In this episode, Barry and Bobby get real about family time, technology wins, and some of the heavy conversations that come with caregiving. Bobby shares a recent success pulling off a virtual medical appointment for his mom, complete with a how-to guide on making telehealth work smoothly. Barry then dives into the signs that it might be time to consider assisted living for a loved one — and they don't sugarcoat it. They finish up with a discussion about the real costs of assisted living, how to plan ahead, and even a surprise tech troubleshooting update about Barry’s iPhone call quality woes. (Hint: It involves Wi-Fi Calling playing ping-pong.)

Show notes and resources are here: https://bit.ly/caretechandtips-resources

• 00:00 – Bobby’s Easter “Vintage” Shirt Story

• 02:00 – Easter Celebrations and Family Gatherings

• 04:00 – Virtual Doctor Appointments for Seniors: Bobby’s Experience

• 06:00 – How to Prepare for a Virtual Medical Visit (Checklist)

• 12:00 – Assisted Living: When Is It Time?

• 18:00 – Health Red Flags to Watch For

• 24:00 – How Much Does Assisted Living Really Cost?

• 29:00 – How to Financially Plan for Assisted Living

• 31:30 – Barry's iPhone 16 Wi-Fi Calling Mystery (And the Fix)

• 35:00 – Wrap Up and Teasers for Next Time

• How to successfully pull off virtual medical appointments for seniors

• Tech tips for making virtual health visits easy and stress-free

• How to spot the warning signs that it may be time for assisted living

• Breaking down the emotional and financial realities of assisted living

• Barry’s troubleshooting saga: How strong Wi-Fi and strong cell signals can fight each other and wreck your phone calls

Summary:
Barry and Bobby dive into the realities of caregiving from a distance—especially when surgeries, travel, and unpredictable tech snags get tossed into the mix. From planning shoulder surgery logistics for a solo senior living with pets, to tackling the emotional and logistical whiplash of funerals, they don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Plus, Barry’s MVNO switch for his dad hits an unexpected snag that’s a lesson for anyone buying used phones. And Bobby brings the practical goods with two top-5 checklists for senior-friendly travel and ride-sharing success.

Timestamps & Topics:

• 00:00 – Pine pollen, spring vibes, and life updates

• 01:20 – When loved ones pass away and the logistics begin

• 02:40 – Barry’s dad finishes PT, eyes surgery in the fall

• 04:15 – Planning for surgery: pets, visitors, and shoulder strain

• 06:30 – Rehab resistance & the pros and cons of short-term care

• 07:50 – Comfort Keepers and temporary caregiver options

• 09:30 – Bobby’s 5 senior travel tips: comfort > chaos

• 15:00 – Barry’s MVNO fail: ATT phone, unpaid balance, and Gazelle surprises

• 22:00 – Bobby’s 5 senior ride-share tips: safety, simplicity, and trust

• 27:00 – Why return rides are harder than pickups

• 29:20 – Taxi, Uber, and a wish for a senior-specific ride app

• 30:00 – Final thoughts and community shout-out

In this episode, Barry and Bobby dive deep into three hot topics: robot vacuums that don’t suck (or, rather, do), cellular plans that make financial and practical sense for caregivers and loved ones, and remote screen sharing tools that can save hours of phone-based tech support. Plus, Barry drops a crisp iPhone tip that can instantly improve call quality, especially for family members with sketchy reception.

• 00:00 – Smoky South Carolina skies: Wildfires close to home

• 00:50 – Listener Q: Best robot vacuums for caregivers and seniors

• 02:15 – Top 5 robot vacuum picks + features for ease of use

• 07:21 – Key buying advice for robot vacuums

• 07:30 – Barry’s deep dive: Budget-friendly MVNO cell plans

• 08:41 – Big 3 vs. the rest: Understanding MVNOs

• 10:17 – Mint Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Google Fi, Cricket Wireless

• 19:06 – Free trials & eSIM tips for testing coverage

• 21:46 – Hidden pitfalls: smartwatches & plan compatibility

• 23:29 – Bobby’s screen sharing survival guide

• 26:14 – AnyDesk vs TeamViewer and remote access tips

• 31:11 – FaceTime Audio: Barry’s sneaky-good iPhone hack

• 34:15 – Making FaceTime Audio the default for key contacts

• 36:09 – Bobby’s hotel insight and Google vs. Apple Maps on road trips

• 37:57 – Wrap-up & global shout-outs

• Choosing robot vacuums with ease-of-use in mind

• MVNO carriers: pros, cons, and who they’re right for

• Using eSIMs to test new cell providers

• Screen sharing tools (TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Chrome Remote Desktop)

• FaceTime Audio for crystal-clear calls

• Navigating with Apple Maps vs Google Maps on road trips

• Listener engagement & geographic shout-outs

Find our detailed info and resources for this episode on the shownotes page at: https://bit.ly/caretechandtips-ep14