How to Set Up Video Calls for Grandparents

"I want to see my grandkids, I just can't figure out how to make the call work" is one of the most common things we hear. It's rarely about not understanding technology in general: it's that video calling has a few small setup steps that, if they're off even slightly, make the whole thing feel unreliable. Once those are handled correctly, it usually becomes simple enough to do without help.

1. Pick one app and stick with it

Having FaceTime, Zoom, and a video-calling tablet app all installed creates confusion about which one to use for which family member. Pick whichever app the most family members already use (often FaceTime for an iPhone household, or a simple video-calling device if the family is spread across different phone types) and use only that one. Consistency matters far more than which app is "best."

2. Make the call start with one tap, not several

The single biggest source of frustration is a call that requires several correct taps in the right order to begin. The fix is usually one of these:

• Adding a direct contact shortcut to the home screen for each family member, so there's no searching through an app.
• Using a "favorites" or "speed dial" feature so a call starts from one tap on a name or photo.
• For someone who struggles with touchscreens, a dedicated senior-friendly video calling device (like a Jubilee TV or similar) that turns a whole call into a single button press.

3. Check the Wi-Fi before blaming the app

A choppy, freezing, or dropped video call is almost always a Wi-Fi problem, not an app problem. If calls consistently struggle in one specific room, that's usually a signal the Wi-Fi signal doesn't reach well there. See our Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide for what to check.

4. Test it together before relying on it

Once it's set up, do a real test call with the family member on the other end, at the same time of day the calls usually happen. This catches issues (a camera pointed the wrong way, a muted microphone, a login that expired) while there's still someone there to help, instead of during the next attempted call.

5. Write down the one-step version

After everything works, write the actual steps on a sticky note or index card near the device, not "how video calling works" in general, just the exact sequence for that specific device: "Tap the green button under Mom's photo." Specific beats general every time.

Have questions before booking? Call or text us at 470-667-5488 and we'll help you figure out what's needed.