Staying in touch with family and friends matters at every age. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) lists checking in regularly with family and friends via phone, email, or video chat among the ways to stay connected, and its tips page also lists sending letters or cards. A device can help, but it is one option among several.
This guide starts with free options, then covers how to choose each type of device, the privacy settings worth checking, and how family can help with setup. GMG does not test products. Our guidance comes from NIA, Amazon's and Ring's own help pages and the specifications stated in the product listings, and we link to each source.
📋Quick Summary
- The National Institute on Aging suggests using communication technologies such as video chat or smart speakers to help keep you engaged and connected.
- If you are not tech-savvy, NIA suggests a class at your local public library or community center to learn how to use email or social media.
- These are everyday products, not medical equipment, so plan to pay for them yourself.
- Check the privacy settings first. Amazon's help pages explain how to turn the camera off and how to control Drop In, and Ring explains its privacy features.
- A family member can help with setup. Amazon publishes a step-by-step walkthrough.
| Medicare Advantage | If you have a plan, ask whether its over-the-counter allowance applies |
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Who it is for
- People who want an easier way to see and talk with family and friends. [MedlinePlus Magazine](https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/stay-connected-tips-from-the-national-institute-on-aging-for-combating-social-isolation-and-loneliness) lists living alone and having limited mobility or no reliable way to get around among the things that can raise the risk of social isolation.
- Family members helping a parent choose and set up a device.
Who should skip it
- If you already video call comfortably on a phone or computer, you may not need new equipment. A call, a card or a visit counts too.
- If you feel isolated or lonely a lot of the time, [NIA](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/loneliness-and-social-isolation/loneliness-and-social-isolation-tips-staying-connected) says you may want to tell your doctor or another health care professional. This is general information, not a recommendation for your situation.
Start with the free options
NIA says that if you're not tech-savvy, you can sign up for a class at your local public library or community center to learn how to use email or social media. It also suggests checking resources and programs at your local social service agencies, community and senior centers, and public libraries.
The Eldercare Locator, at 1-800-677-1116, connects you to local support resources for older adults and their families. Your state's SHIP counselors can help you read your plan's benefits for free.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, ask whether its over-the-counter allowance applies. Benefits vary by plan, so check your Evidence of Coverage or call the number on your card.
Why staying connected matters
MedlinePlus Magazine reports that loneliness and social isolation "have been linked to conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline." It says one in four adults aged 65 and older is socially isolated.
NIA's tips include scheduling time each day to stay in touch with family, friends and neighbors in person, by email, social media, voice call or text. Technology is one way to do that.
Choosing a video-calling device
A smart display has a screen and camera built in for video calls. The Echo Show listings in the table below state video calling with a camera, a photo slideshow on the home screen when the device is not in use, and a button that turns the microphones and camera off.
Amazon describes Drop In as an optional Alexa feature that connects you instantly to supported devices, like an intercom, and says that when you receive a Drop In, the connection to the caller begins automatically. Read the privacy section below before you turn it on.
What to look for: a screen size you can read from where you will sit; a camera shutter or an off button for the camera and microphones; and a model your family can also call from their own phone.
Reading and streaming made easier
An e-reader lets you change the text size. Amazon's help page says to open a book, tap the top of the screen, select the Aa icon and choose the text size that suits you, or pinch in or out on the page. The Kindle models in the table have a glare-free display and an adjustable front light.
A streaming stick plugs into a TV and comes with a voice remote. On the Fire TV Stick you press the voice remote button and talk to find what to watch. Streaming apps may charge subscription fees.
Seeing who's at the door
A video doorbell sends an alert to your phone when it detects motion, and lets you see, hear and speak to a visitor through Live View and Two-Way Talk. Some features need a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, according to the Ring listings.
The FTC's 2011 advice on door-to-door home security sales is to ask for identification before allowing a salesperson to enter your home. A video doorbell lets you see and speak to a visitor before you open the door.
Privacy and safety settings to check
Camera and microphone. On the Echo Show 8 and 11, Amazon's help page says the Microphones & Camera Enable/Disable button turns off both the microphones and the camera. You can turn off just the camera in Settings, then Privacy & Permissions, then Camera Access, or in the Alexa app under Devices, your device, Settings, Camera Settings. A "Camera Disabled" message appears on the screen, and turning the camera off disables some features.
Drop In. Drop In is optional. To use it with a contact, you and your contact must both give Drop In permission. Once it is on, your contact and their household members can connect to your Echo devices. To change this, open the Alexa app, then More, Communicate, Contacts, choose the contact and select Allow Drop In. To turn Drop In on or off for one device, go to Devices, your device, Settings, Communications, Drop In.
Who can call. In the Alexa app, you can block a contact from calling or messaging you: open More, Communicate, the contacts icon, the menu icon, and select Block Contacts.
Ring doorbell. Ring says you can create up to two Privacy Zones for each device, areas the camera won't show or record, and that you can turn off Audio Streaming and Recording so videos have no sound, which needs a compatible Ring subscription. To remove someone's access, use Device Settings, then Shared Access. Ring also offers two-step verification, which texts a six-digit code to your phone when you sign in.
