We are taking a short break over the holidays. We'll be back to our every other week schedule on January 13th. Happy Holidays to you all.

Follow along as Barry guides you through a progressive muscle relaxation technique you can use every day to help your body recapture what "normal" feels like.

In this episode of Care Tech and Tips, Barry and Bobby dive into a tech-filled discussion designed to make caregiving easier and more efficient. From Bobby’s triumph with Assistive Access for his father-in-law to Barry’s game-changing use of FaceTime screen sharing, the hosts explore how technology can save time, reduce stress, and bring caregivers peace of mind. They also tackle practical challenges like setting up Wi-Fi networks for smart cameras and managing the quirks of old-school mechanical timers.

Barry wraps up the episode with a heartfelt segment on stress management, introducing a progressive muscle relaxation technique and promising a bonus guided exercise episode to help listeners reset and recharge. Packed with humor, real-life wins, and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone juggling caregiving and technology.

Key Takeaways:

• Assistive Access: Simplifies iPhone/iPad functionality for seniors, offering large buttons and easy navigation.

• Screen Sharing via FaceTime: Saves time by allowing remote control and troubleshooting of loved ones’ devices.

• Wi-Fi Upgrades: Moving to Wi-Fi 6 or 7 can ensure better performance for smart cameras and connected devices.

• Camera Bandwidth Needs: Security cameras require robust bandwidth; plan accordingly when setting up multiple devices.

• Stress Management: Progressive muscle relaxation can help caregivers reset and reduce anxiety.

• Plan for Tech Updates: Anticipate changes like dark mode to avoid confusing older loved ones.

Soundbites:

1. “Assistive Access turned my father-in-law’s phone back into just a phone — and that’s all he needed.”

2. “Screen sharing saved me three hours of driving and a ton of frustration!”

3. “Wi-Fi upgrades are no longer optional if you’re running smart cameras.”

4. “Mechanical timers: simple in theory, maddening in practice.”

5. “Resetting your body’s normal after stress is the key to feeling human again.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Camera Bandwidth Recommendations:

• Brand

  ResolutionBandwidth Per CameraMulti-Camera SetupNotesADT Cameras1080p2 Mbps5 Mbps for multiple camerasADT integrates with Google Nest; ideal for mixed smart home setups.Google Nest720p/1080p1.2 Mbps (720p), 2 Mbps (1080p)5 Mbps for 2 cameras, ~2 Mbps/additional cameraRobust integration with Google Assistant and Alexa.Amazon Cloud Cam1080p2 MbpsVaries by setupWorks well with Amazon Alexa devices.Apple HomeKit Cameras1080p1.5-2 MbpsVaries based on iCloud usage

  High-quality video; additional bandwidth may be needed for iCloud storage.

• Wi-Fi Comparison:

• FeatureWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)Maximum SpeedUp to 9.6 GbpsUp to 46 GbpsFrequency Bands2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHzChannel WidthUp to 160 MHzUp to 320 MHzMulti-Link OperationNot supportedSupportedLatencyImproved over Wi-Fi 5Significantly reduced

In this episode, Barry and Bobby navigate the alphabet soup of caregiving acronyms like ALFs (Assisted Living Facilities), SNARFs (Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities), and ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). They dive into:

• ADLs 101: Why these daily activities are crucial in determining long-term care insurance eligibility.
• Preventing Scams: A deep dive into the dangerous “reshipping scam” and practical steps to protect your loved ones.
• Tech for Caregivers: From recording calls with iOS 18 to AI-powered note-taking devices like the Plaud Notepin.
• The Power of Pictures: Preserving memories through photo scanners and backup tips.
• Holiday Caregiving: Tips for juggling caregiving responsibilities while making the holidays special.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• ADLs: Learn more about Activities of Daily Living and their role in caregiving here: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/activities-of-daily-living-adls
• Plaud Notepin: Discover this AI-powered gadget here: https://www.plaud.ai/products
• Reshipping Scams: Tips to recognize and avoid common scams targeting seniors here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0030-pass-it-on

Listener Call-Out:
We love hearing from you! Email us at caretechandtips@gmail.com with your questions, tips, or stories. Who knows? You might inspire our next episode!

Shoutout to Our Listeners:
Thanks, Chicago, for being our top listening city this month! Seneca, SC, and friends across the U.S., you’re amazing too!

Connect and Share:
If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend, rate us 5 stars, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

Welcome back to Care, Tech, & Tips! In this episode, Barry and Bobby dive into the practicalities of setting up loved ones in assisted living or senior care. From organizing virtual birthday parties via FaceTime to setting up reliable tech for assisted living, Barry and Bobby share experiences and advice for making life a little easier for caregivers and their loved ones.

• Virtual Gatherings: Bobby shares a creative way to host a birthday party for his father-in-law, now in assisted living, using FaceTime.
• Choosing Assisted Living Facilities: Barry and Bobby compare their family experiences—what to consider and how to navigate the bureaucratic maze.
• Power Backup for Elderly Care: Tech options like portable battery packs, UPS systems, and emergency power setups for residents.
• Connectivity Solutions: From Wi-Fi upgrades to mobile hotspots, the hosts cover how to ensure loved ones stay connected.
• Self-Care Tips for Caregivers: Barry shares his experience with therapy and techniques for managing caregiver stress.

