Caring Across the Miles: 4 Tips for Caregivers of a Massachusetts Senior

BabyOnComputerIf you are caring for a Massachusetts senior long distance, it may be difficult to make them feel connected to your family. It is especially true when grandchildren are involved. Grandparents generally want to be a part of their grandchildren’s everyday lives as they grow.

To help bridge the miles to a senior loved one, we’ve pulled together a few ideas:

1. Video Conference. Skype and other video chat services are easy to use. They can provide grandparents with the opportunity to talk “face-to-face” with their grandchildren. We all know how easily children adapt to various forms of technology, but tablets make it easy for grandparents too. They can use the built-in webcam on devices like an iPad to chat with their grandkids from the comfort of their sofa. Several integrated video services also allow families to share email, photos and video. VideoCare is one. It works with just a simple touch of the screen. No keyboard or mouse is required.

2. Don’t forget the telephone. In our technology obsessed culture, it is easy to overlook how important a phone call can be to an aging loved one. Telephone assistive devices easier to use and less expensive than they used to be. You can find phone systems or add-ons that include everything from a light that flashes when the phone is ringing to an amplified ear piece.

3. Share the Treasures. Most parents of younger children have a refrigerator or counter full of homemade artwork that piles up over the course of a week or two. Go through them a few times a month with your children and pick a few to send to their grandparents. That gives them something talk about during their video or phone chats.

4. Email and social media. Older adults are the fastest growing demographic on many different social media platforms, but especially so on Facebook. You can use it to post photos and video to share with your senior loved ones. Email is another avenue for communicating and trading pictures.

The bottom line is that there are solutions to helping an aging loved one stay connected that are inexpensive and easy to do. We hope these ideas are a few that will help you get started!

 

How does your family stay connected with senior loved ones long distance? We’d love to hear how in the comments below!

 

 

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