This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
- Home
- ‹
- Aging in Place
- ‹
- Staying in Touch
Staying in Touch
Avoiding loneliness is one of the most important ways you can protect your health. It may sound strange, but loneliness can lead to very serious health problems, including dementia, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and of course depression.
Many seniors find staying in touch with friends and loved ones difficult. This may be because you no longer live close by, getting around has become harder, or these days, because you need to quarantine to stay safe during the pandemic. There are still some great ways to see and chat with loved ones.
One of the best ways to stay in touch with friends and loved is by using technology, like video chats. There are many ways to talk to someone using video nowadays, including smartphones, tablets, and video-based smart home hubs. Here are some good suggestions
Get Answers:
The best way to avoid loneliness is to keep your mind active. Playing games like crossword puzzles and sudoku and reading books are great. Pets and hobbies are great too. But maybe the best way is by talking with others. Phone calls, writing letters, using social media apps, and video calls are great ways to connect with others.
There is no one way to identify if you are feeling lonely, oftentimes you just know it. But some common signs of loneliness are always wanting to buy things, feeling sick or tired all the time, always wanting something hot to drink or a hot shower, and weight gain. If you think you are lonely, you probably are.
Seniors have a number of options for leaving the house and getting around. Cabs and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft will come to your house to pick you up, and the cost depends on how far you need to go. Public transportation may be a good option depending on where you live. There are also senior call-and-ride programs in most areas. And don’t forget about friends and family!
There are a lot of great hobbies to keep yourself active as a senior. If you like spending time outdoors; gardening, photography, or birdwatching are great options. Some great indoor hobbies include: jigsaw puzzles, scrapbooking, tracing your family history, and painting.
There are lots of ways to make video calls nowadays. To do so, you need three basic things: A device like a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a video camera; video chat software (such as Facetime, Zoom, or Skype), and an internet connection (including a smartphone with a cellular data plan). Here is a great primer on the basics of making a video call.
There are programs that help seniors with technology questions. What is available in person depends on where you live. Contacting your local Office on Aging is good place to start. SeniorPlanet.org offers online classes regularly, including how to make video calls. Here is their calendar of online events.
If you are already set up to make video calls, then no, video calling is basically free. As described above, you need three things to make a video call: a device like a smartphone, tablet or computer; software or app to make the call, and an internet connection. Apps to make calls are normally free, but the device and the internet connection are not. But once you have those three things in order, there is no additional cost to making a video call. The only exception is if you are using your cell phone’s data to make the call, you can be required to pay extra if you use too much data in a month.