Connecting with Family and Loved Ones Long Distance

Between sheltering-in-place suggestions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and living far away from loved ones, friends, and family members, long-distance and social distancing have become the “new normal.” The good news is that technology is thriving — and there are many ways to connect with others through video calls. 

FaceTime: For Apple product devotees, FaceTime is a video chat service that can be used with any iOS device with a forward-facing camera or a Mac computer with a FaceTime camera. 

Skype: Another video chat service, Skype can be used across various devices, even Xbox consoles, which is handy when connecting with the grandkids!

Google Meet: Designed to help bridge the distance gap — users can message friends, create group video calls for free, or get a voice call with one person or a group. Group chats are designed for big groups of up to 150 people — so for those who can’t get to the family reunion or to host a virtual one, Google Meet is a great option! Users can add stickers and emojis, share photos and more to liven up the video session, and even message friends when they aren’t online. 

For those who prefer 'old-fashioned' ways to keep in touch, why not make a “pen pal” out of a long-lost friend or a grandchild? It’s always fun to get something in the mail, and for some, there is something therapeutic about simply putting pen to paper. Email is a technology that almost everyone can quickly adapt to for quicker delivery and is accessible across multiple devices and brands.

Consider making a photo book to send across the miles for fun and creative ways to keep family and loved ones up-to-date. For family members wanting to reach out to their senior loved ones and help them feel connected through the distance, a fun surprise to send is a custom-made puzzle created from a favorite family photo.

There are countless ways to connect with family and loved ones across the miles, and during times like this, when social distancing is instilled to keep people safe, Fellowship Square encourages seniors to find the ways that work for them to keep in touch with their special people—as even though apart, loved ones are always together at heart.