Tips for Seniors: Make the IPhone Easier for the Elderly

 The iPhone's ease of use makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a smartphone. For some seniors, however, navigating a device like the iPhone can be a challenging task. Fortunately, with a few adjustments and settings tweaks, you can make the iPhone more user-friendly for older adults. To help seniors maximize the benefits of their iPhones, we will discuss some helpful tips and features designed to make the device easier to use.

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1. Enable Display Zoom

With age, many experience a decline in vision. To address this, consider activating Display Zoom (available on iPhone SE 2, iPhone XR, and later models) to magnify the screen:

• Go to Settings and choose Display & Brightness.
• Scroll down and tap Display Zoom.
• Select Larger Text from the menu, followed by brief previews of the differences.
• Tap Done to confirm your selections, then restart your iPhone and make the changes as instructed on the screen.

2. Increase the font size

Senior citizens with aging eyes may find it difficult to read small font sizes on smartphones. Hence, one of the things we must do to make an iPhone-friendly for senior citizens is to increase the font size. By increasing the font size, the on-screen content becomes clearer and easier to read.

To adjust the font size on an Apple iPhone, access Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size, and adjust the font size using the provided slider. Additionally, improve text legibility by enabling bold text in Settings > Display & Brightness > Toggle on the Bold Text feature.

3. Enable Assistive Access

Assistive Access, which was introduced in iOS 17, simplifies the iOS experience and is particularly intended for those with cognitive difficulties. However, it's also beneficial for seniors who want to keep the device's usage simple and focus only on essential features. With Assistive Access, a trusted person can customize the device to display just the most important apps in a simplified format. This is worth considering for those who prefer to avoid unnecessary apps and menus.

4. Turn on the Sound Recognition feature

With the release of iOS 14, Apple included a slew of new accessibility features, such as Sound Recognition. While it was originally designed for those with hearing impairments, it can be particularly useful for the elderly.

True to its name, Sound Recognition uses the iPhone's microphone to recognize certain sounds in your environment. Whether it's the cry of a baby, the chiming of a doorbell, or the wail of a siren, this function continuously tunes in and instantly alerts you when it detects something. To enable Sound Recognition, go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition and turn on the option.

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5. Add Magnifier to the iPhone's Control Center

Adding the Magnifier button to the Control Center will help your elderly friend or family member better use their iPhone. Magnifier turns the iPhone into a magnifying glass, using its rear cameras to help view small writing, particularly in newspapers.

To add Magnifier to the Control Center on your iPhone: 

• Access the Settings app. 
• Select Control Center. 
• Scroll down and press the "+" icon next to Magnifier.

To use Magnifier, your elderly relative simply has to swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom edge for the iPhone SE, iPhone 8, and before) and tap the magnifying glass icon.

6. Enable the Spoken Content option

Activating the Spoken Content feature allows the iPhone to audibly read screen contents, which can be a valuable tool for seniors or anyone with visual impairments. This feature is particularly beneficial for those wishing to browse the internet or consume written content, such as Wikipedia articles, without relying on visual reading.

To activate Spoken Content:

• Tap the Settings icon on the iPhone's home screen.
• Tap on Accessibility.
• Select Spoken Content.
• Toggle Speak Screen to enable it.

You can also adjust the speaking rate by using a slider located at the bottom of the same screen.

Now, when the user swipes down with two fingers from the top of the display, the iPhone will audibly read everything on the screen. This feature is most useful for reading text messages, web pages, and news articles.

7. Configure Favorite Contacts

Keeping your frequently used contacts at your fingertips is easy with your iPhone's Favorites list. This feature improves the iPhone's senior-friendly design by sparing users the hassle of constantly searching through their extensive contact list.

Here's how to load your iPhone's Favorites list with important contacts:

• Open the Phone app.
• Select Favorites from the bottom bar.
• Tap the "+" icon at the top-right corner to access your contacts list.
• Choose a contact you wish to add to Favorites and select the preferred method of communication (calling, messaging, etc.).
• Repeat the process for each contact you want to include in your Favorites. Use the Edit option at the top-left to manage your Favorites list, including removing or rearranging contacts.

8. Set up Find My iPhone

The Find My iPhone feature is extremely useful in situations where finding the device or tracking the user's movements is crucial. To enable this feature, follow the instructions below:

• Tap the Settings icon on the iPhone's home screen
• Tap on the user's name.
• Proceed to select Find My.
• Then, tap on Find My iPhone.
• Enable all three options.

You can use the Find My app on your iPhone to locate the device, provided both you and the senior are members of the same Family Sharing group or share the same Apple ID.

9. Set Up Medical ID

Your iPhone's Health app has the Medical ID feature, which functions similarly to a digital medical identity badge. This invaluable tool provides key health conditions, medicines, and other essential information to paramedics in emergencies, especially when the device user is incapacitated.

• To set up Medical ID, go to the Health App, tap your profile image in the upper right corner, and then pick Medical ID > Edit.
• Along with medical information, it's a good idea to include Emergency Contacts, who will receive notifications if you enable the Emergency SOS function on your iPhone. This guarantees that paramedics can quickly reach out to your loved ones if needed. 
• Make sure Show When Locked is enabled at the bottom, which will allow you to retrieve your information right from the lock screen during an emergency.

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10. Set up Emergency SOS

The Emergency SOS feature on your iPhone automatically notifies emergency services and designated contacts in times of distress. While this is an essential feature for all iPhone users to enable, it is especially important for the elderly.

• The Emergency SOS feature is accessible directly from the standard iPhone power-off screen. Simply drag the Emergency SOS slider, and your device will quickly connect you to the designated emergency number for your area. Then, it will notify your emergency contacts, providing them with your precise location.
• Make sure you also set up the Emergency SOS shortcuts.
• To contact emergency services, activate Call with Hold and Release by holding the Side and Volume buttons for a few seconds (continue holding even after the power screen shows).
• For iPhone 8 and later models, you may enable Call with 5 Button Presses if you want; this is the default shortcut for iPhone 7 and earlier versions.
• Depending on your iPhone model, you can enable Call After Severe Crash and get information regarding satellite emergency contact.
• Ensure that Emergency Contacts are added to the Health app.
• If you prefer not to have an alarm sound when either Emergency SOS shortcut is activated, enable Call Quietly.