I'm facing a challenge with my mother's iPhone SE. She has dementia and currently resides in a care home, where I got her a pay-as-you-go phone for our calls. However, she often locks the phone by incorrectly using Touch ID, leading to several factory resets already. I've tried disabling the passcode in the settings, but every time I lock the phone and try to unlock it, it still asks for the passcode. I really need a straightforward way for her to use this phone since I visit three times a week to help reassure her during times of confusion. I've seen many recommendations online, but none seem to work. Any help would be much appreciated!
5 Answers
Before you go too far, have you thought about whether she actually needs an iPhone? A simpler phone might be a better fit, especially with the risks involved in leaving a smartphone unlocked in a care home. People could access it and potentially misuse it if they wanted to.
I'd suggest resetting the phone again, but set it up as a new device without a passcode this time. Pick the 'no passcode' option when prompted. It should help her avoid the Touch ID issues altogether.
Switching to a different model could really make a difference. The iPhone 13 has Face ID instead of Touch ID, which might work better for her. Is she just using Wi-Fi, or does she need a phone service too? If she doesn’t need service, there are some affordable deals out there for iPhones that might be worth considering.
There might be flags in the settings you don’t know about! There’s an accessibility option that sets up the phone with bigger buttons for easier use. I had a similar issue with my mother-in-law and managed to simplify her phone so she wouldn't feel overwhelmed.
I get your frustration! It can be a pain dealing with Apple’s ecosystem sometimes. If you can, maybe check out a basic phone instead, like one of those old Nokias, which might be easier for her.

Related Questions
Interactive CPU Architecture Simulator
7 segment display encoder
LCD Character Display Simulator
Ohms Law Calculator
WS2812 Pattern Editor
Uart Baud Rate Calculator