Remaining in Touch with the Elderly

Maintaining a close relationship with anyone can be difficult if you have a busy schedule or live far away from one another, but it is important that you keep connected to your friends and family, especially with elderly loved ones.

Technology has greatly improved over the last few years, but the gadgets you use to communicate with your elderly loved one do not have to be too advanced. Here are some of the technological tools you can utilize to ensure that you and your elderly loved one maintain a close relationship:

• Phones: Telephones, both land lines and mobile phones, are still the number one mode of communication. When using cell phones, you can call or text one another. Just be sure to help your elderly loved one pick a phone that has a large enough screen and keyboard, allowing them to easily read and type if you will be texting.
• Skype: A free video chat service, Skype is a wonderful tool for people who are trying to keep in touch despite many miles between them. You may need to help your elderly loved one choose and install a webcam for their computer, or help them learn how to use the built-in camera that comes with many laptops and tablets. Once you and your elderly loved one know how to use your respective cameras, talking on Skype is as close as talking in person as today's technology can achieve.
• Email: Although it may not garner an instant reply, as phones and video chats do, email is a wonderful way to send longer messages. Through this technology, you and your elderly loved one can enjoy the art of letter writing and the convenience of instant mail delivery.

Maintaining a great relationship with your elderly loved one is important, but to do so you must be able to stay connected to one another's lives. The home care professionals at Always Best Care in Chapel Hill (www.alwaysbestcarechapelhill-durham.com) understand that it may not always be easy to interact with your elderly loved one if you live far away. With the help of these technological tools, though, you can stay connected no matter how many miles are between you.