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

Barry and Bobby are back from their “short break” and dive into a packed episode covering everything from nostalgic road trips and family travel logistics to the ever-changing landscape of tech upgrades. They discuss helping aging parents with taxes, cooking tips, and the importance of knowing when to upgrade your devices—whether it’s a phone, laptop, or even a whole operating system. Plus, they preview an upcoming discussion on screen sharing for seniors.

⏳ 00:01 - Karate, Short Breaks & Kill Bill Soundtracks
03:10 - Road Trips Before GPS: The Art of Paper Maps & Dead Reckoning
⚰️ 05:19 - Funeral Travel & Role Reversals in Aging
07:00 - Taxes & AI: How to Use AI to Simplify IRS Instructions
09:38 - Dad’s Cooking Adventures: Steaming, Sous Vide & Slow Cooker Potatoes
13:09 - iPhone 16E: Worth It or Skip It?
18:55 - When & Why to Upgrade Your Aging Tech
24:53 - Chrome OS, Windows Updates & Keeping Devices Secure
30:50 - Do You Even Need a Laptop? The Case for Tablets & Phones
31:37 - The Real Issue with Digital Inclusion: Devices, Not Just Internet Access
️ 35:01 - Sneak Peek: Next Episode’s Screen Sharing Saga

• AI for Taxes: Use ChatGPT (or similar) to simplify tax instructions by uploading IRS forms.
• Chrome OS Flex: A way to breathe new life into old laptops by turning them into Chromebooks.
• Tech Upgrade Chart & Additional Resources: Full details on OS end-of-life dates and other key episode mentions are available here: https://bit.ly/caretechandtips13
• Best iPhone for Caregivers: Barry & Bobby break down the pros and cons of the iPhone 16E vs. the regular 16.

Got a tech or caregiving question? Send it our way at caretechandtips@gmail.com
Looking for more details from this episode? Check out our expanded show notes & resource links https://bit.ly/caretechandtips13.
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We'll be back on Monday March 17th

Gaming isn’t just for kids anymore! In this episode of Care, Tech & Tips, Barry and Bobby dive into the world of senior-friendly games—highlighting the best brain-boosting apps, the red flags of scammy downloads, and why some games could be more harmful than helpful.

What’s inside this episode?

• The top-rated games designed to keep seniors mentally sharp

• How to avoid sneaky in-app purchases and scammy apps

• The hidden dangers of “free” games and how to find safe alternatives

• Tips on setting up scam call protection for seniors

• Recognizing early dementia signs through unexpected habits

• How AI tools like the Plaud AI pin can assist in caregiving

Plus, Barry shares a simple iPhone trick that instantly blocks scam callers—so you (or your loved ones) won’t have to deal with them again!

Whether you’re a caregiver, tech-savvy senior, or just someone looking for safe and fun games, this episode is packed with practical advice and laughs along the way.

For lists of games and instructions on how to limit in-app purchases

https://tinyurl.com/caretechandtips12

In this episode of Care, Tech & Tips, Bobby and Barry dive into a mix of caregiving challenges, tech tips, and even some unexpected (and slightly questionable) problem-solving strategies.

Topics Covered:

• Caregiving Updates: Bobby shares stories about his mom locking out a caregiver and his father-in-law’s tech adventures.
• Assistive Access Mode on iPhones: Why it’s great for accessibility but needs a little ongoing management.
• The Unexpected Way to Unlock a Phone: A jaw-dropping story about how someone accessed a loved one's phone after their passing.
• The "Talk" You Need to Have: Why discussing account access and digital legacy planning is crucial.
• Online Shopping & Romance Scams: How to keep your loved ones (and yourself) from getting conned.
• Storage Management for Seniors: Helping older family members manage their phone storage before it becomes a crisis.
• The Chopstick Diet Hack? Barry’s surprising take on how using chopsticks might improve your health.
• The 10-5-10 Eating Method: A simple trick to slow down your eating and feel fuller with less food.

Bonus: Why Apple’s 5GB of free iCloud storage is a joke, and what you should do instead.

Welcome to another episode of CareTech & Tips! In this episode, Barry and Bobby dive into:

• Scam Alerts: Medicare scams, toll booth schemes, and data breach traps.
• Caregiver Chronicles: Grocery shopping for loved ones and making smarter tech choices.
• Tech Simplified: Teaching seniors to embrace self-checkout and battling scammy AI pitfalls.
• Legacy Prep: Managing online accounts after a loved one passes away.

We also share personal caregiving stories, laugh over food quirks, and discuss AI tools to make your life easier. Don’t miss this episode filled with practical advice and relatable moments!

Have a topic or question? Email us at caretechandtips@gmail.com.