.

Her X5 was squeaky. I told her it was probably the swingarm bushings or shock mounts. She took it in to our indy guy. Right again! Go me. She must have been impressed because I didn't get turned down this morning.

 

[gmnhra]

We found a phone by RAZ Mobil for Dad....Can only receive and send calls..
Has an app for us to check battery charge, add phone numbers etc.

super low tech but perfect for non tech savvy senior..

 

[jetboatperformance]

Who are you classifying as "Old" I'm on My 3rd I phone , newest is 16 Promax I got the fuker dialed

 

[Dan Lorenze]

Who are you classifying as "Old" I'm on My 3rd I phone , newest is 16 Promax I got the fuker dialed

Me too.. The battery life kicks ass!!

 

[jetboatperformance]

Me too.. The battery life kicks ass!!

Ive Had cells since the "bag phones" in the late 80s and had every one at some time or another , the wife and I (and Son) all have I phones , I resisted for a while all my business lines ring to my cell and the I phone does everything I wanted side note we have 8 phones and 4 watches on our plan with verizon , just jumped ship yesterday after 15 years and went to T mobile saved a ton and got two new 16 promax too fingers crossed with T mobile

 

[stephenkatsea]

I’m no tech, but I’m fairly comfortable with iphones and computers. The mandatory GMDSS communication system on board my ship provided forced awareness and proficiency many years ago. By today’s standards, it was clumsy, but it workded. Put many USCG Licensed Radio Operators out of work. Global Marine Distress Safety System. Also DP, dynamic positioning. That turned previous good ship handling captains into competent computer operators. Another positive advancement in the marine/boating industry.

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

 

[HTTP404]

So working through my Mom's phone contacts. She had me in under 4 different contacts. Some with outdated info. Same with my wife, brother, daughter. Explains so many things.

 

[TPC]

A winter visit to the AT&T store in LHC is an adventure. Those who work there have the patience of saints. I don’t know how they do it.

No exaggeration, I walked into the Apple Store to buy a iPod and the employee had no clue what I was talking about.
On the level, I kid you not, honest truth, crazy but true.
I was probably the only person to buy one in the past decade, but they still had them in stock.

Wife confiscated it BTW, it's in her car with zillions of tunes on it.

Wife is a Galaxy phone lover, but likes using my iPhone, but not enough to switch.

Maynard and his crew all think Apple products are an expensive waste of money.

They will buy electronics or take the free upgrade and only, without fail, ONLY get what works the bare minimum features and devices.

We were regular boaters at Two Harbors in Catalina.
It's a popular sailing destination for Silicone Valley Techs.
Ya get to talking to them at the bar or give them rides to shore in the dingy.

They ALL claim the target test market for their products are 13 year old Japanese girls.
If a feature or product is sensational with them, then it goes forward in consideration for production.

 

[crzy2bealive]

Try teaching an older person how to program a Baofeng radio lol

 

[stephenkatsea]

Programming a VHS recorder kind of broke in some of us. Those could be tough.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I have both Android and Apple (work phone, not by choice). I have the Android figured out very well. The iPhone, I could give 2 shits about. It works and I am pretty damn proficient at it, but its clunky to me. I am the only Android user in my entire family..... well..... except my 70 year old special needs aunt whom I now live with. The good thing is though, I have fixed her phone several times and my family thinks I am a God-send since they dont have to hear from her about it anymore. That and keeping her from clicking on the UPS and USPS spam texts.

We have a rule, if the number is not saved in your contacts, you cannot text it back without me approving it first. So far so good.