AI-generated scam calls and deepfake videos are making it harder for families to know what’s real, but taking a parent’s phone away can isolate them from the routines that bring fulfillment and meaning to their daily life. 

Larz May, founder of the digital wellness nonprofit #HalfTheStory, joins host Tiffany Robinson to discuss how families can recognize AI-driven scams, set up safeguards that protect the whole family, and use technology to keep aging parents and grandparents connected to the communities and resources that matter most.

Listen Now:

What you’ll learn in this episode

• How AI is changing the scale and believability of scams targeting older adults, including deepfake calls impersonating family members
• How to establish a family verification system that catches fraud attempts before money changes hands
• Why restricting a parent’s device access can backfire, and how to set devices up for safe use instead
• How to start a conversation about a parent’s digital accounts and what should happen to them after they pass

Additional resources:

• #HalfTheStory — Larz May’s nonprofit focused on digital wellness
• LastPass — An encrypted password storage platform for family account access
• OmniWatch — A fraud monitoring and alerts platform 
• Suno — AI app for recording voice and music
• Opal — Screen-time app framed around productivity
• Ginko — Larz’s tool helping parents navigate kids’ screen time and online safety

Featured Guest

Larz May is the founder of #HalfTheStory, a nonprofit focused on helping people build healthier relationships with technology. Her work started with young people, and she brings that same lens to families supporting aging parents and grandparents. Several of the elders in her own life, including her grandparents, have shaped how she thinks about technology’s role in caregiving, from using shared playlists to spark memory to setting up fraud alerts. Her focus is on helping older adults use technology safely while staying connected to family and community.

Episode Transcript 

Please click here for the episode transcript.

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About the Host

Tiffany Robinson is a passionate advocate for caregiver education. As the host of ComForConnections, she brings warmth, insight, and a deep understanding of the caregiving experience to every episode.