Happy senior couple having video call on laptop. Talking with grandchildren and smiling. Senior couple making video call on digital tablet with their grandchildren

If you’re like many families, it’s a little hard to know what’s going on with each family member, especially if you live miles away. When your family has aging parents, it might be time to get wise about staying connected. Social media makes it much easier to keep families informed, even when you live long distances apart. I encourage you to do like my family, and create a place where everyone can know what’s going on!

Facebook For Seniors

There’s nothing worse in a family than having some family members feel left out of what’s going on. It causes hard feelings, and creates problems when you all need each other more than ever. My own parents have had health crises, so I know how hard it is to remember who you’ve called. I always feared that I forgot to tell someone something very important.

I know many of you use text messages with your smart phones. This is a good way to stay connected, but my family found that a family facebook page worked much better. The great thing about the new facebook formats is that you can choose who will see you messages. Our family facebook page only has family members, so only they see the posts.

If you go to your home page, or what is called your “timeline,” you can choose options in the tabs under your large picture. Choose the “more” tab. This makes it easier to get to the very bottom of a page. You can choose any of the options under “more.” Then go to the very bottom of the page where there are more options. One of the options is “create a page.” It will guide you step-by-step on how to set up a page.

Seniors on Facebook to Stay Connected With Families

You can post family photos, give the details for family events, ask for dates that are good for get-togethers, and so much more. I also use it to make all my family members aware of what’s going on with my parents. Since I’m an only child, I’m usually the first to know about health issues and other events in my parents’ lives.

If your older loved one is diagnosed with a specific illness, your facebook page can be the place to post articles on that illness to help everyone understand what they’re faced with. Directions to health facilities can also be posted there.

With our smart phones, we can update the status of our older loved ones right onto facebook while out and about. When my parents were in the hospital, this would have been great. It’s too bad it was before facebook became popular.

The fun side of facebook is that you can post those old family recipes that everyone loves. It sure beats writing them on index cards. Our family also shares our really, really old photos. I have wedding photos of my own grandparents that I’ve scanned and shared with all the kids. Some of them date back to the early 1900’s. The photos are fragile and faded, but with the magic of my computer, I made them look much better than the originals.
I hope you’ll set up your own family facebook page, especially if you have family members who live far apart. It will make those who live farthest away from your parents feel more involved and cared about.

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About The Author: Karen Everett Watson is a Gerontologist and has over 10 years experience as a Journalist. Karen has spent 4 years in the senior community interviewing retirement community residents and wrtites articles for SeniorCareHomes.com, a comprehensive Assisted Living online directory, trusted by seniors and families. SeniorCareHomes.com also provides free placement services to help Seniors and their families find assisted living based on the senior’s care needs, family’s budget and location.

Updated: 8/25/21

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Kate Allado | Senior Advocate / Care Advisor( State Licensed Certified Administrator | Co-Founder at SeniorCareHomes.Com )

Catharine “Kate” is a Certified Administrator for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) and an Expert Senior Care Advisor. Kate’s grandmother battled Alzheimer’s Disease and Kate personally understands what millions of families are going through. Kate and her team are very passionate in empowering Seniors and their families by providing them with the Best Available Senior Care Options based on Senior’s care needs, preferred location and family’s budget.