You arrive at a doctor’s appointment. The receptionist asks you to scan a QR code to complete your paperwork, but you are not sure how. Later, you stop at a restaurant while traveling. There are no printed menus, only a QR code on the table. Perhaps as you are visiting a museum with your grandchildren and the exhibit explanations, audio tour and interactive displays all require scanning a QR code. Odd, right? No. None of these situations are unusual anymore.
The question is no longer whether seniors should learn QR codes. The question is whether they want to remain independent in a world that increasingly expects people to use them.
Years ago, computers were optional. We are aware technology has changed and improved over time, and it is no longer simply a convenience. Increasingly, it serves as the infrastructure behind everyday services and QR codes have become one small but important part of that infrastructure. Consider where QR codes now appear:
- Medical offices
- Pharmacies
- Airline boarding passes
- Parking garages
- PayPal & Venmo
- Restaurant menus
- Church bulletins & apps
- Sporting events
- Hotel check-in
- Utility bills
- Package tracking
- School events
- Charitable donations
- Government forms
A small square with a big impact
As QR codes become increasingly common, my concern is helping older adults use them with confidence and good judgment. Many seniors naturally trust information presented in familiar settings, which can make them more vulnerable when scammers disguise fraudulent QR codes as legitimate ones. The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers about fraudulent QR codes placed on packages, letters, flyers, parking meters and other everyday spaces. A package that appears to come from someone you know may actually contain a code designed to steal personal information.
Inadvertently scanning a package you believe is from someone you trust can lead to unfortunate circumstances. Once the scan is complete, the door is now open for wrongfully obtaining credit card numbers and other personal data, leading to phishing attempts, malware downloaded to your device and an overall breach of privacy.
Photo by Vizito Visitor Management on Unsplash
Seniors may be apprehensive to use QR codes due to unfamiliarity or the smaller, condensed nature of QR codes, as they can be presented on screens and in print in a smaller format. This is precisely why practical QR code education matters.
Per a statistics blog, an average of 62% of seniors support the use of QR codes, while 75% of caregivers recognize its benefits for the older generation. These higher percentages are a step in the right direction.
Why businesses are embracing QR codes
Why do businesses love them? Examples of establishments embracing QR codes include:
- Replacing hundreds of printed menus
- Updating to digital menus
- Effective collection of data
- Instant updates to information at events and venues
- Easy scanning instead of mailing brochures
- Scanning a code is more efficient
This is technology that makes sense. For businesses, QR codes are not simply convenient. They reduce printing costs, allow instant updates, improve customer engagement and provide valuable information about how services are being used. Through a survey of 601 leaders, 95% shared how beneficial it is to collect customer data, more than 50% of them scan QR codes regularly, destination links increased 37% and 98% concurred these codes are advantageous for marketing purposes.
QR codes are shared for flight information, cruises and other extracurriculars where the senior population is part of the target market. They are part of the reason QR codes are booming which means equipping more of them with QR code education is essential.
Not every QR code should be trusted
Should we trust every piece of data that comes our way? No. Should we trust every QR code that is somehow presented to us? No? Is it okay to pause before scanning a code? Yes. I want older adults to recognize the importance of pausing before scanning a code. The goal is not fear but discernment. Prior to scanning, ask yourself:
- Where is the code located?
- Does it appear professionally printed?
- Is another sticker covering the original?
- Is someone pressuring you to scan it?
- Does the web address look legitimate?
- Is someone or a website asking for financial information?
During my technology workshops with seniors, I heard comments such as, “I’m too old to learn this,” or “QR codes seem too complicated.” Yet after introducing QR codes through step-by-step demonstrations, screenshots and guided practice, several participants who were initially hesitant were successfully scanning codes and opening websites on their own by the end of the session.
It is not too late to learn new technology
Every generation has experienced technological changes. Some learned to drive cars and others adapted to TV, personal computers, smartphones and the internet. Today’s older adults are facing another transition. Learning to use QR codes is not about keeping up with technology for technology’s sake. It is about preserving independence, remaining connected to family, accessing healthcare, traveling confidently and participating fully in everyday life.
As an educator, researcher and writer, my heart is blessed while in the room teaching seniors and observing their hesitation turn into confidence. That firsthand experience is the motivation to continue serving older adults. My goal extends beyond explaining what QR codes are. I want older adults to understand why this seemingly small technology has become part of everyday life and how learning to use it can preserve independence, strengthen confidence and support meaningful connections with family and community.
Age has never determined a person’s capacity to learn, yet curiosity has.
Featured image: Photo by Mitya Ivanov on Unsplash
Edited by James Sutton
