// services / senior-setup
Senior & Accessibility Setup — Phones That Make Sense
A complete Android setup designed for elderly users and people with vision, hearing or motor accessibility needs. Simplified launcher, large fonts, scam-call blocking, emergency SOS, easy video calling, and a remote-support workflow so you can help from anywhere when something goes wrong. Includes a printed quick-reference card.
A Phone Should Help, Not Frustrate
Modern smartphones are designed for the general market — which means a 75-year-old grandmother gets the same default 14-pixel font, the same notification chaos and the same scam-text inbox as her 25-year-old grandson. The accessibility tools to fix all of that are already in Android. They just need to be turned on, dialled in correctly, and explained in a way that does not require the user to know what "Material You" or "biometric prompt" means.
Our senior-setup service is the patient, hour-long session that should have happened the day the phone came out of the box. We do it remotely with a screen-share, with you on the call if you want to be there, and we leave behind written instructions the user can actually read.
What's Included in the Setup
- Simplified launcher with 4–8 large icons (Phone, Camera, WhatsApp, Photos, Settings)
- System-wide font scaling and high-contrast theme
- Hearing-aid mode and live caption setup
- TalkBack screen reader for blind / low-vision users (full setup, not default install)
- Voice Access for users with limited hand mobility — full hands-free Android control
- Scam and spam call blocking with TrueCaller premium or carrier-side filter
- Emergency SOS with location auto-share to 1–3 family contacts
- Two-tap video calling shortcut (WhatsApp, Google Duo or whichever family uses)
- Remote-support app pre-installed so you can help them from anywhere later
- Printed laminated quick-reference card with the 6 most-used actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which phone should I buy for an elderly parent?
For most senior users we recommend a current Samsung A-series (A15, A35) or a Google Pixel A-series (Pixel 8a, 9a). Both have large screens, get long-term security updates, support full accessibility settings, and are simple enough that a non-technical user can pick up the basics. Avoid: ultra-budget brands that miss security updates, foldables and ultra-large phones (hard to grip), and the "senior-only" devices like Jitterbug (proprietary OS, weak app support, expensive plans). If your relative wants their existing phone re-set up rather than a new one, we work with whatever you already have.
My parent already has a phone but cannot use it well. Can you fix that?
Yes — most of our senior-setup work is done on the phone the parent already owns. We back up everything first, then re-configure the device with the simplified launcher, larger fonts, scam blocking and the rest. The original setup can be restored if for some reason it does not work out. Most clients do not want to go back — the simplified setup typically reduces support phone calls from family members by 60–80%.
How do you handle remote support for someone who is not technical?
We pre-install AnyDesk or TeamViewer QuickSupport with the access code visible on the home screen. When your parent has a problem, they call you, you start a session, and you can see and control their screen with their permission. The app does not allow silent access — every session starts with a code your parent has to read out, and the session ends the moment the app is closed. We teach you both the workflow during the setup session.
What about scam calls and texts? Those are the biggest problem.
We layer three lines of defense. Carrier-side spam filtering (most major US/UK carriers offer this for free, just need to be enabled). TrueCaller Premium (about $3/month) which blocks known scam numbers using a community database. And a final layer of "silence unknown callers" so anyone not in the contacts list goes straight to voicemail with a polite message. The combination cuts scam calls by typically 95%+. We also configure the phone to never auto-download MMS images so phishing attachments do not load.
Can you set up emergency features for someone who lives alone?
Yes. Modern Android devices support several emergency features: 5-times-power-button SOS that auto-calls family + sends GPS location, fall detection on Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch, medical-info-on-lock-screen so paramedics can see allergies and medications without unlocking the phone, and Google Personal Safety check-ins for daily "I am OK" pings. We configure whichever combination matches the situation, including emergency contacts and the exact wording of the auto-message.
Related Reading
Set It Up Once, Set It Up Properly
Tell us who the phone is for, what they need it to do, and what frustrates them most about it now. We will recommend the right setup and book the session at a time that works for them — not for us.