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Digital Skills For Carers

Breaking down digital skills into a meaningful guide has been somewhat of a challenge. Where do we start when there are so many services and types of technology to keep up with? It’s no wonder that many of us struggle to keep up with the pace of change. 

Some questions we might find handy to consider before we get started with developing our digital skills include:
 

  • Do I know how to access email?

  • Do I have a device I feel comfortable using?

  • Have I set up basic security on this device? (Passwords etc) 

  • Do I have a stable and secure internet connection at home 

  • Have I asked someone I trust to help me get started?


Our experience at Mobilise is that everyone is capable of using technology to improve their lives. We’ve seen it break barriers to isolation, through online community and conversation, speed up access to support and make life easier.

To provide a guide to cater to all, we’ve broken it down into three sections:

But first - a word on online security.

Illustration of a man on his phone
Secure

How to stay secure online

First, let’s quickly go over the basics. Generally, most security breaches occur because either: someone gets access to your email account, you disclose information by mistake to an ill-meaning third party (also known as a ‘phishing scam’) or a combination of the two.

💡Our top tips for staying secure online: 

 

1. Check the links in an email to understand if they are legitimate

Watch this short video to help identify which links are likely to be from a scammer. This helps us avoid falling for phishing which is a type of scam where scammers try to trick us into giving away personal information like passwords or bank details.

2. Secure your email account/s with two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is a two-step process a system takes to verify that it is us signing into our accounts. This can include sending a code to our phone or an alternative email address we chose to include, making it difficult for someone to access our accounts.

3. Keep your devices and software up to date 

Whilst it might seem time consuming, updating our device’s software can add extra security and prevent hackers from accessing our devices with malicious programmes or accessing important information.

There are other ways we could be at risk and we can find out more about how to protect ourselves from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Preventing our cared-for (or ourselves) from getting scammed online

As technology continues to develop, so do online scams. Here are some examples we might come across and our top tips to help prevent them!

 

1. Phishing 

Phishing is when someone tries to gain sensitive information from us using emails, texts or phone calls to steal money. To avoid phishing, never share any personal information with anyone you don't trust or click links that have been sent to you. We can also use Ask Silver to check if something might be scam.

Phishing giveaways might include:

  • Spelling mistakes or poor grammar

  • A sense of urgency and pressure (e.g. “your account will be blocked!”)

2. Romance scams (or catfishing) 

Romance scams describe when a person builds a fake romantic relationship with us online to gain our trust and eventually ask for money. We can avoid these scams by never sending money to someone you've met online and if you feel unsure, talk to someone you trust first.​

Romance scam giveaways might include:

  • They refuse to meet in person or on video

  • They express love or strong feelings for you quickly

  • They make excuses for not meeting, then ask for financial help

3. Fake shopping sites 

We might come across fake online shopping websites that look identical to real retailer websites offering discounted items but don't deliver anything. We can check if a website link is genuine using tools like the F-Secure link checker.

For added security we can check if there are genuine reviews on the website, look up the company on Trustpilot, or google the name of the website first to see if anyone has reported it as a scam - before deciding to purchase anything. Using PayPal to pay also gives us added protection.

Scam shopping site giveaways:

  • Prices are too good to be true

  • No contact details or returns information is provided on the website

What to do If we have been scammed 

If we think we or the person we care for has been scammed, don’t panic. Acting quickly can help reduce further harm. 
 

  1. Stop contact immediately

Don’t reply to the scammer. Block their number or email if possible. We might also take screenshots of any communication if we wish to report it.
 

2. Secure our accounts

Change any passwords that might be jeopardised and contact the bank if necessary.
 

3. Report It  

We can visit Action Fraud to report any scams we've been a victim of. Forward any scam texts to '7726' and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

beginners

Digital skills for beginners

Perhaps we have an email account, but don’t access the internet regularly. Or we have a smartphone but don’t use much more than the text and phone functions. If so, this is the section for us.

Creating passwords

Most online services will require us to have a password and each one may have different requirements. We might need to have numbers present and with others or special characters such as; !, &, %, £.

We should always have a unique password to each new service you set up, so people can’t access all of our accounts with the same one. But this can be hard to remember - particularly if we also need to do this for the person we are caring for too!

With that in mind a password manager is a great piece of kit. Using a password manager means all of our passwords are stored in one place and we just have to remember one master password to access them all.

 

Here are some options:

1. 1Password - Best for Carers

1Password costs around £5 per month. For that money, we can access the service on nearly any device. Plus, there’s a family function which allows us to share some or all of our passwords. This is great for emergencies or if we need a hand and can’t get to a computer.

2. Best free option - Last pass

Last pass is a great option for those on a budget. Whilst it doesn’t have the family functions of the other two services, it’s still a really great option and it’s completely free!

3. Best for additional protection - Keeper

Keeper is around £44 a year, for that we get similar family functionality to 1Password. But also some neat other features such as help creating strong passwords and alerts if one of our passwords has somehow been breached so we can change it straight away.

 

4. Best for convenience - Built in password managers on smartphones

If we have a smartphone, both Android and iOS devices come with built-in password managers that can securely save and automatically fill in passwords for the websites and apps we use.

