You can use technology to stay connected with your loved one. You can stay engaged and chat with someone who lives far away by using text messaging, email, or a video call. You can keep in touch and share photos, videos, and information with each other using social media. People who cannot travel to a wedding or other family gathering may be able to watch a live stream of the event or send a virtual greeting card. If your loved one is not comfortable using a smart phone, tablet, or computer, you could ask the team members at their residence if they can set up a video call or help your loved one connect with you.
While technology allows us to stay connected, scams against the elderly are growing in numbers and complexity. When using social media or live streaming applications, it is important to protect yourself. Check your privacy settings and make sure that any photos and information you and your loved one share stay private. See the AARP resource on scams here: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/.
Using technology can also help you identify financial abuse, because keeping in touch gives your loved one the chance to talk to you about any problems they are having. In a video call, you can also observe their appearance and body language to see if anything seems wrong. Then, you can share your concerns with care team members or with the local authorities.
New online and mobile services may also be useful to help your loved one manage their finances. For example, your loved one may be able to set up automatic alerts for their bank account so that they receive a notification for every transaction or whenever the account falls below a certain balance. Banks and credit unions offer services like automatic bill pay and direct deposit for checks. Some mobile apps can help remind your loved one or a caregiver when to pay the bills. Your loved one’s bank or credit union can share more information with you about available online and mobile options.
To learn what to do before sharing your financial information with a company or app, see CFPB’s blog post “What to Consider When Sharing Your Financial Data” at consumerfinance.gov and the AARP guide “Technology Tools to Help Guard Against Elder Financial Abuse."