Email for Seniors Guide

What Are the Benefits of Using Email?

Learning to use email can offer many advantages to older adults and make their lives easier. Here are just some of the benefits you’ll gain:

• Stay more informed about your health. Email can be a valuable tool to educate yourself on health matters. Subscribe to health newsletters and receive health updates online. You can, for example, sign up to receive the NIH Health Information newsletter  National Institute on Aging. You’ll get email updates twice a month about healthy living and wellness.
• Access information and entertainment. Email can facilitate civic engagement and involvement in your community. Through email, older adults can easily contact elected officials and sign petitions. You can subscribe to newsletters from organizations and websites you want to support. Some Senior Friendship Centers in Florida, for example, offer a newsletter and other communications via email.
• Gain mental stimulation. Learning to use email also offers valuable mental stimulation. You exercise your brain when you figure out how to send and receive messages and learn how to navigate an email system. Learning a new form of technology can keep your mind active.

How Do You Get Started?

It may seem complicated to sign up with an email service, so let’s start with how it all works. Your internet service provider (Xfinity, Cox or AT&T, for example) will give you a free email address.

Most people prefer a free webmail account, however, because not only is it free, but it also enables you to log in to your account from any device you use and from anywhere in the world. That means you don’t have to depend on one internet service to access your messages.

You can also retain the same email address if you decide to move out of the region or simply choose to switch to another internet carrier.

Which Email Services Are Best for Seniors?

Let’s say you decide to use a webmail account. Which email services provide webmail accounts and which ones are really worth looking into? Choosing the best email service for you will depend on your individual preferences.

We can, however, safely recommend these email services. We include their drawbacks and strengths below, including what is particularly good for seniors.

• Gmail: The world’s most popular email service (with over 1.5 billion users) may feel overwhelming with too many features, and the free version contains ads. Yet it’s intuitive to learn and has a simple design. It integrates easily with other Google services and offers many helpful features, including voice typing (which is especially helpful to seniors), the ability to snooze emails to read later and strong spam filtering.
• iCloud Mail: This service is limited to Apple users, but it’s great because it’s easy to use and has excellent spam protection. Seniors appreciate the easy integration between their iPhone and iPad devices.
• Outlook: Outlook integrates well with other Microsoft programs, which may not appeal to Apple users. The free version also has fewer features and less storage than Gmail. It’s a great option, however, for people who are familiar with Microsoft products. It’s user-friendly, easy to navigate and offers helpful features such as easy calendar integration. Older adults can stay organized with medical and social appointments — and even share their schedule with caregivers and family members.
• Yahoo Mail: This older service may have more spam issues, but its big advantage is that it offers a lot of storage space. It’s great for storing many photos and videos of the grandkids. Older adults also benefit from Yahoo’s focus on core email functions and a less cluttered interface than that of Gmail or Outlook.

What Are Some Common Email Scams?

Older adults are a primary target for thieves and scammers online. Seniors are targeted because they don’t use technology as much as their younger counterparts and therefore may fall prey.

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to internet fraud. Scammers, for example, will create pop-up windows that trick you into calling them or downloading a malicious program. The programs can steal valuable personal information, such as usernames, passwords and financial details.

Phishing emails are widespread and particularly harmful. They are spoofs and may appear to originate from a source you trust, such as a bank or FedEx. They almost always say they require urgent action and use deceptive tactics.

Expert Insights

From Taylor Shuman, Senior Tech Expert

If you receive an email requesting urgent action or personal information from a brand you recognize, such as your bank or the post office, don’t respond right away. They are often scams. Instead, look up the company’s official phone number and give them a call. They will let you know if the email is real or fake and give you instructions on next steps if the email is legitimate.

The emails, for example, will talk about a membership that has been cancelled, a UPS package that can't be delivered, a needed update to an official site or an unexpected payment waiting for you from the IRS.

What Are Tips to Prevent Being Scammed by Email?

Here are some good practices for seniors:

• To determine if it’s really from your bank or UPS, look carefully at the return address. It may be a forged or strange email address with weird numbers or letters in it.
• Often the email will include sentences that sound off, because the grammar and punctuation are wrong.
• Notice if the first few lines threaten or show urgency in order to scare you.
• Don’t click on any links in the body of the email. (If you want to, you can retype the URLs outside of the email in your browser’s address line. You’ll likely realize it’s phony.)
• Don’t click on any attachments either, because they likely contain a virus or spyware.
• Remember that these criminals are after your personal information. Always hesitate in giving out your Social Security number, bank account information and other personal information.

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft while using the internet or opening an email you thought was from a trusted source, know that you’re not alone. Identity fraud cost Americans $43 billion in 2024.3 If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, contact AARP’s Fraud Watch Network. They offer a toll-free helpline.

To prevent falling victim to a scam, we recommend considering identity theft protection services. The services can monitor any suspicious activity, alert you if your identity has been stolen and help remediate the situation if your personal information is compromised. Check out our guide to the best identity theft protection for seniors to learn more.