How to Setup a Senior-Friendly iPhone
Issue #17
The Problem:
Your mom is starting to find her iPhone more challenging as her eyesight worsens and her fingers don't have the same dexterity. All those small, similar-sized icons are beginning to look all the same. You have tried hiding all the icons she doesn't need, but that doesn't adjust their size. Your use of Widgets helped, but not all apps are supported… if there was only a way to get Widget-sized icons for the apps she needs…
The Solution:
Here is a YouTube video showing Apple Assistive Access in action. Please note this REQUIRES iOS 17.
This solution reminds me of the Samsung Easy Mode.
In a previous article, I showed you how to set up Apple Assistive Access on their iPads for older adults. Now, I want to show you how to use this feature on an iPhone. Apple provides a great setup tutorial, so I won't repeat all the steps here. Just use the Settings app for a guided tour.
· Settings- Accessibility- Assistive Access
Assistive Access allows some restrictions on call and messaging communication that may be necessary for those with vision loss or memory impairment.
The good news is that activating Assistive Access is not permanent. If your mom hates it, you can revert to the original screen layout with a triple-click of the “Home or side button” and then using
Based on your mom's needs, I have a few suggestions on how you might want to configure Assistive Access.
· One of the most valuable features is that you can limit her phone calls and messages to just specified contacts.
o There is even a "read aloud" feature in messages.
· The LARGE back button will give her an easy way to get back to the main screen.
o The back button is very handy if you have enabled a browser.
· The PIN code is a great way to ensure that she stays inside the Assistive Access app
· The "album covers" in Apple Music is a great feature
· The ability to add ANY app and have the BACK button available is helpful as long as the app looks good on the screen
· The "display order" of the icons is adjustable
During setup, you can arrange icon display order in the "Manage apps" section
Sounds Perfect- what are the downsides?
· While the apps Apple modified for Assistive Access are great, the user interface for mail and calendar are usable but not up to the same standards.
· Although Siri can be used, it can't invoke Apple Shortcuts, nor can icons be created for Apple Shortcuts.
· Shortcuts will run if you have Apple Automation controlling Apple Shortcuts, such as a message received or a time-of-day event
o See Issue #7 about using Automation with Shortcuts in iOS 17 for details on how to set up similar automation
· Apple Widgets, which provide useful real-time information such as weather or calendar, can't be added
o Your mom can still get weather or calendar information by touching an icon
· Email can't be restricted to Contacts.
· Browser Access can be enabled/disabled, but there aren't any site restrictions.
· When playing, the on-screen volume control is only available for a few seconds when you touch the screen, which may confuse.
· There is no on-screen brightness control, so be sure to set the brightness before entering Assistive Access
· There is a way to adjust brightness and dark mode while still in Assistive Access, but you must use the triple-click and PIN code to get into Settings
o You can also adjust the volume and text size there.
Notes:
If you feel that Assistive Access is not restrive enough for your mom’s needs, you might consider the GrandPad
Wow! Your tutorial and video will be useful to so many people who have loved ones who are frustrated with phones. I like the fact that I can choose just the few icons my mother would use to display on the screen, and that the icons are large and easy to see. Everything Mom or Dad needs can be displayed one place on a locked screen. I did not know about this feature for iPhones. Thank you so much for telling us about it.