Make online accounts easier to find

Finding the right website can take more effort than it should. A bank, a pharmacy, an email account and a utility company may all have different web addresses. Remembering each one isn't necessary: a bookmark can save a website in the browser so it's easier to open again.

If you'd like to organize trusted website bookmarks for seniors in your family, start by asking whether they want your help. Then choose a few sites together, check each address independently, and practice opening the saved links. The account holder stays in charge of their accounts and can decide what to save.

Choose the sites together

Sit down with the person and ask which websites they actually use. A short list might include their bank, pharmacy, Medicare, utilities and email. Not everyone needs all of these, and some people prefer to handle an account by phone or in person. Begin with one or two sites that would make a difference in their usual routine.

Use the device and browser they normally use. A bookmark saved in one browser may not appear in another, or on a different device. Ask where they'd like the shortcuts to appear and what names would make sense to them. This is their setup, so invite them to make the choices and do as much of the work as they want.

Check the address before saving it

A bookmark is only as useful as the address saved in it. Before adding one, confirm the site through a source you trust independently of any unexpected email, text or search result. For a bank, for example, check an account statement the person already has or ask the bank using the number on the back of their card. For a utility or pharmacy, use contact information from a bill, prescription paperwork or other records the person already trusts.

For Medicare, you can type Medicare.gov directly into the browser's address bar. For other accounts, ask the organization for its official website if the address is unclear. Don't copy an address from an unexpected message, and don't assume a familiar logo or a padlock alone proves a site belongs to the right organization.

If you can't confidently verify an address, leave that bookmark for another day. There's no need to sign in just to finish the list. Never ask the account holder to share a password or a one-time sign-in code with you.

Save a clear bookmark

Once you've checked an address, type it into the browser's address bar and open the official site. Look for the browser's bookmark or favorites option. On many computers, it's a star near the address bar; on phones and tablets, it may be in a menu or the share options. The exact steps and names vary by browser.

Choose Add bookmark or the equivalent, then give it a short, recognizable name. Try names such as “My bank,” “Pharmacy” or “Medicare.” If the person uses more than one bank or pharmacy, add a name that distinguishes them without including an account number. Save the website's ordinary home or sign-in page, rather than a page showing personal account information.

If the browser offers a bookmarks bar or favorites area, put the most-used links there so they're easier to find. A small folder called “My accounts” may help if the person prefers a tidy list. Let them choose what feels easiest; a long list of shortcuts can be harder to navigate than a short one.

Bookmarks are website shortcuts, not a place to store passwords, account numbers or sign-in codes. The person should continue to use their usual secure sign-in method. Don't change browser settings or turn on syncing without asking first, especially on a shared device.

Practice opening a saved site

Close the page, then invite the person to find and open the bookmark themselves. Ask them to show you how they'd get to the site tomorrow. Give them time to try, and let them tell you which part feels awkward. Rename or move the bookmark together if another label or location would be clearer.

Practice starting from the browser's bookmarks or favorites, instead of searching for the organization or following a link in a message. If a page looks unfamiliar, asks for unexpected information or doesn't open as expected, stop and check the address again using an independently trusted source. A saved link makes navigation convenient; it doesn't guarantee that every page or request will be safe.

On a phone, the steps may look different from those on a computer. Our smartphone basics guide covers the essentials, and our guide to setting up a tablet for an elderly parent offers broader setup ideas. SafeBrowse by STOPTHESCAM is a simple browser with large text, bookmarks and built-in scam checks.

Keep the list useful

After a few days, ask which shortcuts are working and whether any names are confusing. Remove bookmarks the person doesn't want, and add another only after checking its address. If an organization changes its website, verify the new address independently before replacing the old bookmark.

The goal isn't to take over someone's accounts. It's to make a familiar destination easier to find, with a little practice and a setup the person can use with confidence.