Digital technologies and social media can often seem like a barrier between the older and
younger generations, but the digital age has also given us some wonderful ways of staying in
touch with our children and grandchildren - a true blessing when we can’t be with them in
person. According to Helping Hands Home Care, ‘The most effective way of reducing
loneliness and social isolation is to simply generate a sense of community and talk to people.”
That’s why we have put together this brief guide to get you feeling more confident about
what technologies are out there which can help you to bring your family together.
Get Assistance
Staying connected to family via technology sounds easy in theory, but we understand that –
for someone not used to using it – there are many hidden challenges. According to the
Office of National Statistics, in 2019, almost half the population of people aged 75 and over
had never used the internet. Luckily, many training groups have been set up to assist elderly
people with technology, whether that’s computers, phones, or any other device type. These
groups grew in popularity following the coronavirus pandemic as it highlighted the need for
elderly support when it comes to the digital world.
But it’s not just technology that these groups assist with. Tech training groups are an
opportunity to make friends and support one another, leading to life-long friendships.
Having a support system as such can help build your confidence and digital skills.
Smartphones
Smartphones are a fantastic way of staying in touch with younger family members. From
emails to apps to video calling, they open up a whole world of possibilities for
communication. We know that many modern smartphones can seem intimidating, but they
can be quite simple once you get the hang of them; and there are alternative brands who
create more streamlined models without all of the unnecessary bells and whistles. Indeed,
Amplified Telephones make what they call a ‘Senior Smartphone’ for those with hearing
impairments and who want a simplified device, so that hearing loss doesn’t ‘get in the way
of your contact with family and friends’.
Caption Apps
Losing your hearing is a challenging obstacle to overcome. Indeed, few things are more
challenging than trying to have a discussion with younger people, who perhaps don’t
understand what they could do to help you with your difficulty, when you are struggling to
hear. There are now new technologies which can help, such as apps you can download onto
your phone which will create captions for you. Here at Live Caption, we find that using a
caption app can be very empowering for those living with hearing loss, as it allows you to
‘reconnect with friends and family after hearing loss’.
Video Calling
One of the best ways of staying in touch these days is by video calling. Services such as
Skype and Zoom have become increasingly popular, particularly over the last few months
where families have been spending little to no time with each other physically. This lack of
physical contact is, of course, still distressing, but at least with instantaneous video calling it
is still possible to see your grandchildren’s faces and how they are growing. And if you
struggle with hearing, just use the aforementioned caption app and you will be able to enjoy
every moment of a video call with your family.
Virtual Games
Don’t worry – we’re not advising that you start using one of those complicated game
devices with complex buttons and knobs. Instead, why not download Scrabble or Chess on
to your device and play with your children or grandchildren that way. They can set it up for
you, and then you can to play with your loved ones whenever you want.
If you’re not one for playing traditional games on a screen, why not try virtual quizzes
instead? You can invite as many people as you’d like and can join in as much as you like.
You could take it in turns to host a quiz, and could even dress up if you‘d all like to, for even
more fun.
You never know, all of this digital interaction might even help you feel closer to your family
members, so that – when you do meet up – you enjoy each other’s company even more.
The prevalence of digital technologies may indeed have changed grandparenting forever,
yet – particularly during the current crises – this change has many benefits. Thanks to digital
technologies, we are now able to stay in touch with our families even when we are apart.
Author: Evelyn James
evelyn.james@harbourmail.co.uk
Sources:
https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/blogs/how-are-older-people-adapting-digital-technology-
https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/live-in-care/
https://www.amplifiedtelephones.co.uk/news/best-phones-for-the-deaf-and-hearing-