Staying connected with loved ones is essential for their well-being, especially for older adults living in senior communities. While busy schedules, distance, and other life circumstances can sometimes make in-person visits challenging, that doesn’t mean you have to lose touch.
Thankfully, there are many ways to maintain a strong connection, no matter the situation. Whether you’re nearby or miles apart, here are some creative ways to stay engaged and show your support for your loved one.
1. Send Virtual Mail
Possibly the easiest, quickest way to check in is to drop a note via email. Even if your loved one doesn’t have their own device, their community likely has computers available. Send a few lines about a book you’re reading, attach a picture of a pet, or get the grandkids in on the fun and let them write about what they’re learning in school.
2. Send Physical Mail
Email is great, but nothing makes you feel connected to the outside world like getting a handwritten letter or a personal card. Again, aim for lighthearted and loving; your loved one will be thrilled to know you were thinking of them. This can also be a great way to flex those creative muscles: Make your own card to send, or have the grandkids draw pictures to include in the envelope.
3. Deliver Handmade Gifts
If you find yourself baking an extra loaf of bread or making a large batch of soup, deliver it to your loved one! Or, to take it a step further, consider learning a new craft or art form at the same time as your loved one. Activities such as drawing or knitting help keep seniors’ minds active, and it will be fun to compare your progress the next time you’re able to visit.
4. Read or Watch Something Together
Although it’s not the same as being in a room together, reading the same book or watching the same show from a distance can still be a fun shared experience. Set a reading schedule and talk about the book every few days, or try a more formal online book club together. TV fans who are a bit tech-savvy might enjoy checking out an app like Netflix Party, which lets two or more people stream a show or movie at the same time and chat about it in a window off to the side.
5. Schedule Regular Video/Phone Check-Ins
If you're not able to be there in person on a regular basis, shift your visits to video conferences using an app such as Zoom, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts. If that feels a little too advanced, a good old-fashioned phone call will still brighten your loved one’s day. Put it on speaker phone so the whole family can say hello. You could even loop in family and friends who don’t live nearby via conference call to facilitate the feeling of a big group visit.
Staying connected may take some creativity, but your loved one should never feel alone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the staff at their senior living community—they are there to support both residents and families.
At Arbor Terrace Asheville, we’re always happy to help our residents and their loved ones maintain meaningful connections in ways that work best for them.
