Email Keeps the Elderly Connected

Many seniors feel isolated from their extended families, especially during the holidays. Everyone seems to be so busy and rushing from one activity to another with no time to visit or call their older relatives.

A wonderful way to stay in touch with your family is with email. Email won’t replace the visits or phone calls, but will contribute to the connection to family and friends.

There has been much investigation and scholarly articles written about the positive effects to seniors who consistently use computers and email.  Research has proven that elderly people who are provided continuous instruction on the computer, and who have email contact with their friends and family are less depressed and have more self esteem .

Internet usage also allows the elderly to “visit” places and learn information that they would not otherwise have access too.

I never tire of seeing a customer’s face light up when they start receiving email from their children, grandchildren and friends. They realize that they can communicate with anyone they know, no matter where in the world their loved one is. Their sense of isolation is greatly diminished.

Email allows seniors to realize that they are not forgotten, that there are people out there who care for them and want to keep in contact with them.

I then teach my customer how to reply, forward, and download attachments. My goal is to have my client comfortable using their email so that they can enjoy communicating with their loved one, instead of being frustrated and confused because they don’t remember how to respond to emails.

Another customer has a grandchild who is spending a semester of college abroad. This customer not only emails her grandchild, but also follows her grandchild’s blog so she is able to read detailed accounts of her grandchild’s adventures and view the accompanying pictures. What a huge difference from the pre-internet days of waiting for the phone call with the horrible connection or the occasional letter.

Finally, I have met several seniors who are resistant to using email. They insist that they receive their (weekly or monthly) phone calls, and are afraid that email would eliminate the phone calls, which is the method of communication they have used all their lives and are most comfortable with.

The families of these seniors must reassure their loved one that email will add to their communication, not replace it. The families must also follow through and continue communicating with their relative in the manner they are most comfortable with.

Eventually, the senior may realize that email is a preferred method of communication. After all, you can’t send pictures or documents through an old-school telephone. Also, an email can be read over and over again. Once the phone is hung up, everything that was said is just a memory.

Speaking of memory, how many times have we been on the phone and said, “I forgot what I wanted to tell you”. When what is forgotten has been remembered, it can be sent through an email.

A colleague of mine, Jenni Showalter from Huge Hearts HomeCare, states that many of her clients use email to correspond with their family.

“We try to incorporate this into their daily routine.  Reading an email from one of their children or seeing pictures of their grandchildren can really brighten up their day.  This also makes them feel very independent by using modern technology and to have responsibilities and something to look forward to everyday."

Jenni  feels that seniors too often get bored and depressed.  Using the computer to play a game or to email can prevent this from happening. 

Rita Kuzmenko is the owner of Gentle Technology Guidance Inc. and Jenni Showalter is the owner of Huge Hearts HomeCare.  Both are active members of the La Grange Business Association.