Senior Tech Translator
Plain-English help for the tech questions that come up when you are the one your parent or grandparent calls. Spotting a scam text or call before it costs real money, setting up a phone or tablet so it is actually usable (and safe) for someone who did not grow up with one, and translating whatever "the computer is doing something weird" turns out to mean. Written to hand directly to the person who needs it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if a text or call is a scam targeting my parent?
The biggest tell is urgency paired with a request to act immediately — a locked account, a grandchild in trouble, a package that needs a fee paid right now. Real institutions rarely create that kind of pressure over text.
What's the easiest device to set up for an older parent?
The best device is usually whatever platform their family already uses, since the real support burden falls on whoever helps them — not the specs. Consistency with a phone you can actually troubleshoot beats a slightly better device you can't.
Should I have full access to my parent's accounts?
Worth discussing openly and early, before there's a crisis — not something to set up secretly after the fact. Framed as a safety net rather than a takeover, most parents are more open to it than expected.