Digital Skills 4 Seniors

I make use of Apple Reminders all the time and find it such a useful feature. On our Tech Clinic we will be taking our seniors through how to build reminders into their daily life. As we get older we do tend to forget things and rather than worry about forgetting to do something, why not use your iPhone to remind you.  My partner Joan and I use reminders all the time and here are some we share. Shopping List - we have set up a shared shopping list that groups items into categories. We both use siri to add items to our list and if we add, milk and eggs it will place them in the category Dairy, Eggs & Cheese. When we head to the supermarket we shop from our phones and as we add items to our trolly we click on done and can see the list reducing.  TV Guide - we have so much to choose from with access to all the main streaming services. When we read a review of a movie or series that sounds good, I add it to our TV Guide reminders list. Wimbledon has been dominating our TV wat...

We are about to run a Tech Clinic on iPhone Calendar and Reminders for one of our group of seniors. I know that some of them still use their hand written diaries, so how do we get them to make the switch?  I made the switch to an electronic diary many years ago when I was still working. It wasn't voluntary, it was just the way business was done. In my case, I saw the logic of it and switched my personal diary to electronic too.  Here is Rich Bolin explaining how to use Apple Calendar in his wonderful way of explaining everything. Why should you change So I asked CoPilot for a list of benefits. 📱 Switching from handwritten diaries to iPhone calendars can feel like a leap—but for seniors, it can be a leap toward convenience, connection, and confidence.  Here’s why: Automatic reminders : Birthdays, doctor appointments, local fairs—you’ll never miss a beat. Recurring events : Set once, and you’re sorted! Weekly coffee with friends or monthly garden club? Done. Easy edits ...

📅 Getting Started with Apple Calendar Open the Calendar app : Tap the Calendar icon on your iPhone or iPad. View your schedule : Choose between Day, Week, Month, or List views. Rotate your device for a full weekly view. Use pinch gestures : Zoom in or out to adjust how much of your schedule you see. ✍️ Creating Events and Reminders Add an event : Tap the ➕ icon, then choose “Event.” Fill in the title, time, location, and alert. Add a reminder : Tap ➕ and select “Reminder.” Great for tasks like taking medication or calling a friend. Use emojis and locations : Add fun icons or addresses to make events more memorable. Smart Features for Simplicity Drag and drop : Move events to different days by pressing and dragging. Convert notes or emails : Tap on dates in messages or notes to create calendar entries instantly. Live Text : Use your camera to scan posters or handwritten notes and create events from them. 🔔 Alerts and Notifications Set alerts : Choose when you want to be reminded—minut...

  iPadOS 26 is shaping up to be Apple’s most transformative update yet, and while it brings exciting new features, it also introduces changes that could feel unfamiliar at first.  Let’s break it down: 🧠 Key Changes That May Affect Seniors New Liquid Glass Design : A more translucent, dynamic interface that reacts to movement. It’s visually stunning but may take time to adjust to. Windowing System : Apps can now be resized, tiled, and moved around like on a Mac. This replaces Split View and Slide Over, which many seniors are used to. Menu Bar : A new swipe-down menu gives access to app commands. It’s helpful but adds a layer of complexity. Live Translation : Messages, FaceTime, and Phone calls can be translated in real time — a huge win for communicating across languages. Preview App : Seniors can now view, edit, and sign PDFs directly on their iPad, which is great for managing documents like medical forms. Background Tasks : Apps can continue working while you do othe...

Spotlight Search is a wonderful resource that is perfect for seniors who want to feel more in control of their device.  NOTE : There is a list of everyday uses of Spotlight Search for Seniors at the end of this post. Your Guide to Using Spotlight Search on iPhone Step 1: Open Spotlight** From your Home Screen, place your finger anywhere in the middle and **swipe down**. - You’ll see a search bar appear at the top—that’s Spotlight! Step 2: What You Can Search For Apps — Type “Photos” or “Mail” and tap to open them Contacts — Type someone’s name to call or message them Emails or Messages — Type a keyword like “dentist” Settings — Type “Bluetooth” to jump to that setting Web Info — Try something like “weather today” or “£10 in euros” Optional: Use Your Voice In the search bar, tap the **microphone icon** on the keyboard Say what you’re looking for—great if you’d rather speak than type Helpful Tips You don’t need to be exact. Spotlight is smart! Think of it as a shortcut to find anyt...

The first workshop will be aimed at simplifying the layout of each persons screens and implementing the Three Screen Makeover. Delete what you don't use Identify the apps that Apple has offloaded (settings>App Store Offload Unused Apps) and decide if any of the offloaded apps need to be deleted Look at your Settings>Screen Time and make a list of the apps you mostly use. Look at Settings > Battery Health & Charging and check the apps that are currently draining your battery. Clear the slate & reset apps Long press on your Home Screen and then remove all apps from all the pages. You are clicking on the minus sign and only selecting Remove from the Home Screen.  Now move to the App Library and look at each section. These sections are determined by Apple and although you can't change them they are logical. So for example, all your banking apps will be filed under Finance. Identify the apps you use all the time, long press on the (few) apps you want to see on your ...

The iPhone's Magnifier widget is a powerful tool that can help seniors see small text, details, or objects more clearly by turning their phone into a digital magnifying glass. Here’s why they should learn to use it: Improves Accessibility – Reading menus, medicine labels, or documents becomes easier, reducing strain on the eyes. Enhances Independence – Seniors can confidently read and view items without needing additional magnifying tools. Quick and Convenient – It's built into the iPhone, easily accessible from the home screen or Control Center. Extra Features – It offers brightness adjustments, filters for better visibility, and even a flashlight to illuminate dim areas.