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