Shopping and Banking from Home

How Technology Solves Real Problems

Welcome back! We’ve covered staying in touch with family, using health tech, enjoying entertainment, and making homes safer. Today, let’s talk about something that directly impacts daily survival: getting food and managing money.

These aren’t small inconveniences. They’re barriers that determine whether someone can live independently or not.

The Grocery Problem: It’s About More Than Shopping

Nearly 7 million seniors were food insecure in 2022. That’s not because they can’t afford food—though many can’t. It’s because they physically can’t get to it.

Consider the numbers: 19% of adults aged 80-84 struggle with grocery shopping. For those over 90, it’s 60%. And here’s what really matters: 42.6% of people say they don’t have transportation to stores with fresh, healthy food.

When you can’t shop, you can’t eat well. Studies show that food-insecure seniors are more likely to be hospitalized, develop chronic diseases, and lose independence faster. This isn’t about preference—it’s about survival.

Why Shopping Becomes Impossible

Physical barriers: Arthritis makes gripping a cart painful. Bending to reach items on low shelves becomes impossible. Lifting bags from cart to car to kitchen counter is an ordeal that takes hours to recover from.

Transportation: One in five planned trips by older adults simply doesn’t happen, often due to lack of transportation. If you don’t drive, you’re stuck waiting for someone else. If you only drive during daylight, winter shopping becomes nearly impossible.

Distance and access: Many seniors live in what researchers call “food deserts”—areas where the nearest grocery store is miles away. Without a car, these areas become food prisons.

The exhaustion factor: A single shopping trip can wipe out an entire day. By the time everything is put away, many seniors need to rest for hours.

The result? People skip shopping. They eat less. They eat worse. Or they give up independence and move in with family.

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Grocery Delivery: The Solution Nobody Talks About Enough

Delivery services like Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and Walmart Grocery aren’t luxuries—they’re independence preservers.

Margaret’s story: At 75, she slipped on ice in a parking lot. Not badly hurt, but terrified. Now she orders through Instacart every week. “I pick what I want, and it shows up. I’m eating better because I’m not avoiding the store anymore. Fresh vegetables, fruit—things I stopped buying because they were too heavy.”

Robert’s solution: Living 30 minutes from the nearest store in rural Montana, he can’t drive at night. He uses GoGo Grandparent (here’s our recent story about it)—a service that lets him order groceries by phone, no app needed. “I call, tell them what I need, and it arrives the next day. I don’t ask my daughter for rides anymore. That matters.” (You can even order by email by sending your grocery list to groceries@gogograndparent.com - you have to set up an account first, of course.)

The Real Costs

Let’s be honest about money. Delivery costs vary:

• Instacart+: $99/year gets free delivery on orders over $35

• Amazon Fresh: Free 2-hour delivery for Prime members on orders over $35

• Walmart: Around $10/month for unlimited delivery

For someone on a fixed income, that’s real money. But compare it to the cost of falling in a parking lot, missing meals, or giving up your home. Compare it to depending on family for every trip.

Many services offer senior discounts or support programs. Instacart has a senior support line specifically for people over 60 who need help setting up accounts or placing orders.

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The Banking Problem: Branches Are Closing, Independence Is at Risk

Bank branches are disappearing, especially in rural areas and smaller towns. For seniors who’ve always banked in person, this creates a crisis.

The routine—drive to the bank, deposit a check, pay bills, chat with the teller—is gone. Suddenly, you’re asking family for rides to the nearest open branch, or you’re trying to figure out online banking on your own.

The surprising reality: One 2020 survey said that 100% of adults aged 66-75 have completed an online financial transaction in the past six months. (Other surveys say it’s closer to 80%, but it’s still the overwhelming majority!) Not because they wanted to embrace technology, but because they had no choice when branches closed during the pandemic.

Many discovered they preferred it.

What Digital Banking Actually Fixes

The check problem: Paper checks need deposits. Bills need stamps. Both require trips. Online banking eliminates all of it.

The control problem: Seniors using digital banking report feeling more in control of their finances and less dependent on others.

The monitoring problem: You can check your balance at 3 AM if you’re worried about whether a check cleared. You can see every transaction immediately. No more waiting for monthly statements.

The mobility problem: Can’t drive to the bank? Take a photo of a check with your phone. It’s deposited.

The Fear Factor

Banks know seniors are targets for fraud. In 2024 alone, Americans over 60 lost nearly $5 billion to fraud—a 43% increase from 2023.

But here’s what the statistics don’t show: Most fraud happens through phone calls and emails, not through legitimate banking apps.

The irony? Avoiding online banking because of fraud fears can actually increase vulnerability. Why? Because you’re handling paper, writing checks, giving information over the phone—all easier to exploit than encrypted banking apps.

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Getting Started Without Overwhelm

For Grocery Delivery:

Step 1: Pick one service you recognize. Start with a store you already shop at—most major chains offer delivery.

Step 2: Call customer service. Most have senior support lines that will walk you through setup.

Step 3: Start tiny. Order five items the first time. Just to see how it works.

Step 4: If apps feel impossible, use phone ordering. GoGoGrandparent connects you with a real person who takes your order.

For Online Banking:

Step 1: Call your bank’s customer service. Say “I want to learn online banking and I need help.” Many banks have dedicated senior support programs.

Step 2: Get help from someone you trust—a family member or friend—for the first login. Write down your password in a safe place at home.

Step 3: For the first week, just log in and check your balance. Nothing else. Get comfortable seeing your account on a screen.

Step 4: Try mobile deposit next. Take a photo of a check. It’s easier than it sounds and feels like magic when it works.

Step 5: Set up one automatic bill payment. Start with something simple like a utility bill.

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Staying Safe: The Fraud Reality

Let’s talk straight about scams. Seniors are targeted because scammers assume they’re less tech-savvy. But staying safe is mostly common sense:

What banks will NEVER do:

• Call and ask for your password

• Email you a link to “verify your account”

• Text you asking for personal information

• Pressure you to act immediately

What you should ALWAYS do:

• Shop at websites you recognize (Amazon, Walmart, your grocery chain)

• Use credit cards, not debit cards (federal law limits your loss to $50 on credit cards)

• Never click links in emails—go directly to the company’s website instead

• Create strong passwords: at least 12 characters with letters, numbers, and symbols

• If it sounds too good to be true, it is

If you’re worried about a transaction: Call your bank using the number on your statement—not a number from an email.

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The Independence Question

This isn’t about keeping up with technology trends. It’s about solving real problems that get in the way of living the life you want.

Heavy bags. Long bank lines. Icy parking lots. Depending on others for rides. These aren’t minor frustrations—they’re reasons people give up their homes.

Technology removes these barriers quietly. No drama, no fanfare. Just groceries that show up, bills that get paid, and one more reason to stay in control of your own life.

Start with one thing. Order groceries once. Log into your bank account. You don’t have to master everything.

Every small step keeps you independent a little longer. And that’s what this is really about.

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Next Time:
We’ll tackle the internet itself—how to browse safely, find reliable information, and avoid the traps while enjoying everything online has to offer.

Got questions or a story about online shopping or banking? Share it. Your experience might help someone else take that first step.