Updated from the original publication on December 14, 2015.
The holidays often bring a variety of emotions, positive and negative. For many people, the weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year can unearth feelings of sadness, loneliness and grief. For seniors especially, the holidays can evoke feelings of regret, painful memories of lost loved ones and longing for days past.
During this emotional time of year, your loved ones need you more than ever and it is important to keep in touch them. If you live far from your senior parent or relative, staying engaged can pose challenges. Here are three ways to keep communications open with your loved one during the holidays.
Tip 1: Pick up the phone
In our digital age, picking up the phone and talking isn’t always the first mode of communication that comes to mind. For seniors, however, chatting on the phone remains the next best thing to being there in person.
Even with the best intentions, you may find life gets in the way of finding the time to talk with your loved one. To avoid letting this important activity slip through the cracks of your busy week, consider scheduling one or more times each week to talk. Block off the time in your calendar. Be sure to keep that appointment. Knowing a call from you is coming soon may be the thing to keep your loved one’s holiday spirits high.
Tip 2: Use snail mail
While most Generation Xers and Millennials rarely use stamps, most older adults still enjoy receiving mail the old-fashioned way. A handwritten card or letter from you may make their day.
Here's a tip to get the entire family in the mailing mood: Match your parents up with your children as pen pals! Buy the kids some neat stationery complete with inked stamps and stickers, and encourage them to express themselves regularly with the written word.
Tip 3: Get digital with video
Just about everyone has some digital skills nowadays. Seniors are no exception. Although older seniors may lag behind other age groups, most are open to learning. Consider setting up a computer equipped with Zoom or Facetime at your loved one's home. You can visit and show them how to use it. Set up scheduled sessions for them to chat with you and the grandkids.
You can also appoint the kids as technical ambassadors. On their visits, they can teach Grandma or Grandpa how to use a tablet to keep in touch with the whole family.
Stay close to loved ones, even from far away
In the holiday rush, it’s easy to forget to contact senior loved ones regularly. By establishing a schedule for calling, mailing and using technology to communicate, you can ensure that your family member never feels alone and can fully enjoy the magic of the holiday season.
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