On Android, this is usually handled by Google Password Manager, while on iOS and iPhone, the built-in Passwords feature from Apple means our phones can remember and automatically fill in our password when logging into websites or apps. This is a feature we will need to switch on in our iPhone settings.

Keeping in touch with family and friends

Staying in touch with family and friends is one of the biggest gains of modern technology. Video calls with a tap or a click are now everywhere, but working out the best option for us can be tricky. Take a look at the top seven apps for free video calling carers have been enjoying.

 

Some messaging services we can try: 

All of them have their benefits and drawbacks. So it’s helpful to think about how we prefer to communicate.

 

Would we prefer text-based communications or video? One to one or in a group? 

We should also think about our devices. If we don’t have a smartphone, some of them won’t be available to us. 
 

Here’s a handy grid to work out which might work best:

Company or service
Group or individual communication?
Text, video or audio communication?
Do you need a smartphone?
Do you need to set up an account?
Carer's view
Other considerations
Text/SMS
Generally individual
Text
No
No
A great default option. A text can nearly always be relied upon.
Your mobile phone plan will need to included SMS or you will be charged per message.
Facebook/Facebook Messenger
Both
All
No - you can use a tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
Yes - you will need a facebook account.
Great for staying in touch with other carers, or for finding groups like Mobilise!
WhatsApp
Both
All
Yes
Yes
An awesome resource. Perfect for creating a group to prepare for the unexpected.
You will need a smartphone with a data connection or a wifi connection
Zoom
Both
Mostly video
No - you can use it on most devices
No - not if someone invites you to join a video call
We use this for our Online Virtual Cuppas - it’s a great way of uniting people on whatever device they prepare.
You will need a good internet connection either using mobile data or wifi.

💡  Top tip - Always check that our internet speed is up to date! Sometimes, having a poor wifi connection can really bring down the quality we experience on video calls. Broadband Savvy has a simple guide on how we can improve our internet speed.

intermediates

Digital skills for intermediates

We’ve mastered how to communicate, shop safely, and have a variety of internet accounts that enable us  to do what we want. Perhaps we regularly shop online. We feel comfortable with apps and own a smartphone and are looking for the next ways the technology can help us. If that sounds familiar... onwards!

Try voice-enabled devices

More and more people are turning to voice enabled devices which can be super helpful if the person we care for is in another room. These are simply ‘smart devices’ which we can speak to, either to ask for information or ask them to do something. Here's a quick guide to the most popular smart speakers if we’d like to explore what’s available.

Whilst these smart devices are great at playing music when asked, there are many other ways we can use them.

 

For example, we can ask them:

  • What the weather or time is (for any location around the world)

  • Set a reminder (to go on a walk, or take medication)

  • To set a timer

  • For general information

  • Turn on the lights

  • Create and manage shopping lists (or even add something to our basket on Amazon if we’re using an Alexa) 

  • Open the curtains

  • Read our children a book

  • To call someone (including emergency services)

  • Text someone that we’re on our way home

  • Find accessible places to go or eat

  • Do daily quiz type questions (a family treat!)

  • Make an announcement to someone else in a different room (i.e. if they’d like tea)

  • Finding a misplaced phone by asking our device to ring us

  • Translate speech

  • Pop the kettle on for us if connected to a smart kettle
     

The low cost of these smart devices is also a real benefit and means we can have them in multiple rooms. The best devices are sold from Amazon and Google and depending on who we already have accounts with, is largely the biggest factor when choosing.

💡Top tip: We don’t always need to buy brand new. Back Market is a great place to find refurbished smart devices at lower prices, helping us save money while still getting good-quality smart devices.

Best for shopping - Amazon’s Echo

Perhaps we’ve heard of Alexa. This is the voice of the virtual assistant to Amazon’s product Echo. There are a variety of different devices available starting from £39, and some include screens which can be very handy.

 

We’ll need an Amazon account but the benefits are significant. For example, quickly ordering of supplies e.g. “Alexa order more toilet roll” or “Alexa add aspirin to my medications list”. 


There are also a wide range of useful tools which could help carers. It’s become so popular that Amazon have started to work on a new version designed specifically for older people and carers in care homes.

How carers are using Alexa around the house to help them

"I really like Alexa; we have one in just about every room. I use it for routine reminders, day date prompts, lists, to operate my linked devices, to view my cameras, to display photographs, listen to the radio or music and to help with cooking."

 

In the kitchen, carers have shared that they use Alexa for all the "routine reminders" such as;

  • Phoning the doctor 

  • Getting the person they care for 

  • Medication (four times a day)

  • Getting ready for bed, find pyjamas, tooth brush etc.

  • Closing the garden, (get in any washing, lock the side gate)

  • Checking the bins, then using  my calendar to decide if it was recycling or rubbish bin.

  • Zoom call in 10 minutes. 

  • Phoning the dentist

"I used the Kitchen Echo Show or my tablet to “drop in” on the bedroom Echo Show, this meant that I could see and hear her from the kitchen."

