Caring for My 88-Year-Old Mom Means Being Her Tech Support

Key Points:

• The author shares the challenges of caring for an aging, fiercely independent mother who moved from living alone in New York City to an assisted living facility in Connecticut due to declining health.
• Managing the mother's digital life, especially dealing with multiple passwords, two-factor authentication, and online accounts, has become a significant and unexpected part of caregiving.
• The mother, unfamiliar with password managers and hindered by physical limitations like Parkinson's disease, relies on the author to navigate complex technological systems that were not designed with elderly users in mind.
• The increasing reliance on digital tools and security measures has inadvertently diminished the mother's independence and confidence, highlighting a gap in technology accessibility for older adults.
• This experience underscores a broader issue faced by many adult children caregivers who must help their aging parents manage not only healthcare but also the complexities of modern digital life.