Online Safety Tips For Elderly Adults

Senior care, assisted living

Have you ever received an email with an odd subject line from an unknown sender in your inbox? If you
receive something that seems weird, you probably delete it right away. However, it’s possible that your
elderly loved one won’t delete that message as quickly. The same is true of odd phone calls. Because
older people are more susceptible to fraud than younger people are, you and your loved one should
review internet safety guidelines for seniors to lower their risk of fraud.

Prevalence Of Senior Scams

Sadly, there is an increase in senior citizen scams every year in the US. According to reports, scammers
targeting senior citizens cost older Americans a total of $3 billion in 2021. According to the FBI, this
represents a 60% increase from 2020. While it is true that $3 billion sounds like a lot of money to lose,
the actual amount is likely larger. Seniors who fall prey to scams may not always report them to their
families or the police because they are embarrassed about it. The tips from the senior care experts in
our assisted living facility will help you ensure that your senior loved one is safe from online fraud.

Start With Digital Responsibility

Older individuals did not have easy access to technology growing up, much less the Internet. This just
indicates that they could lack the knowledge necessary to protect themselves online. Offer to enroll
them in an online safety course at their neighborhood senior care center or library to start cultivating
that knowledge. They will not only have the possibility to make new friends there, but they will also
learn useful knowledge on doable safety measures.

Examine Emails Together

Consider checking your parent's emails jointly if you are able to and they are willing to do so. By doing
this, you can monitor which emails they click on and which ones they mark as spam and send to the
trash can, as well as be available for them if they have any issues. Informing your loved one up front that
you want to keep them safe is important because online scammers are becoming more adept at
especially targeting seniors.

Make Your Passwords Stronger

Strong passwords are always recommended in senior internet safety advice. For every one of us,
creating a secure password is an essential part of online security. Never use the same password for
more than one account, and search for strong password ideas. Keep track of the passwords of your
loved ones by using a password management tool that you both have access to.

Online Safety Tips For Elderly Adults