Staying in touch with loved ones is incredibly important for older adults. But for many, staying socially connected is tough. This has become especially true during the Covid-19 pandemic which saw a lot of people going into isolation. It is now more important than ever to make an effort to stay in touch with family and friends.
As we get older our social groups tend to become smaller oftentimes with friends and family moving away. With all of the technology available to us today staying in touch is easier than ever. Here are 5 tips to help you to maintain friendships and to feel close to loved ones:
- Pick up the phone
Schedule calls with family and friends during times you know that they will be home and available to chat. You can’t beat a good old fashioned phone call, for those with mobile phones sometimes its easier to send a quick text to check in and say hello.
- Join Social Media
Social media isn’t just for younger people anymore, people of all ages are joining Facebook and Instagram. In fact the over 65s are the fastest growing category on Facebook today. It’s a fantastic way to stay in contact with friends and family especially those whom you may have lost contact with over the years. Social media allows you to reach out to friends, chat, share photos and videos and start private conversations at any time. For many it can also be a great way to stay up to date with grandchildren.
- Plan regular visits
While technology is great and has given us ample ways of staying in touch with family and friends oftentimes nothing beats a face to face meet up. It’s the perfect opportunity to get out of the house and oftentimes staying active while doing so.
Here are some activities you might enjoy:
- Visiting your favourite cafe for tea / coffee
- Going for a walk
- Visiting your local park
- Playing cards / board games
- Meeting for dinner
- Enjoying a home cooked meal
- Schedule zoom / video calls
In a post pandemic world Zoom / video calls have become such a popular option to stay in touch. It almost makes it feel like the other person is right there in the room with you.
- Enlist the help from a professional healthcare assistant
For some older adults who might have trouble staying connected with their loved ones, healthcare assistants can be a great help. Apart from being a great source of social interaction themselves they can also help to plan social outings or assist with setting up social media accounts and video calls.