Easy TV Setup for Seniors: A Simple, Step-by-Step Installation Guide

If you’re wondering why it’s so difficult to find an easy TV setup for seniors, either for yourself or for an aging relative, you’re not alone. By default, most smart TV setups simply aren’t easy for seniors, despite research that proves the amount of “tech users” ages 65 and older is increasing.

As of 2021, 61% owned a smartphone (only 35% less than those ages 18 to 29), 44% owned a tablet, and 75% reported using the internet, a significant increase from 2000, when just 14% of older adults were reportedly internet users. 

Another study documents a similar increase in TV screen time. Research between 2014 and 2017 shows older adults watch at least four hours of TV every day, up 11% compared to the same research done between 2003 and 2006. 

With this increase in technology use among seniors, there’s bound to be an uptick in tech frustration at the same time.

When you visit your parents, you’re used to hearing frequent exclamations of “This dang phone!” And when you’re at home, you expect at least a few phone calls or texts every night requesting tech support for their persnickety TV. While it’s easy to chalk it up to a modern tech learning curve, there could actually be more to the story.

A recent study shows that mobile app designs for older adults aren’t really age-friendly, and suggests multiple seemingly easy fixes, like simplifying navigation, adding larger font options, incorporating more voice features, and creating error-tolerant interfaces. 

These same senior-friendly design principles could easily be added to a TV setup, but ultimately, we’re at the mercy of when TV manufacturers and streaming services decide to add them. And we know how frustrating it can be to wait for features that may or may not actually exist in the future.

In the meantime, it might be a good idea to consider an alternative to traditional smart TV setups and complex streaming service interfaces, like JubileeTV. You’ll still need to find a senior-friendly TV and set it up in a way that’s easy for Mom or Dad to view, but using a family-assisted, remote TV service like JubileeTV can make maintaining and troubleshooting a TV setup so, so much easier, on both caregivers and elderly relatives.

Before you jump into setting up and installing a TV for your elderly relative, there’s some prep work to do. These small steps may take a little extra time upfront, but it’ll make the experience better for both you and the senior in your life. 

To start building an easy TV setup for seniors, you’ll obviously need to pick up a TV. But beware, not all TVs are built the same. Or rather, not all TVs are configured with seniors in mind. The best TV for seniors is generally one that:

• Has a large screen: The bigger the TV is, the easier it’ll be to see. A 65-, 75-, or even 85-inch TV are great options. 

• Has higher resolution: Studies prove our vision worsens as we age, so a TV with a sharper image can be easier for seniors to see. 

• Is affordable: We know budgets are tight for caregivers and seniors, so price is a huge factor when choosing a TV. Plan to shop on major holidays or check tech websites for deals before you buy to get a great price.

• Is easy to use: Smart TVs aren’t the easiest for seniors to set up, but it might be difficult to find a “dumb” TV nowadays. Instead, choose a TV with the simplest interface or try adding in a service like JubileeTV to make the TV setup more senior-friendly.

Once you have the TV you plan to use, think about where it’ll fit best. How far away can the TV be from the couch before Mom will have trouble seeing it? Does the room get a lot of natural sunlight that might cause glare? Will Dad’s wheelchair comfortably fit between the couch, coffee table, and TV? 

You might also want to grab a few optional accessories. A universal remote is easier to keep track of and control multiple devices with, mounting equipment might make the TV easier to see, and a soundbar makes it much easier to hear without blasting the TV volume. 

Lastly, to help a TV setup continue to be senior-friendly for years to come, take a few minutes to write down all the important info you can think of on a single piece of paper or in one journal. For seniors, this could include the Wi-Fi network name and password, usernames and passwords for specific streaming services, phone numbers for family members and customer support, and which input is connected to which device in their television setup. 

If you plan to place the TV on a stand, you’ll need to install the feet so it can stand up properly. In the box, there should be instructions showing you how to install your TV’s specific feet. In most cases, the screws or other tools, if any, needed to install these will be in a bag with the TV’s feet. TV manufacturer Samsung recommends laying the TV facedown on a blanket-covered table to make this process easier. 

If you’re mounting the TV, follow the instructions included with the TV or with the mounting kit, if you purchased one separately from your TV. 

