The iPad is extremely popular and for good reason, because with its large accessible screen it offers many functionalities for elderly people. Think of Facetime with the grandchildren, reading the news in a digital newspaper or playing a fun game. Would you like to buy an iPad, but are you not sure which iPad is suitable for the elderly? Then take a look at our blog ' Choice stress: What is the best iPad for the elderly? ' Now we understand that using an iPad requires a fair amount of knowledge. If you did not grow up with computers, this can sometimes be difficult.
1. Create an iCloud account
Before you start using your iPad, it is advisable to have an iCloud account, also known as an Apple ID. This allows you to store and transfer all your settings, files and data. iCloud is free and can be created using these steps.
- Go to appleid.apple.com
- Scroll down and click on 'Create your Apple ID'
- Fill in the requested information and click on 'Continue'
You have now created your own Apple ID, linked to an existing email address. You can use your iCloud account to make purchases in the iTunes and App Store and to download free apps. You can also link all kinds of extra data, such as your payment method.
2. Set up new iPad
Did you recently purchase a new iPad from a store? Then it is ready to use. Unlock the iPad and follow the steps. Are you taking over an iPad from someone else? Then it is best to completely reset it. Go to Settings > General > Reset. Here, tap on 'Erase all content and settings'. The iPad will restart and you can now follow the steps. You can choose to set up the iPad as new, which will then be completely empty. You can also choose to restore a backup from your iCloud account, if you already have one. All this data and content will then be transferred to your new iPad.
3. Adjust font size
The letters on an iPad can be a bit small. You can then enlarge the font.
- Go to Settings
- Go to Accessibility (or General on iOS 12 or earlier)
- Tap 'Weather graph and text size'
- Open 'Larger Text'
- If necessary, enable 'Larger text sizes'
- Use the slider to adjust the text size
4. Download application
The iPad is now ready to use! You will now need to start downloading the applications that you like.
- Go to the App Store
- Search for the name of the app
- Choose the right app you want to download. You can also see here if the app is free or not.
- Press Download
- Enter the iCloud password
You have now downloaded the app and can find it on the home screen of your iPad. Tip: place apps of the same theme together in a folder, so you can find them quickly.
5. Using the application
You have now downloaded several apps. How all these apps work, of course, differs per app. If you want to get the most out of your iPad, read here how to turn your iPad into a real Mac.
Want to FaceTime friends and family? Download the FaceTime app if it isn't already automatically on your iPad. Make sure the email address of the person you want to video call is in your iPad's contacts. Open the app and go to Contacts. Tap the correct contact here and FaceTime will start calling. Tip: hold the screen straight up in front of your face so that your entire face is in full view. Want to end the call? Tap 'Stop'. Are you receiving a call? Tap 'Accept' to answer.
Want to know how to play a game of WordFeud? Then take a look at our blog 'How to: Wordfeud on your iPhone' . The operation of this app on your iPhone is similar to that on the iPad.
With this manual you can use the basic functionalities of the iPad. Of course it remains a learning process, so don't worry if it doesn't work right away. Practice a lot and just try it, you will see that it will get better and better. Good luck and of course have fun with your iPad!
