How to Keep in Touch with Aging Parents

One of our worst fears is losing our parents. For many people, parents are seen as the glue of the family, the gatherers, and the ones who will always be there to support and rely upon. As parents age, they lose their ability to support the family as they once could. Holidays shift to a sibling’s house, and instead of parents planning and coordinating events, their children plan and coordinate how to involve them in each event. 

It can be tricky to navigate changing relational dynamics when parents begin to show signs of advanced age, but it can be a joyous time as well. In this article, we will discuss how to keep in touch with aging parents, navigate transitions, and bring the family closer than ever.

Helping Parents Understand Social Media

Technology is a gap that widens throughout the ages. Teens who have social media and smartphones understand technology in a way their grandparents never will. While there are significant downsides to social media use, with the right intentions, social media and technology can help unite the world.

If your aging parents struggle to use basic functions on their smartphone and computer, dedicate an entire afternoon to helping them understand. Write down steps on how to post, comment, and send messages on social media. Bring them into your world where you share photos of your daily life and encourage them to share photos as well. 

Send them funny memes they will enjoy, like and comment on their photos, and even send them songs that you enjoy listening to together. This will help narrow the gap between generations and make older family members feel included and capable when it comes to social media and technology.

Write Letters and Send Packages

Many older parents appreciate handwritten cards and thoughtful gifts through the mail. If you live far away from your parents and are afraid of too much time passing between visits, try to connect more meaningfully through handwritten updates, printed photos, and even little gifts they would enjoy.

While professional photos around the holiday are nice, you don’t always have to send pretty and polished updates by mail. Snap a few pics of your children after one of their sporting events and send them to grandma and grandpa to hang on the fridge. You can invest in a small, at-home printer made for printing quality photos straight from your smartphone. 

You can involve your children by having them alternate who writes to grandma and grandpa, or have them draw a picture, or even elaborate on a fun journal prompt that will make the grandparents laugh. Get creative – this very well may be a start to a meaningful and longstanding tradition you look forward to every week, more each month!

Play Games and Laugh Often

As parents age, there may come a time when they need to utilize the help of facility care. There are many elderly care options in Clearwater that provide a fun and inviting atmosphere and encourage community among their residents. Visit as frequently as you can and engage with the other residents and staff each time you do. 

Bring a few games from home that are familiar to your loved one, and ask a few of their close friends at the care facility to join you for a round! Engaging with your loved one and making them feel comfortable in their new surroundings will help their morale. Talk to their friends, in doing so, they will continuously ask your loved ones to share about your lives after you are gone. This will make your elderly parents feel more connected to you and their community in their absence. 

Summary

There are many ways to remain connected to our parents as they move into the twilight stages of their lives. Helping your loved ones understand how to use social media will make them feel more connected to your world. Send more meaningful and personalized notes through the mail that they can look at often. Last, make sure you visit as often as possible and create connections with their world. 

Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash

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