How to Keep Your Elderly
Parents Safe on Their Phone
Scam calls, medical emergencies, confusing apps, and not knowing where they are — here's a practical setup guide for Indian families with elderly parents living alone or at a distance.
Last updated: June 2026 · 7 min read
The Three Real Risks for Elderly Parents
Medical emergency when alone
A fall, chest pain, or sudden illness when no family is present. If the parent cannot call, or panics, every minute counts.
Phone scams and fraud
KYC fraud, fake bank calls, "your son is in trouble" scams — elderly Indians lose crores annually to these calls. Seniors are targeted specifically because they are more trusting and less familiar with fraud patterns.
Getting lost or disoriented
Elderly parents — especially those with early memory issues — sometimes lose their way in familiar places. Knowing their location in real time prevents a minor confusion from becoming a crisis.
Step 1: Set Up Emergency Contacts Properly
Android has a built-in emergency contact feature that works even when the phone is locked. Set it up so anyone — a stranger, a doctor, a police officer — can call you from your parent's locked phone.
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Emergency Information (path varies by brand — search "Emergency Info" in settings)
- Add your name and number as the primary emergency contact
- Add at least one more family member
- Fill in medical information — blood group, allergies, existing conditions
- On Samsung: Settings → Safety & Emergency → Emergency contacts
- On Xiaomi/Redmi: Settings → Passwords & Security → Emergency SOS
💡 After setting this up, test it: press the power button on the locked phone and look for "Emergency" at the bottom. The contact you added should be visible without unlocking.
Step 2: Install Raksha and Add Yourself as Guardian
Install Raksha on your parent's phone and add yourself (and any siblings) to their circle. This gives you:
Sit with them and show them the SOS button during setup. Make sure they know what it does and are comfortable pressing it. Many elderly parents avoid it because they don't want to "disturb" family — reassure them that pressing it is always the right call.
Step 3: Block Scam Calls
Phone fraud targeting the elderly is one of the fastest-growing crimes in India. Common scams:
Enable Truecaller
Install Truecaller and enable spam blocking. It automatically flags known scam numbers with a red "Spam" label before the parent picks up.
Teach the golden rule
Banks, RBI, and police never ask for OTP, PIN, or card numbers over the phone. Ever. This one rule blocks 90% of scams.
Set up DND
Register on TRAI's DND (Do Not Disturb) registry: send "START DND" to 1909. Reduces promotional calls significantly.
Create a safe contact list
Teach them to only pick up calls from saved numbers. Unknown numbers can be ignored and called back only after checking with you.
Step 4: Simplify the Phone
A cluttered phone full of apps and notifications is both confusing and a security risk. Spend 30 minutes cleaning up:
Increase font size and display size
Settings → Display → Font size and Display size. Larger text reduces errors from misreading numbers or buttons.
Enable large button mode
Samsung has a dedicated "Easy Mode" (Settings → Display → Easy Mode) that simplifies the home screen. Xiaomi has a similar "Simple Mode".
Uninstall unused apps
Fewer apps = fewer opportunities for scam links to cause damage. Keep only what they actually use.
Disable in-app purchases
Go to Play Store → Profile → Settings → Authentication → Require authentication for all purchases. Prevents accidental charges.
Set up Google Family Link (if needed)
For parents with memory issues, Family Link lets you approve app installs and see screen time. It requires their consent to set up.
Step 5: Regular Check-in Routine
Technology supplements — it doesn't replace — human connection. Build a simple check-in routine that works for your family:
Morning video call (5 min)
A quick face-to-face check is the fastest way to assess how they're doing — voice and expression tell you what a location ping cannot.
Glance at Raksha location once a day
Not constant monitoring — just a once-a-day check that confirms they moved around normally. A parent who hasn't moved from home all day might need a call.
Monthly phone audit
Once a month, sit with them (in person or via video) and check for suspicious apps, unknown calls in recent history, or any messages that look like phishing.