In this packed episode, Barry and Bobby return after a short break to dive into the tangled world of caregiving, tech hacks, and emotional resilience. They cover everything from fighting spam FaceTime calls to getting an elderly parent started with grocery lists on Apple Reminders. They share hilarious, frustrating, and heartwarming stories about remote troubleshooting, smart TVs that are too smart, and the never-ending battle with streaming apps and internet issues. The second half shifts to real talk on emotional bandwidth, perfectionism, and the importance of picking your battles as a caregiver.

Show notes and resources are here: https://bit.ly/caretechandtips-resources

0:00 – Welcome back! Life happens.
0:30 – Bobby's spam call/FaceTime tip roundup
2:30 – Phishing texts and suspicious FaceTime spam
4:00 – Barry’s dad learning to avoid scams
5:00 – How to block spam FaceTime and texts
6:00 – Barry’s dad asks about grocery lists (!?)
6:45 – Using Apple Reminders for smart grocery lists
7:45 – Voice entry and Siri integration tips
8:30 – Sharing grocery lists with loved ones
9:30 – Faint clock display on iPhone lock screen fix
10:30 – iPad nightstand/clock setup hacks
12:00 – Battery-saving shortcut when iPad is idle
14:00 – Charging routines and iOS power management
15:30 – Barry’s ongoing battle with cell signal quality
16:45 – AT&T Air placement voodoo solved
17:30 – Entire cell tower outage (!), how Barry troubleshot it
18:45 – Bits vs Bytes: A speed and connectivity primer
20:30 – Cellular internet pros, cons, and fiber upgrades
22:00 – Why streaming holds up better than calls
23:30 – TCP/IP, latency, and interactive vs passive traffic
25:00 – Bobby’s saga with his mom’s Amazon Smart TV and Spectrum
26:00 – Barry’s thoughts on restricting purchases and remote control chaos
29:00 – Finite self-control and caregiver burnout
31:00 – Tips for stepping back when your emotional tank is empty
33:00 – "Do I have the stamina for this right now?" – a question worth asking
34:00 – Expectations vs reality and letting go of perfection
35:00 – Wrapping up: therapy for them and for us

• How to block spam FaceTime and unknown text messages

• Setting up Apple Reminders grocery lists for elders

• Custom iOS shortcuts for simplicity

• Solving faint clock bug on iPhone

• iPad battery-saving automation using Shortcuts

• AT&T Air interference and cell tower troubleshooting

• Streaming vs calling: why one often works while the other fails

• Caregiver burnout and setting emotional boundaries

• Smart TV challenges with legacy cable habits

• The curse of complex remotes and maintaining control

• When it's okay to punt the problem to tomorrow

In this episode, Barry and Bobby get real about family time, technology wins, and some of the heavy conversations that come with caregiving. Bobby shares a recent success pulling off a virtual medical appointment for his mom, complete with a how-to guide on making telehealth work smoothly. Barry then dives into the signs that it might be time to consider assisted living for a loved one — and they don't sugarcoat it. They finish up with a discussion about the real costs of assisted living, how to plan ahead, and even a surprise tech troubleshooting update about Barry’s iPhone call quality woes. (Hint: It involves Wi-Fi Calling playing ping-pong.)

Show notes and resources are here: https://bit.ly/caretechandtips-resources

• 00:00 – Bobby’s Easter “Vintage” Shirt Story

• 02:00 – Easter Celebrations and Family Gatherings

• 04:00 – Virtual Doctor Appointments for Seniors: Bobby’s Experience

• 06:00 – How to Prepare for a Virtual Medical Visit (Checklist)

• 12:00 – Assisted Living: When Is It Time?

• 18:00 – Health Red Flags to Watch For

• 24:00 – How Much Does Assisted Living Really Cost?

• 29:00 – How to Financially Plan for Assisted Living

• 31:30 – Barry's iPhone 16 Wi-Fi Calling Mystery (And the Fix)

• 35:00 – Wrap Up and Teasers for Next Time

• How to successfully pull off virtual medical appointments for seniors

• Tech tips for making virtual health visits easy and stress-free

• How to spot the warning signs that it may be time for assisted living

• Breaking down the emotional and financial realities of assisted living

• Barry’s troubleshooting saga: How strong Wi-Fi and strong cell signals can fight each other and wreck your phone calls

Summary:
Barry and Bobby dive into the realities of caregiving from a distance—especially when surgeries, travel, and unpredictable tech snags get tossed into the mix. From planning shoulder surgery logistics for a solo senior living with pets, to tackling the emotional and logistical whiplash of funerals, they don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Plus, Barry’s MVNO switch for his dad hits an unexpected snag that’s a lesson for anyone buying used phones. And Bobby brings the practical goods with two top-5 checklists for senior-friendly travel and ride-sharing success.

Timestamps & Topics:

• 00:00 – Pine pollen, spring vibes, and life updates

• 01:20 – When loved ones pass away and the logistics begin

• 02:40 – Barry’s dad finishes PT, eyes surgery in the fall

• 04:15 – Planning for surgery: pets, visitors, and shoulder strain

• 06:30 – Rehab resistance & the pros and cons of short-term care

• 07:50 – Comfort Keepers and temporary caregiver options

• 09:30 – Bobby’s 5 senior travel tips: comfort > chaos

• 15:00 – Barry’s MVNO fail: ATT phone, unpaid balance, and Gazelle surprises

• 22:00 – Bobby’s 5 senior ride-share tips: safety, simplicity, and trust

• 27:00 – Why return rides are harder than pickups

• 29:20 – Taxi, Uber, and a wish for a senior-specific ride app

• 30:00 – Final thoughts and community shout-out