Keeping connected in our later years
Oh how I laughed when I read this lovely story about Dame Judi Dench making a naked video call by accident. Sadly Dame Judi is suffering from macular degeneration which makes it hard for her to see the functions on her phone.
This made think of my own parents, in their 80’s, who do a fantastic job of navigating texting, email and WhatsApp with their family (but never with strangers!) but how this too, will become more difficult for them as their age advances.
Once reliant or even enjoying, technology, it must be hard to have it taken away from you.
How can we support our loved ones to stay connected as they age?
Encourage the use of audio books, they relax and listen from their comfiest chair or even the car.
Read to them – life goes full circle doesn’t it.
Show the “olds” (as we fondly refer to them in my family) how to crank up the font size on their device.
Encourage them to question calls, texts or emails which appear strange or ask them to do something urgently.
Here’s a recent exchange I had with my sister about a WhatsApp message my mum received.
However we support the mature people in our lives, it will make a difference to their continued enjoyment of being digitally connected, whilst being digital safety.
Kia kaha.
