Four Ways to Connect with Your Grandparents Through Technology

Grandparents: a word often associated with presents, special outings, yummy food and unconditional love www.mcafee.com/activate product key. And yet, millions www.mcafee/activate of our older loved ones are sitting at home, isolated and lonely, to protect themselves and others.Thankfully, social media and other technology makes communication easier, more available mcafee.com/activate product key, and much more fun. Social distancing doesn't have to mean social disconnecting. Just one call, one text or one video www.mcafee.com/activate chat a day can your older loved ones know they aren't alone. Here are four ways technology can www.mcafee.com/activate download help you connect www.mcafee/activate with them:

 

1. Messaging Apps

 

A recent study revealed that 73% of grandparents own smartphones, which means that the power to connect is already in the palm of their hand! Messaging apps like   are a great introduction to texting for grandparents, who may only  www.mcafee.com/activate product key be used to longer telephone conversations, email or snail mail. 

 

With messaging apps, you can send and receive text updates, photos and videos all in one place. And, when there is time for www.mcafee.com/activate a longer conversation www.mcafee/activate, you can use these apps to chat for free, as most don't use up cell minutes.

 

2. Video Chat

 

It can be difficult to go months on end without seeing your extended family, especially your grandparents. That's why video chat is such a great feature; it makes you feel as though you're in the same room as someone www.mcafee.com/activate download, regardless of geographical distance. You can use apps like Skype or  face time to have a video conversation www.mcafee.com/activate from virtually any device, which means you can enjoy a sunset with your grandparent, or show them new projects you're working on. 

 

Video chat also comes in handy for big life mcafee.com/activate product key events that your grandparent doesn't want to miss but is unable to physically attend, like birthday parties www.mcafee/activate, graduations or even weddings.

 

3. Gaming and Creativity Apps

 

Nowadays, there's no shortage of interactive apps you can enjoy with a faraway relative. Creative apps like  and Photo phonia allow you to personalize photos and videos, which can make file sharing more special and fun. www.mcafee/activate Looking for some friendly competition with your grandparent? Try a gaming app like  Wheel of fortune orMinecraft. Or keep your grandparent updated on www.mcafee.com/activate product key your daily happenings with an app like keepy; an interactive mcafee.com/activate product key platform for sharing school projects www.mcafee/activate and artwork. 

 

Finally, a perfect way to cultivate connection www.mcafee.com/activate download is through a family tree app, likeAncesty, where you and your grandparent can discover photos www.mcafee.com/activate and stories together as you navigate your own family history. 

 

4. Social Media

 

Social media has become deeply embedded in the lifestyles of kids, teens, adults, and basically everyone. So why not bring the grandparents on board? 

 

Try starting a private Instagram account where you post photos www.mcafee/activate and videos for your family's eyes only. Grandparents have lots to share as well, so encourage them to make their own Instagram handles and record their stories. This can be a unique way to learn about your grandparent's past mcafee.com/activate product key or to pass down family memories, post those Ancestry results, or share family recipes that may otherwise get lost over the years. 

 

Facebook is the most popular social media platform among grandformand can be a wonderful place to reconnect, as it's user-friendly www.mcafee/activate and widely accessible.Snapchat is another option, as it’s functionally pretty basic, and allows you to send and receive custom pictures or videos with a variety of fun filters and lenses.  

 

How to Help Your Grandparents

 

While nearly three-quarters of grandparents have Smartphones, only . Luckily, there's no better way to connect than helping your grandparent learn! 

 

Teaching them how to use video chat and social media can be a bonding experience, and will help pave the way for easier and www.mcafee/activate more frequent communication in the future. You can also set your grandparent up with useful mcafee.com/activate product key home features like the , which will allow them to control their TV and  www.mcafee/activate other devices www.mcafee.com/activate download from their Smartphone. Grandparents may not even realize that they can watch content www.mcafee.com/activate product key from mobile deviceor schedule DVR recordings by using apps like Cox connected

 

Giving your elders the power to connect is not www.mcafee.com/activate only useful, but it helps build relationships with the people you love most, and that's priceless at any age.