This time of year, families gather and celebrate quite a bit. There are milestones like graduations and weddings. There are also smaller, but no less cherished events — think backyard BBQ’s, playing in the pool, weekends at the beach. It’s a wonderful reminder of the importance of closing the distance between older adults and their families. This allows everyone to share in these special moments together.
These moments are especially meaningful for families with older adults. But for older adults who can’t be there for the fun — for any number of reasons — these times can also be a source of frustration and pain. This applies to all involved.
Fortunately, AgePros, have a good sense of their clients’ situations. Is a family close-by or spread across the country? Are elders able to travel? Travel or not, do they have the physical and mental stamina for more demanding events? (Is it just us or are graduations getting longer?)
Your unique and trusted relationships leave you well-positioned to help clients stay emotionally close and connected. This is true regardless of distance or attendance.
A little technology. A big difference.
Today, a variety of solutions offer elders and their families options for staying connected at special times. There are also times made special simply by being together, virtually. Here are few readily available tools you can recommend:
How to help older adults stay connected to family.
Smartphones: Studies suggest fewer than 1/3 of people between the ages of 73 and 90 own smartphones. Still, these otherwise common devices make the emotional immediacy of video calling much easier.
Tablets: The buttons and screen are larger than on a smartphone, and they’re light enough to be easily portable. This makes tablets a great alternative for elders who may have compromised dexterity or vision. (Also, who doesn’t like to see loved ones on a larger screen?)
Smart Screens: At their most basic, these tabletop devices combine a smart display and a smart speaker. Most feature hands-free, voice-commands that put even the most tech-skittish elder at ease. Accepting or initiating text conversations, voice and video calls becomes quite natural. In addition, many devices also feature a Drop-In option and always on mode. This allows family and friends to pop-up on screen to say hello and start a voice or video call.
Digital Photo Frames: Imagine being able to send pictures of an event — a wedding ceremony, for example — to an older parent as it happens. Digital Photo Frames makes it possible. And though the devices are often associated with a constantly revolving display of still images, they can play video, as well.
These are just a few options for ensuring that older adults and their families don’t feel remote, even when being together is virtual. New devices are always coming online. What isn’t changing are the emotional rewards these recommendations can bring. Or the appreciation your clients will feel for having made them.
To learn more about how to close the distance between your clients and their families, check out our previous post on Age Tech. Also see the articles below you can read and/or share with your clients’ families:
