For older adults, staying in touch with family and friends is crucial to avoid social isolation and maintain emotional well-being and mental health.
Fortunately, even if your loved ones are spread out across different locations, technology can help close the distance and provide numerous ways to stay involved with them.
No matter how far away you are from your family, if you want to stay connected with each member, tech tools and apps are worth taking advantage of.
Listed below are some top ways technology can bring you closer to your family. Let’s review each of them in detail…
- Video Calling Apps
The growing need for video calling among people (who are in their golden years) narrates an exceptional tale of adaptation. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of elderly individuals had never tried video calling.
During the lockdown worldwide, a dramatic change occurred: one in three seniors began using video chat weekly. Not just that, about 70% of them have tried the technology for the first time.
Beyond basic conversations, video calling apps such as Zoom, FaceTime, and others help seniors residing in facilities for assisted living in Melbourne, FL, and other states stay connected with loved ones back home.
They can virtually join family gatherings for special celebrations. During shared activities, such as meal prep and games, they can interact with family members, making them feel almost as if they are together.
- Messaging Platforms
Nowadays, many messaging apps help people stay connected, and older adults residing in specialized senior care communities are no exception. Out of them, the most widely used apps are WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Using both platforms, seniors and their loved ones can share photos and videos, create group conversations, and communicate without the pressure of immediate responses that phone calls sometimes create. They just need an uninterrupted internet connection to stay in touch.
- Senior-Friendly Tablets And Smartphones
Mobile devices have transformed the way elderly people interact with their friends, family, and relatives. A recent study indicates that 89% of adults aged 50 and older own smartphones, and 59% own tablets.
In light of this, most tech firms continue to design mobile devices with large icons and simplified interfaces to make them easier for seniors to use.
For individuals requiring additional accessibility, devices like GrandPad come with pre-installed applications and simple navigation tailored specifically for older adults.
These considerate devices frequently offer features such as family remote management and improved security options for added reassurance.
- Virtual Assistants For Hands-Free Connection
Nearly 29% of adults aged 50 and above now prefer using digital assistants. Leveraging such helpful tools, seniors can make calls, send messages, and search for anything—just using their voice, not their hands.
On many devices, apps are available that let you see the person you’re communicating with or showcase family photos when not in active use. Most crucially, they provide greater independence for individuals facing mobility or dexterity difficulties.
Conclusion
No matter how old you are or what your medical condition is, if you’re residing in a senior living facility like Discovery Commons, that doesn’t mean you cannot stay in touch with your family. In all the above ways, technology continues to help seniors away from their homes combat feelings of loneliness and stay connected with their loved ones.
