Right now, it’s incredibly difficult to maintain communication and relationships with friends and family that don’t live with you. Thanks to social distancing guidelines that have been implemented all across the country, we are physically removed from a lot of the friendships and relationships that were once easily accessed and maybe even taken for granted.
COVID-19 has changed how we live our lives. It’s changed our routines. It’s even changing how we think about others and ourselves. All of that can be good, though. It might even help you to have a newfound appreciation for the people in your life. I encourage you to embrace this and think of the ways that you can show those around you that you care for them.
There are lots of ways to stay connected with the people that you love. It’s not going to be what we’re used to–the whole world has changed in this regard. We need to use ways that might seem inadequate, difficult, or frustrating. We might need to think a little bit outside the box when it comes to connecting with the people that we love, but that doesn’t mean that we are completely isolated.
More people than ever have smartphones. If your elderly loved one has one, this is an easy way to keep in touch. Apps like FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and others have made it possible to have face to face conversations, even if you’re thousands of miles away from each other. Again, this isn’t a perfect solution, but it is one way to stay in touch. Some families are even finding out that they can engage with the people that they love more during this time because of the discovery of these apps. A lot of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are getting these apps set up for their residents so that families can continue to be a part of their lives without coming in and putting other residents at risk.
Other creative ways to show the elderly folks near you that you care about them without putting them at risk are making their way onto social media. Some people are gathering outside of assisted living facilities and singing or performing for the residents. Virtual pen pals are emerging. Some homes are having residents volunteer to go on social media and tell a little bit about their life story. Others are just seeing pictures or information about isolated seniors and quietly praying for them.
If you want to support the elderly around you, don’t be afraid to be creative. If you’re unsure of what’s a good idea, feel free to give your local nursing home or assisted living facility a call and see what they think. They might even have ideas of their own for how you can best help people. Every little bit helps, even if it doesn’t really seem like a big deal to you.
Whatever you do, just remember that we are all in this together. Everyone’s life has changed. And while that’s scary, there is a certain comfort in knowing that we are one people, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic together. Because we are together, we are stronger than we would ever be on our own.
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