Once the TV is in place and the included remote has batteries installed or is charging, it’s time to do the cable dance. Every TV will come with a standard power cable, which has a plug for the wall and a three-hole, female cable end to connect to the TV, usually behind the display on the back panel. The rest of the cables you’ll need to use depends on your unique needs. 

• Ethernet cable: If you don’t plan to use Wi-Fi to connect to the internet wirelessly, you’ll need an ethernet cable. First, make sure your TV has an ethernet port. Then, plug one end of the ethernet cable into your TV and the other end into your Wi-Fi router.

• HDMI cable: This will be the most frequently used cable for most people. An HDMI cable connects your TV to most streaming devices, consoles, DVD/Blu-ray players, and even modern soundbars.

• Coaxial (RF) cable: If you plan to watch satellite TV, you’ll need to connect the satellite dish to a receiver via a Coaxial cable, and then connect the receiver to the TV via an HDMI cable.

It’s convenient for one person to hold and hand off cables to a second person in charge of plugging them into the TV. With all cables plugged in, use the included remote to power on your new senior-friendly TV setup. 

Most modern TVs have on-screen instructions to walk you through the setup process, making it as easy for seniors as possible. Typically, initial television setup involves selecting a preferred language, connecting to Wi-Fi, installing first-time updates, and downloading and logging into your senior parent’s go-to streaming services.

Some TV manufacturers, like LG, have a series of videos if it’s helpful to watch someone else go through the setup process first. Or, take a look at our free downloadable TV setup checklist for seniors to help easily guide you through the installation process.

After the initial setup process is complete, you can think about adding a family-assisted service like JubileeTV to make the TV setup friendlier for the elderly.

A 2025 study talks about how smart televisions are underutilized as assistive technology, and we completely agree. After all, the TV is the place Mom loves to stream Hallmark movies, where your elderly aunt enjoys true crime documentaries, and where Grandpa catches as many live sports as possible. For many older adults, TV is the most familiar screen in the home.

JubileeTV builds on that familiarity. It turns the TV into a place for connection, support, and everyday help, while also cutting through the clutter that makes many smart TVs hard to navigate. Instead of juggling menus, remotes, and apps, the TV becomes simpler and more predictable to use.

If JubileeTV is new to you, here’s the short version: it’s a service that lets family members help with TV issues, start video calls, and send reminders from their phone, from anywhere. You can step in when needed, without taking over day-to-day viewing.

Setup follows the same approach. A family member can take care of the initial setup, so your loved one doesn’t have to manage new settings or complicated steps. In four clear steps, JubileeTV is ready to use — making TV time easier and support feel seamless from the start.

Step 1: Unbox your JubileeTV package. Here’s everything that comes with your JubileeTV membership: 

• A console with a built-in web camera

• A simple voice remote (and two AA batteries)

• A power adapter

• A JubileeTV smart plug

• A premium HDMI cable, IR blasters, and a Y-splitter

Step 2: Mount and connect the JubileeTV console to your TV using the visual guide below. 

If you’d prefer written instructions, we’ve got you covered. The console connects to your TV via an HDMI cable. Then, the TV’s power cable moves from where it’s plugged into the wall to the included smart plug, which is then connected to the included Y-splitter, along with the power adapter for the console. At this point, the Y-splitter is plugged into a wall outlet. Finally, unplug up to three streaming devices from your TV and plug them into the JubileeTV console instead.

Step 3: Power on the TV and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up language and region preferences, connect to the Wi-Fi network, pair the JubileeTV remote, and identify which streaming devices you have connected.

Step 4: Download the JubileeTV mobile app for iPhones or Android phones, and follow the on-screen instructions that pop up to connect your console to your account in the mobile app. 

Or, JubileeTV also offers a professional setup addition that includes installation of your JubileeTV system (note: this doesn’t cover TV/streaming device setup). Once JubileeTV is fully installed and working, it’s time to start exploring all the settings and features you can change to make the TV work better for your senior parent.

80-year-old Deborah is frustrated with not being able to see or hear her TV properly, and thinks to herself, “I just don’t get technology.” But the majority of the time, it’s the other way around: modern technology doesn’t get seniors. Or rather, technology doesn’t accommodate seniors with all the accessibility features they need.

