Preparing a large-print guide for an older relative
Your relative keeps asking how to do the same thing, and a card could help.
A large-print guide is a simple card with one action on each line, written in the words your relative uses. It sits where the task happens, so they do not have to ask again.
Make it with them, not for them. They will tell you which word is confusing before you notice.
Why does a card help?
Remembering a string of steps is hard for anyone, especially with a new device. A card lets your relative do the task alone, in their own time, without feeling they are a bother.
It also saves you from repeating yourself on the phone. That is kinder for both of you.
What goes on the card?
Keep it short and plain.
- A clear title: “How to start the morning programme”.
- Four to six steps, one action each.
- The same words the screen or button shows.
- A name and phone number to call, written large.
- Space around the words so the page is not crowded.
Leave out explanations. The card says what to do, not why.
Try this: make the card in twenty minutes
Sit with your relative and the device in front of you.
- Choose one task only, such as starting a video call or opening a guided meditation.
- Do the task together and say each step aloud as you go. Write the steps down in your relative’s own words.
- Type or write them in large, plain letters. Print or write on thick paper.
- Ask your relative to follow the card without help, and watch where they hesitate.
- Fix the wording, and put the card where they will use it.
What about language and eyesight?
Choose the language they read most easily, and match the words on their screen. If the screen is in English and they read Malay, write both words side by side.
Use dark print on a pale page, with a plain font. Check the light in the room where they will use it. If they use glasses, ask them to wear them for the test.
How do I respect their privacy?
The card is about the task, not about their private life. Do not write passwords on it. If something personal needs to be noted, ask where they would like it kept.
The guide on sharing a resource while preserving the other person’s privacy has more on this.
When should I ask for more help?
If your relative seems confused by more than the device, or seems low, anxious or forgetful in a way that worries you, encourage them to speak to their doctor, and see our support page.
Where to go next
Our parenting and caring guides have more family guides. Before you make the card, read explaining a new app to a parent without taking over, and check the language options of an app with them.
If the task on the card is a short guided meditation, Sadhguru’s free seven-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is an optional one to try, and the card can be as short as three lines.
Common questions
How big should the print be?
Big enough that your relative reads it without squinting or holding it close. Print a test line and ask them to read it from where they usually sit. If they struggle, make it bigger and use less text.
How many steps should a card have?
As few as you can manage, usually four to six. If a task takes more, make two cards. Each step should be one action, such as 'press the green button', so nothing needs to be worked out.
Which language should the card be in?
The one your relative reads most comfortably, which may be Malay, Chinese, Tamil, English or a mix. Ask them. Use the same words the screen or button uses, so they can match them.
Where should the card be kept?
Where the task happens: next to the television, on the fridge or beside the phone charger. A card in a drawer will not be used. Check after a week whether it is still where they need it.
Read next
If the card is for a short guided meditation your relative would like to try, the steps can be as simple as sit, press play and listen.