In the bedroom:

"In the bedroom and kitchen are Echo Shows these include a camera and a display. We use the bedroom Echo to set a wake-up reminder every day.  The reminder is repeated twice and stops while the alarm plays until you say “Alexa stop” if you prefer Alexa can play music or a radio station to wake you up."

"Using Alexa compatible smart plugs and bulbs allows me to turn some of my lights on or off just by talking to Alexa."

"We have Alexa compatible door bell, security cameras and thermostat. Alexa can show me the porch or garden, but only for a limited time. She can also turn the heating up or down."

​"When I’m feeling lonely or overwhelmed, I like chatting to my Alexa for a little pick me up!"​

Best for information - Google Nest

Google offers a similar range of devices starting from £49, all powered by Google’s search system which means we are never far from the right answer. To get the most from Google’s nest product we’ll need a Google account. It will help a lot if we use Google’s calendar and email as well. 


Similar useful tools for carers to Amazon Echo are also available on Google Nest.


 

One to watch - Apple Homepod

We can’t fully recommend this yet as Apple’s digital assistant Siri is still some way behind that of Google and Amazon. But, if we are tied up in the Apple ecosystem of devices, we might find it a useful addition to have. Commands like “Siri call Mum” will work really well, but it fails when asking for relatively straightforward information. If we think it’s for us take a look at their devices.

Give online learning for any task a go

As carers we often find ourselves needing to take on new skills and become good at them quickly.

 

For all your questions - Youtube

Youtube is the world’s second biggest search engine after Google. And we’ll find the answer to nearly anything. Need to know how to pop a door back on its hinges, clear a blocked drain or safely turn someone in bed - we’ll find lots of step-by-step answers here.

 

Learn something new - Skillshare

If we’d like to take up a new hobby or learn something new, the folks at Skillshare have us covered. They use video tutorials from experts all over the world to teach us new skills. We could relax and learn how to paint, learn how to start a new business, or even try our hand at interior design!

 

Learn from a celebrity expert - MasterClass 

Perhaps we’ve always wanted to learn from the very best, if so look no further. MasterClass brings us cooking lessons from Gordon Ramsay, photography with Annie Leibovitz, acting with Samuel L Jackson or learn how to write the next bestselling thriller with Dan Brown!

 

It’s an amazing lineup, and it comes at a price but for £14/month we’ll be spending our time learning in some very good company. Also, they also cover dog training, gardening, magic and much more!

experts

Digital skills for experts

This section is for those of us who have grown up with the internet or use it all day every day. We may be looking for a few ways to start to challenge ourselves. Thankfully there are infinite ways for customisation and automation which are surprisingly not that difficult!

Smart Home 

Switching off lights with a switch is soooo 2024. The world of smart-homes is no longer the future, they’re now fully integrated into many of our homes already. From smart lighting, to smart fridges, kettles and even ovens, we can now get nearly any household appliance as a smart connected device.

 

When we start to combine smart tech with assistants like Google, Siri and Alexa, we really start to see the benefits. More companies like Ikea are bringing a range of options through at reasonable prices

 

There are even smart water bottles that connect to our Apple watch

 

With all this in play, we can start to get some basics in our life and incorporate these into our routines. For example, we could have a routine set up where at a particular time in the morning the blinds open, the weather is read to us, alongside any reminders or things we need to do that day, it’s like having a digital personal assistant to help make our lives that little bit easier.
 

We might want to use our fully integrated smart home set-up for: 

  • Tracking energy usage to save money on our household bills

  • Using motion sensors to track if someone has gotten out of bed safely during the night

  • Smart doorbells can alert us if anyone leaves our house or flat unexpectedly

  • Smart lamps can be set to light up at certain times in the morning to gently wake someone

  • Regular safety check ins
     

Keeping our data safe when using smart home devices

Smart home devices can make our lives more convenient, but they also collect a lot of information from us too. That’s why it’s important to take a few simple steps to keep our data secure if we do choose to use any smart home devices. 

 

Here's a quick checklist to help protect our data:

  • Use strong, unique passwords to avoid our personal smart home devices

  • Make sure your Wi-Fi and smart device accounts each have their own strong password. Avoid reusing the same one

  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security even if someone gets your password, they can’t log in without your phone or backup code

  • In your device’s app, look for settings to turn off unnecessary voice recordings, limit data sharing, or delete stored activity

  • Your wifi router is the door to your smart home. Make sure it’s password-protected and up to date

  • Only link devices you trust and disconnect anything you’re not using regularly

  • Regularly update your devices with the latest software
     

If this then that - IFTTT

Time to connect our digital world together in a few clicks! And it’s not as complicated as it sounds. IFTTT is an amazing service which allows our different account ecosystems to talk to each other (sort of). For example once we create an account, we can create a IFTTT that says: if the time is 8:00pm, then send me a notification to read an article about X. 


We could also sync the reminders from our Alexa with those on our iPhone, get a notification when the international space station goes over our home, use it to log when medication is taken so we always know how much we have in our supplies. Or receive a notification when something essential at Tesco goes on offer. 

The number of connections is amazing. Signing up is free and well worth having a play with. 

Share your ideas with us

If you have a great tip for digital skills for carers, pop us an email here and we’ll update our guide to with even more ideas!

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