• Apple’s Notes app with voice transcription for keeping track of important conversations.
• Using personal hotspots and mobile Wi-Fi solutions in facilities with weak internet connectivity.
• Power solutions like UPS backups and battery packs for essential devices in assisted living.

Tune in for a mix of tech tips, personal stories, and practical advice designed to make caregiving a bit more manageable!

Hey there, and welcome to another episode of Care Tech & Tips!

This week, Bobby and I dive into the world of Halloween traditions, tech, and a few caregiving tales that’ll hit close to home. We start off with some holiday fun (yes, I’m in my trusty Kung Fu Panda costume again!) and chat about everything from candy counts to Halloween’s “scary” caregiving moments. T

hen, we get into one of the biggest problems caregivers face today—managing finances and protecting loved ones from tech risks, like leaving checks in mailboxes or handling online payments safely. We also cover how tech can make life easier: I walk you through ways to simplify bill payments, cut down on paper clutter, and keep track of those account balances without constant worry.

One of the highlights this week? We dig into a topic that’s personal for me: using AirPods as hearing aids and how tech like this can be a game-changer for your loved ones. From doing in-home hearing tests to setting up custom sound adjustments, we talk about why these devices are more than just earbuds.

Finally, we chat about getting your loved ones set up with easy access to entertainment (yep, Wheel of Fortune included) and the importance of paring down clutter around the home. If you’re looking for practical tips with a laugh or two along the way, you’re in the right place.

Give us a listen, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Summary

Barry and Bobby are back after two wild weeks of hurricanes and caregiving chaos! In this episode, they share their firsthand stories from the stormy trenches just an hour away from Western North Carolina, where things got real—though thankfully, their area wasn’t hit quite as hard.

Spoiler: Barry’s dad just wanted his coffee, but the generator had other plans.

Join the guys as they tackle the big questions like:

What do you do when the power’s out, your freezer’s melting, and your phone battery’s on life support?

How can a simple iPhone shortcut save you from a generator operator meltdown? (Yes, Barry saved the day from 1,000 miles away!)

Why is “self-care first” the #1 rule of caregiving?

Bobby’s voting tips for making sure even Grandma gets to the polls during a disaster.

Oh, and don’t miss Barry’s vacation guilt saga—can you really relax when your loved ones are without power?

If you’ve ever struggled to reset a home camera or worried about charging hearing aids in a blackout, this episode’s for you! Plus, there’s plenty of humor as always, because who says caregiving and tech can’t be fun?

Takeaways

Natural disasters complicate caregiving responsibilities.

Self-care is crucial for effective caregiving.

Planning ahead can mitigate disaster impacts.

Post-disaster tech maintenance is essential.

Assisted living facilities have unique emergency protocols.

Technology can enhance caregiving and communication.

Documenting family memories is important for future generations.

AI has potential to revolutionize caregiving.

Civic duties, like voting, should be planned for loved ones.

Future tech innovations can improve caregiving experiences.

In this episode of Care Tech and Tips, Barry Johnson and Bobby Clark dive into the wild world of caregiving tech. From battling the endless spam calls to unraveling the mysteries of banking for our loved ones, we've got it all. We also geek out about the fresh iOS 18 features, like screen sharing (because explaining tech over the phone is so last year). Plus, Barry and Bobby break down the Eisenhower Matrix—fancy talk for “how not to lose your mind” when caregiving—and introduce Assistive Access, the tech that makes smartphones senior-friendly.

Takeaways

• Spam calls be gone! We talk about how to block those pesky callers using built-in phone features.
• iOS 18 is here to save us all with screen sharing for when "turn it off and on again" doesn’t cut it.
• The Eisenhower Matrix: Helping you figure out what’s urgent and what can wait (like that laundry you’ve ignored).
• Knowing your loved one's banking situation can save a lot of headaches.
• Automatic bill drafts = less stress. Seriously, let the robots handle it!
• Assistive Access makes smartphones easy enough for even your most tech-resistant relatives.
• Embrace technology—it’s your caregiving sidekick.
• Thinking about a phone upgrade? We’ll tell you when it’s worth it.
• Keeping communication open is the key to smooth financial management for your loved ones.
• Apps like Cash App and Venmo: Making caregiving payments feel less like a chore and more like, well, a tap on your phone.

Links

• Eisenhower Matrix: https://www.eisenhower.me/
• Team Viewer: https://www.teamviewer.com/
• Gazelle (Buy/Sell Gentle Used Phones): https://buy.gazelle.com/
• Apple Refurbished Devices: https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished
• Apple/IOS Assistive Access: https://support.apple.com/guide/assistive-access-iphone/welcome/ios
• Send Unknown Callers Directly to Voicemail, Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/iphone/iphe4b3f7823/ios
• Send Unknown Callers Directly to Voicemail, Android: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/how-send-spam-calls-directly-voicemail-your-phone

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Care Tech and Tips
• 03:21 Managing Spam Calls and Phone Features
• 06:05 Eisenhower Matrix for Caregiving
• 11:56 Banking and Financial Management for Loved Ones
• 19:31 iOS 18 Features for Caregiving
• 29:14 Assistive Access and Simplifying Technology