Keeping Loved Ones Connected- Technology Edition
Have you heard of the “digital divide?” It’s a gap that many older adults are suffering through these days. For over seven months we have been social distancing, and now the safest ways to connect with our loved ones are video chat, email, and social media. Who is providing technical support for these new consumers of communications technology? In most cases, it is family members, children, and grandchildren that are helping out. Here are a few tips that will help them excel.
Connect with People Online
Seniors aged 65 and over are the fastest-growing demographic on Facebook, Pew Research Center estimates. From 2018 to 2019, Facebook users in this category grew by 11 percent, while millennial users grew by just 2 percent. Why are there so many seniors on Facebook? While seniors have a wide variety of reasons to choose Facebook, the main reason for this is the platform’s popularity; 69% of Americans are on Facebook. Creating and posting images, videos, and family messages is easier and faster on Facebook than any other platform.
You can send friend connection requests to your kids, grandkids, cousins, second-cousins, former classmates, and other friends you’d like to stay in touch with. All you have to do is find their profile and click “Add Friend.” You can also use Facebook to join groups or search for local events.
Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a hyper-local social media network that puts communities, neighborhoods, and the local government together. When you enter, you are asked to search the neighborhood that connects to the local Nextdoor website so that you can start talking to your neighbors. If your neighborhood doesn’t have a Nextdoor website set up, you have the option to start one.
You may use Nextdoor to learn about community activities, get tips from nearby restaurants, ask to borrow a ladder, or assemble a walking club. It’s a perfect way to share knowledge and make connections with people in your neighborhood.
FaceTime
FaceTime is a video and audio messaging app that is available on iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. If you have an Apple iOS computer, FaceTiming is as simple as making a phone call. FaceTime is a perfect app for senior citizens. It’s a fun place to see friends and relatives who you can’t see in person — either for a short morning chat or to learn about your kids day or grandchild’s soccer game.
You can also use “Group FaceTime”. The easiest way to do this is to create an iMessage group with people you’d like to face time. Then tap the contacts at the top of the message and click the “FaceTime” icon. Who do you want to chat with on FaceTime Group?
Suggest Taking Online Classes
There are tons of websites and organizations that make lifelong-learning possible for seniors. The following sites are free for you to use any time to better your education!
Academic Earth
Offering literally thousands of free lectures from top universities like Princeton, Harvard, and Oxford, Academic Earth has a robust open course program that allows you to learn from the comfort of home
iTunes U
This app is advertised primarily as an educational resource for students and teachers to plan lessons, but it also features books, lectures, and more on a variety of subjects. These lessons are provided by universities around the globe, as well as museums like the Smithsonian.
TEDEd
If you’ve been around the internet you’ve probably heard of TEDTalks, the nonprofit lecture series presenting ideas from prominent minds around the world.
Now they have a series presenting lessons on a variety of subjects in an easy-to-digest video format!
Provide Tech Support & Be Available To Help
Assign a family member to be the tech support lead for your loved one. This can be a great way for grandparents and grandchildren to bond. Assure your loved one that you will be available for help with questions. A good mantra to live by is “Ask before you click”
Ideally, you’ve got some new ideas to virtually communicate with your loved ones using apps, social media, and other digital platforms. If you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of learning a new technology, don’t fret! The Personal Care Coaches at Thrive USA Homecare are here to help! You’re capable, and your relationships will benefit from the new skills you’re about to acquire. Here are some tips as you start virtually connecting with friends and family:
- Tell your family members that you’re finding new ways to remain virtually connected, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
- Consider who you want to chat with daily and arrange a video chat time every week.
- Utilize video channels to organize social group activities — such as dinner, movie night, book club, etc.—with your friends and family.
- Use social media to communicate directly with loved ones, and set time limits during the day if the notifications become overwhelming.
- Encourage good friends to try out these new ideas with you, and share your experiences with the apps.
When families live at a distance from senior loved ones, Thrive USA Homecare professional in-home care can be another good resource for helping everyone keep in touch. With permission, our caregivers can share information with family about how their loved one is doing, and provide reassurance, and let them know if there’s something that needs to be attended to.