The Delicate Issue of Taking Away a Senior’s Smartphone

Protecting aging loved ones presents new challenges in the age of telephone and internet scams

The internet is full of dangers, particularly for people developing dementia. Finding a way to help a senior loved one while also respecting their dignity and autonomy requires thoughtfulness. Zamrznuti tonovi/Shutterstock

At first, Dr. Robert Zorowitz thought his 83-year-old mother was confused. She couldn’t remember passwords to accounts on her computer. She would call and say programs had stopped working.

But over time, Zorowitz realized his mother—a highly intelligent woman who was comfortable with technology—was showing early signs of dementia.