Help Your Loved Ones Stay Socially Connected

If you have elderly loved ones who are living alone or in a senior living community that has halted visits due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the AARP offers several things you can do to help them stay socially connected and avoid feeling isolated.  Remember one of the most important things we can do is to let them know they are loved and missed. 

The easiest way you can do this is through frequent phone calls, but also don’t forget other ways of communicating such as sending a letter or greeting card through the snail mail reminding them you are thinking of them.  Include the kids by having them draw a picture for grandma or grandpa or if they are old enough, have them also write a letter. 

It definitely makes it more personal to stay in touch if your parent has a computer or a smart device that lets you FaceTime or Skype on a regular basis and the AAPR has some ideas of how to use video-calling to keep it fun.  One suggestion if your kids are young is to arrange to have grandma or grandpa read books to them over a video-call (if they do not have suitable books, go online and send them some).  Or if your child is learning to read, have them read to their grandparents. 

Another thing you can do is schedule a meal to be delivered to them from a local carry out place or from a service such as Grubhub, and settle down and enjoy sharing a meal with them while video chatting.  In addition, conversation starters can include watching the same movie or documentary and then spend time talking about it, or setting up a game or chessboard and playing the game together over the phone.  

For the area’s finest memory care and assisted living, Boulder, Colorado area seniors are encouraged to consider MorningStar of Boulder.  We are still accepting residents during this difficult time, confident in our protective protocols.  Please see our website for more information about our community and a message from the CEO detailing our coronavirus response.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Boulder, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Boulder, Colorado has to offer.
Source:
aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/boost-morale-during-coronavirus.html?intcmp=AE-HP-TTN-R4-POS2-REALPOSS-TODAY