Thanks to a media accessibility study by Fable, we know smart TV setups aren’t living up to their full potential for those with disabilities and seniors. Only 33% of people surveyed thought their smart TV had all the accessibility features they needed, while the 67% reported their TV only having some features or none at all.

Responses to Fable’s survey outline exactly what accessibility features people want to see added to TVs, including: 

• More audio descriptions for content

• Easier navigation experience

• Better voice control

• Improved search filtering options

• Clearer subtitle text

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) has accessibility guidelines that require audio descriptions for every video it publishes because it’s an essential step in ensuring people with vision disabilities are able to understand every important visual element shown. If streaming services established audio descriptions as a minimum accessibility requirement, it would make a world of difference.

As it stands, here are the basic accessibility features you can customize within most streaming services and smart TVs:

• Adjust display brightness and contrast to what looks best

• Increase text size for navigation and subtitles

• Change the text and background color for subtitles

• Customize privacy settings and smart capabilities

• Enable voice commands to control the TV without a remote

Some streaming services, like Netflix, make it easier for seniors to create a TV setup that works for them, by adding compatibility with assistive listening headsets, hearing aids, headphones, and neck loops. It’s worth researching ahead of time whether the streaming service or device you’re thinking of buying has the specific accessibility features your elderly relative needs.

As we mentioned earlier, JubileeTV works with up to three external source or streaming devices, not built-in smart TV apps. At the time of writing, JubileeTV works with Amazon Fire TV devices, Android Box, Apple TV, Roku devices, Google Chromecast, Google Nexus Player, Nvidia Shield, and Xumo.

If any of those streaming devices is currently connected to your senior parent’s television setup, all you have to do is unplug it from the TV’s HDMI port and plug it into one of the JubileeTV console’s HDMI ports instead.

For existing streaming devices that already have all your favorite apps downloaded and logged into, there’s nothing more you’ll need to do. In most cases, unplugging and replugging a streaming device in will save all your downloaded apps and login information. 

If you’ve purchased a new streaming device to pair with your JubileeTV membership, you’ll need to download any apps you want from the streaming stick’s built-in store and log into them. You, your elderly relative, and anyone else with access to the TV setup through the JubileeTV mobile app can control these streaming apps from JubileeTV’s simple user interface, making it easier for the family to pitch in with tech support when needed.

To truly make TV setup easy for seniors, make sure more than one person is available to help with any potential problems. 

You can invite as many family, friends, and other caregivers to join the JubileeTV app and offer remote help for your senior relative’s TV setup when needed. Whoever is assigned the role of Account Administrator can invite additional people to join the app, or your loved one can also invite people directly through their television. 

Through JubileeTV’s Telescope feature, you can take a look at exactly what’s on your senior relative’s screen to easily identify the issue and use in-app controls to switch apps, adjust volume, change the channel, pause or play content, and more. Right away, this feature makes TV setups more senior-friendly because it’s not entirely up to them to navigate their smart TV.

You can use the Telescope feature from anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. In her review, JubileeTV customer Leigh Johnson talks about loving the ability to stay connected “from 36 miles away” or “900 miles and from Italy.”

The Telescope feature is one of the most helpful, but it’s all the other features JubileeTV offers that make it one of the best TV setups for the elderly, like the ability to send vacation photos to their TV, easily connect via a large-screen video call, set up regular reminders for medications and doctor’s appointments, and remotely drop in if your senior relative isn’t answering their phone.

No matter how senior-friendly your TV installation guide is, it’s so common to run into issues during setup. Modern technology is great, but it can be finicky, too. Here are a few of the most common TV setup issues seniors might need help with: 

Download our free troubleshooting quick reference guide to keep nearby your senior relative’s smart TV setup. Or, create your own personalized guide for your aging loved one with all the most common questions they typically have for you.

For when the troubleshooting guide isn’t enough, you’re always only a few taps away from helping when you have JubileeTV. Take our quick quiz to see if JubileeTV is a good fit for your family, and you can get started with one of the easiest TV setups for seniors available today.