By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How To Keep Your Elderly Family Connected During This Time
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Covid-19 > How To Keep Your Elderly Family Connected During This Time
Covid-19Senior Care

How To Keep Your Elderly Family Connected During This Time

Kara Reynolds
Last updated: May 13, 2020 8:00 pm
Kara Reynolds
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

  The coronavirus pandemic shut the country down seemingly overnight. All of a sudden, businesses shut their doors, people stocked up on supplies and employees started working from home. Many states remain on lockdown, and many of us have adjusted to this new, albeit temporary, normal. However, there’s a huge community of people still living with an even stronger sense of isolation, and it consists of older adults. Of course, their isolation is for a good reason — experts have realized COVID-19 is more deadly in patients 65 and older. Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities have shut their doors to keep the virus out and protect their residents. This precaution has probably left your loved ones feeling lonely, though. Fortunately, you can keep everyone connected until the pandemic passes and life resumes. Here’s how to do it:

Contents
1. Chat Virtually2. Play Games3. Send Care Packages4. Attend Online Events Together5. Start a Book Club6. Go Old-FashionedStay Close During the Pandemic

1. Chat Virtually

This tip is an obvious one, but it may be new for your older relatives. Suggest setting up a video chat session so they can see and talk to you, even if it’s not truly face-to-face. Hopefully, your parent or loved one has a tablet or smartphone that allows them to talk via video. If not, call their care facility to see if they have access to tech that would enable them to call and see you while you talk. Once they download the right apps and get the hang of video chatting, try looping more family members and friends into the conversation. Plan your talks over dinnertime or while you’re all having coffee to make them even more authentic.

2. Play Games

Many older people move into retirement communities because they want to connect with others their age. However, the coronavirus may be preventing them from socializing and hanging out. You can recreate this fun vibe by playing virtual games with your loved one. Let’s face it — we all love to play on our phones, and your older relative or parent is no different. So, find a game you both like and strike up the challenge. It could be a drawing game, virtual Scrabble or poker — whatever you want. Start the competition and enjoy the fun!

3. Send Care Packages

Even if you can’t stop by and see your loved one, you can still show that you care. Perhaps you would regularly visit in person with snacks or supplies. You can still deliver on these treats, even without showing up on your own. Of course, you should make sure your loved ones have the food and necessities they need to endure lockdown. But you can send little gifts and treats to get them through, too. If they live in an assisted living facility, call ahead to see how they’ll handle packages to make sure your parent or friend will receive their gifts in a timely and safe manner.

More Read

6 Essential Tips for Caring for Your Senior Parents Health and Well-being
6 Essential Tips for Caring for Your Senior Parents Health and Well-being
Who Should Get the COVID-19 Antibody Test Panel?
5 Ways to Improve the Quality of Life for a Parent Living With Dementia
CPR And Cardiac Arrest Management Of Patients Amid COVID-19
How To Find The Right Care For A Loved One With A Dementia Diagnosis

4. Attend Online Events Together

Depending on your loved one’s tech-savviness, you could suggest attending online events together. Creatives have gotten, well, creative over this period of isolation. As such, there are online concerts, art classes, speaking engagements, cooking lessons and seminars available — just about any activity you can imagine. On top of that, creating together has always been a great way to connect with older loved ones. If you attend these online sessions, you’ll feel super close to them, even if you can’t physically get together.

5. Start a Book Club

Need a good conversation starter? Consider setting up a book club for you, your older loved ones and anyone else in your life that likes to read and chat. If you’ve never led a book club, search online for suggested books to read — ones that will generate conversation. As you research, you’ll probably find potential discussion topics, too. Or, if you’re feeling creative, you can choose the book and come up with questions on your own. Either way, you get a one-two punch by suggesting a book club. First, you’ll keep your loved one engaged with a thought-provoking read. Then, you’ll loop them into a larger conversation about the literature. They might even want to host the next session, giving them a big activity to helm while they’re in isolation.

6. Go Old-Fashioned

When in doubt, go with what you know. There’s nothing wrong with picking up the phone and chatting with your loved ones. Sure, it’s not the same as seeing them in person, but hearing your voice will be enough to brighten their day. You could also roll by for a socially distanced visit. Chat from your car window or walk up to your family member’s window. They can’t come outside for a hug, but they can certainly hear and see you through the glass. Everyone will stay safe, and you’ll give them the social contact that they so need.

Stay Close During the Pandemic

You can’t see your older loved ones in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend time together. These six ideas can help you stay close, even though the world has forced you apart for the time being. No matter how you connect, you’ll all feel better for it once you hang up the phone. Better yet, you’ll appreciate each other more than ever.

TAGGED:elder careelderly familyfamilyfamily gatheringpandemic
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Kara Reynolds
Follow:
Kara Reynolds is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Momish Magazine, an inclusive parenting magazine filled with parenting hacks, advice, and more to keep your beautiful family thriving. As a mom and stepmom, Kara hopes to normalize blended families and wants her readers to know that every family is beautiful and messy just how they are. When she's not writing, Kara enjoys pilates and likes a little coffee with her cream. Find more from Kara on Twitter @MomishMagazine.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Covid-19

Keeping Your Receptionists Safe in Healthcare

April 16, 2021
caring for a patient with dementia
Senior Care

3 Critical Tips for Caring for a Loved One with Dementia

November 17, 2020
Senior Care

Important Early Signs That Your Elderly Parents Need Care

January 20, 2020
surgery recovery tips for seniors
Senior Care

6 Ways to Help Seniors Recover from Surgery

August 8, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?