Claer Barrett writes about acting as a 'digital concierge' for her mid-eighties parents, organising a Wales trip for a family funeral that required multiple apps for travel, QR boarding passes, and digital wallets. She worries taking on this role undermines her parents' independence and asks what happens to those without tech-savvy helpers. Over 11 million UK adults help others manage finances online, yet most lack formal authority like a Lasting Power of Attorney, resorting to risky password sharing instead.

Consumer advocate Faith Reynolds urges banks to create tools allowing trusted helpers to monitor accounts without full access. The core issue: older customers fear making mistakes due to poor eyesight, slower fingers, and complex authentication processes. Banks and fintechs are slow to address this digital divide, though some innovations like HSBC's 'lite' app and Sibstar's pre-paid debit card for people with dementia offer hope.