Embracing technology to keep in touch with loved ones: top tips to stay connected

In today’s world, technology has become an indispensable tool for staying connected with loved ones, especially those who live away from us. Technology helps you stay in constant touch with your loved ones in a care home, but it can be difficult to navigate.

At The Beeches, we recognise the importance of maintaining strong relationships with family and friends, and thus encourage and empower our residents and their families to embrace technology as a way to stay connected with each other.

 

Here are our top tips for staying connected using technology:

  • Explore the ease of video chatting:

Video chat platforms like Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime offer a more personal and interactive way to connect with loved ones. Seeing familiar faces and engaging in real-time conversations can help with feelings of loneliness and strengthen family bonds.

 

  • Take advantage of the convenience of social media:

Social media is constantly evolving and platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter provide opportunities to share updates, photos, and videos with a wider audience of friends and family. At The Beeches, we encourage residents to engage with their loved ones’ posts, comment on their activities, and follow their lives online and vice versa.

 

  • Embrace old-school letter writing with a digital twist:

Email remains a reliable and convenient way to stay in touch, especially for those who prefer the old school way of communicating – through letters. We encourage residents to send and receive emails, share news, and exchange stories with loved ones regularly.

 

  • Get creative with technology:

Other than calls and emails, there is so much you can do with technology to maintain healthy bonds with your loved ones. Online games and activities are a fun and engaging way to connect with loved ones, even when physical distance separates you. We encourage residents to explore online games, puzzles, and even virtual book clubs with family and friends.

While these are great activities to stay in touch with your loved ones, there’s also the question of how to do so with ease. To have a seamless online relationship with your loved ones in a care home, you can:

  • Empower your loved ones with the right knowledge and skills to use technology – at The Beeches, we strive to do the same for our residents.
  • Make sure that your loved ones have access to devices and know how to maintain them.
  • Schedule regular video calls and virtual gatherings instead of leaving it up to chance.
  • Use your creativity and have fun with it!

At The Beeches, we believe that technology plays a key role in maintaining healthy relationships between our residents and their loved ones. And so, we train our staff to be able to support our residents with technology and encourage our residents to embrace new advancements in technology as they come.

If you have any questions about staying in touch with your loved ones, please feel free to contact us at 01359 230773 to speak to a member of staff or visit our lovely home in Ixworth.

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