Technology Safety for Older Adults
Technology can support independence for older adults, including those living with Alzheimer's or another dementia. It's also important to consider safety and security when using technology. Learn about the benefits and risks of common tools, ways to protect personal information, and how caregivers and family members can help with safe technology use.
GPS and location sharing
Family members and care partners can use a location-sharing app or service to stay connected with a person living with dementia. Smartphone apps may offer features such as sending notifications when the person leaves a familiar place. Wearable GPS trackers are another option, including watches, shoe inserts and more.
Location tracking is one of many ways to help a person living with dementia stay safe, and it should be used alongside other safety measures. When looking at location-sharing options, consider:
- No location tracking system is 100% accurate. Some devices don't work well inside buildings.
- Some systems can only locate a person in a general vicinity. Weather may interfere with accuracy.
- Location tracking is not the same as having a 24-hour companion.
Reduce the risk of wandering
Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and some will wander repeatedly. Location sharing can be part of a larger plan that includes creating routines and having regular check-ins. Learn more about how to prepare for wandering.
Smart home devices
Smart home devices include lighting and temperature controls, leak alerts, alarms, doorbell cameras, smart locks and smart appliances. These tools can help maintain routines, create a comfortable environment and support independence for someone living with dementia. For example, schedule lights to dim or brighten at the same time every day. Smart home devices also assist with safety by alerting when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected, or notifying when an unknown person comes to the door. Caregivers can use smart home devices to help from a distance. These devices support safety while allowing people living with dementia to stay independent. Always pair technology with regular check-ins.Get home safety tips
Alzheimer's disease causes changes in the brain and body that may affect safety. Use our Home Safety Checklist to prevent dangerous situations and maximize independence for the person living with dementia. Learn more about how to check home safety.
Protect personal and financial information from scams and fraud
Some financial scams are aimed specifically at older adults. It's helpful to learn about the different types of scams and fraud so you can recognize the signs if you or someone you know is targeted. For people living with dementia, identify family members or other trusted people who should be involved in financial planning.To help avoid both scams and fraud, it's important to keep in mind that:
- Legitimate organizations will not ask for sensitive information such as your passwords, full Social Security number or full credit card number by phone, email or text.
- Federal, state and local government agencies do not call to demand payment. Agencies like Social Security or Medicare typically communicate by mail, not through unexpected phone calls, texts or emails asking for money.
- No legitimate business will ask you to pay with gift cards. Requests for payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency are common signs of a scam.
Scams
A scammer will try to trick you into giving them your money or other assets by gaining your trust or pretending to be someone they're not. Scams may start with a phone call, text or email, with the scammer claiming to be someone you know or a representative of a bank or government agency such as Social Security or Medicare.
Scammers have become more sophisticated and may already know personal information when they first make contact. These are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Pause before taking action. Many scams create a false sense of urgency. They want you to think something bad will happen unless you act immediately. Stop and verify information with trusted sources before sharing any personal or financial details.
- Check the phone number or email address. Is this a known contact, or one you've never heard from before? For example, if you receive an unexpected phone call claiming to be your bank, hang up and call your bank at the phone number published on their website or a verified number you have used to contact them in the past.
- Agree on a family safety word to protect against voice scams. Because scammers can clone voices, pick a short, private word or phrase family members use to confirm identity in urgent situations. If someone is trying to rush you, slow down and verify.
- Get support if you are scammed. Know that you didn't do anything wrong. Contact your bank or financial institution and tell them what happened. Talk to family members and any advisors who help manage your finances.
Fraud
Fraud involves gaining access to sensitive information and using it to steal, like credit card fraud or identity theft. There are many ways that someone can gain access to personal information, including through mail theft and online data breaches.There are proactive steps you can take to reduce the risk of fraud, including using unique and secure passwords, credit freezes, routinely checking your bank statements and credit report, and using your bank's fraud prevention services to flag unusual activity.
ALZ Talks: Scam-Smart Safety for Those Living With Alzheimer’s
Watch a practical and supportive webinar on recognizing, avoiding and reporting scams, featuring Liz Buser, Senior Advisor, Fraud Prevention Programs at AARP. Learn about the unique risks facing people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. We'll share warning signs, safety tips, and ways care partners and families can protect themselves and their loved ones from fraud.
Artificial intelligence (AI) safety
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly common. You may encounter AI assistants and chatbots, and AI-generated content. AI tools can be useful in some situations, but there are also safety concerns to be aware of:
- If something feels off in a chat, phone call or text, slow down and verify. Even convincing responses, images, videos and voices of real people can be misleading. If a message or call seems unusual, contact the person or organization using a phone number or website you already know before taking action.
- Use AI carefully for health questions. AI can help with general information about conditions or medicines, but it can also be wrong in important ways. Never use AI instead of your doctor. It's important to always confirm health information with a qualified provider before acting on it.
- Many AI tools use what you enter to improve their systems. Because of this, avoid typing passwords, full Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other sensitive details.\
Deepfakes and false health claims
AI has made it harder to tell what is real online. AI tools can create convincing images, videos and voices called "deepfakes." These can be made to look and sound like real people, including celebrities, doctors and people you know, or they may depict entirely fake individuals and situations who look and sound real.Deepfakes are increasingly used to spread false health claims. Scammers use AI-manipulated faces and voices or recycled celebrity footage to promote fake or ineffective treatments and supposed "miracle cures" for Alzheimer's disease. These scams can mislead families searching for trustworthy information, undermine confidence in qualified medical professionals and create dangerous delays in receiving appropriate care.
Learn the telltale signs of deepfakes:
- Unnatural facial movements in video segments
- Audio with strange pacing or inflections
- Strong pressure to "act now"
- Links to suspicious landing pages and online stores
- Don’t click or buy anything from suspicious ads.
- Report the video or ad directly on the social media platform where you saw it.
- Talk with family members and friends to spread awareness about these scams.
- Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission or your state consumer protection agency.
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