My parent just upgraded to a smartphone but they are having trouble learning how to use it. Is there a way to make it easier for them to learn how to use the phone?

Switching to a smartphone can be a big adjustment. What seems second nature to younger users can feel overwhelming to someone who has never used a touchscreen. Even though the screen is bigger, the text can still be small, and the buttons may be hard to tap. It is also frustrating when one accidental touch can open an app or change a setting. Even simple tasks like texting or taking a picture can suddenly feel overwhelming.

The good news is that smartphones can be surprisingly user-friendly. Smartphones will often have special settings and accessibility features that make them easier to see, hear and navigate. The exact steps vary depending on the phone, but here are some helpful settings and options.

Making Text and Icons Bigger

The best place to start is in a phone’s Settings. Once in Settings, look for an option called "Display" or “Display & Brightness.” Once you are in that setting, you can change the font size, change the font style and increase the size of icons and buttons. These small changes can make a big difference, especially for those who struggle with their vision.

Reading the Screen Out Loud

Look for an option in the Settings section called "Accessibility." There are very helpful tools in this section such as turning on a feature that reads whatever is on the screen aloud. Accessibility settings may also allow your parent to connect to their hearing aid via Bluetooth. Most phones also have a zoom tool that makes text or pictures larger, and there is often an option for voice control that lets your parent open apps or write messages by using a voice command.

A Simple Home Screen

Some phones let you turn on simple mode or assistive access to clear away extra apps and only show big, easy buttons for the apps that are used the most, like Phone, Messages and Camera. You can even lock this mode with a passcode so that it does not switch back by accident. This is great for someone who has never used a smartphone before and can make using the phone much less intimidating.

Buttons Instead of Swiping

Many smartphones use swipe gestures instead of buttons to navigate, which can feel confusing at first. Most phones will let you switch back to simple on-screen buttons instead — one for Home, one for Back and one to see recently used apps.

Other Helpful Tools

In the Accessibility section, you might also find options for subtitles that appear automatically when someone is talking or a tool that makes quiet sounds louder. The contrast may also be adjusted, which makes things easier to read on the screen. There is also an option to adjust touch response times and touch sensitivity to reduce accidental taps.

Extra Tips

Clean up the smartphone’s home screen by removing unused apps and placing the most used apps, such as Phone, Messages and Photos, on the first screen. Choose simple wallpaper, turn up the ringtone and alert volume, add favorite contacts for one-touch calling and increase the screen timeout so the display stays on longer.

The goal is not to master every feature. Start with the basics such as answering calls, sending texts and taking photos. This will allow plenty of time to practice and get familiar with the phone. With a few simple adjustments, a smartphone can become a tool they enjoy using.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.