Menus change, so if your screens look different, follow the on-screen prompts or the current help page.
How family can help set it up
Amazon's walkthrough for families lists the steps for an Echo Show. Plug the device in, tap the screen and choose a language, pick the home Wi-Fi network and enter its password, then have your loved one enter their own Amazon account email and password to sign in. Confirm the time zone to finish.
Amazon suggests several ways to personalize it. Add a home address for weather and traffic updates, upload family photos to an Amazon Photos album so they appear on the home screen, and add family members as contacts in the Alexa app so Drop In and video calling work. It also suggests an adjustable stand, so the screen can tilt for easier viewing.
Sit with your relative for the first call, and set the privacy options together.
Products that meet these criteria
GMG has not tested these products. Each is listed because its Amazon listing states the features this guide describes, and each was sold by Amazon.com on the date checked. This guide lists Amazon-made devices only, so it is not a comparison with other brands. Confirm the current price and whether the device works with the apps you want before you buy. Product names are paid links.
| Product (Amazon listing) | Type | What the listing states | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo Show 8 (newest model), 8.7-inch displaypaid link | Smart display for video calls | Video calls with a centered, auto-framing camera. Photo slideshow on the home screen when not in use. A microphones and camera enable/disable button. | Amazon's help page covers the camera and microphone controls for this model. Needs Wi-Fi and an Amazon account. |
| Amazon Echo Show 11 (newest model), 11-inch displaypaid link | Smart display for video calls | 11-inch Full-HD touchscreen. Video calls with a centered, auto-framing camera. Photo slideshow on the home screen. A built-in microphones and camera button. | Covered by the same Amazon help page for camera and microphone controls. Larger screen. |
| Amazon Kindle 16 GB (2024 model)paid link | E-reader | 6-inch glare-free display. Adjustable front light and dark mode. Up to 6 weeks of battery life. 16 GB of storage. | Text size is set with the Aa icon while reading, per Amazon's help page. |
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16GB (2024 model)paid link | E-reader | 7-inch glare-free display. Display adjusts from white to amber. Up to 12 weeks of battery life. Waterproof. | Text size is set the same way as on the Kindle. |
| Ring Battery Doorbell 2K (newest model)paid link | Video doorbell, battery | Live View and Two-Way Talk. Real-time alerts on your phone when motion is detected. Built-in battery recharged by USB-C (cable not included). | Some features need a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately. See Ring's privacy page. |
| Ring Wired Doorbell 2K (newest model)paid link | Video doorbell, wired | Live View and Two-Way Talk. Real-time alerts on your phone when motion is detected. Connects to the same electricity that powers your home. | Some features need a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately. It needs a connection to your home's electrical wiring, per the listing. |
| Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Pluspaid link | Streaming stick with voice remote | Streams in 4K. Press the voice remote button and talk to find what to watch. Wi-Fi 6 support. | Subscription fees may apply for streaming apps, per the listing. |
Listing details were checked on October 11, 2026 and can change.
- Your local public library or community center: NIA suggests signing up for a class to learn how to use email or social media.
- Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116. A public service that connects you to local support resources for older adults and their families.
- Calls, cards and letters: NIA's tips include staying in touch by voice call or text, and sending letters or cards.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): A free counselor can help you read your plan documents.
Common questions about easy tech for staying connected
- Does Medicare cover smart displays, e-readers or video doorbells?
- These are everyday products, not medical equipment, so plan to pay for them yourself. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, ask whether its over-the-counter allowance applies.
- Can I turn off the camera on an Echo Show?
- Yes. Amazon's help page for the Echo Show 8 and 11 says the Microphones and Camera Enable/Disable button turns off both, and you can turn off just the camera in the device settings or the Alexa app. Turning off the camera disables some features.
- What is Drop In, and can I turn it off?
- Drop In is an optional Alexa feature that connects you instantly to supported devices. For contacts, you and your contact must both give permission, and you can turn Drop In on or off for a device in the Alexa app.
- How do I stop someone from calling me on Alexa?
- In the Alexa app you can block a contact from calling or messaging you. Open More, then Communicate, then the contacts icon, then the menu icon, and select Block Contacts.
- Can a video doorbell be set not to record sound?
- Ring says you can turn off Audio Streaming and Recording in the Ring app so videos have no sound. That setting needs a compatible Ring subscription.
- Where can I learn to use email or video chat for free?
- NIA suggests signing up for a class at your local public library or community center. You can also call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for local resources.
✅What This Means For You
Turning 65: Pick one thing you want to do first, such as video calls, and start there.
Already on Medicare: Ask a family member to help with setup, and review the privacy settings together once the device is running.
IRMAA-affected: Higher premiums don't change this. Devices like these are an out-of-pocket purchase either way.
Medicare Advantage enrollees: Ask your plan whether its over-the-counter allowance applies before you buy.
Last reviewed . We re-check prices and links every quarter.