4 Ways to Reach Out to Friends and Family Members Online (During the Holidays and Beyond)

For many families, reaching out to other family members they don't speak to often is part of their holiday custom. It doesn't have to be during the holidays that you choose to reach out to your family. Sometimes, it's a great time of year to start a new tradition of staying in better touch with family members than you have in the past. This is especially true if you have a loved one who is living with dementia and wants to reach out to some of their family members during the holiday season. Making connections with family members during these times is crucial. This includes creating a support network you might need as time progresses.

However, figuring out how to keep in touch with family members far away throughout the holidays can be challenging. This can be even more challenging if you don't speak to some of your family members often or haven't seen them in quite some time. The Senior Helpers of Greater OKC are here to help you and your loved one succeed when reaching out to your family this holiday season.

The following are 4 ways to help you begin connecting to your family members throughout the upcoming holiday season.

FaceTime Your Family Members

You may want to talk to your family members throughout the holidays while still seeing their faces. Try using the FaceTime feature on your phone to see your family members while you walk on the phone. Everyone can gather not only to have a conversation but also to see the family members you are talking to. Enjoying the company of your extended or distant family can be done right over the phon. This includes seeing their faces while speaking.

Set Up a Zoom Call

It's better to have a larger screen to interact with. You can try setting up a Zoom conference call with your family for a more interactive experience. You can have many people dial into the same call. Zoom will allow you to host larger conference-like gatherings of family members simultaneously.

Have an Online Game Night

Having an online game night with your family can make a fun date everyone looks forward to participating in. Consider some fun classics like online Monopoly, Life, or Clue. It's a game that everyone likely knows how to play and can participate in equally. You might find other games like dice or card-related games fun. It is better to include people with various age ranges.

Use Social Media Channels to Communicate

If your family sets up an Instagram or a Facebook page and uses it to communicate, it can be a great way to interact with your family even if you are a long distance apart. Sharing location check-ins, statuses, pictures, and videos can help the family connect and stay in touch. It is even if you don't talk or socialize via telephone all the time.

Send a Handmade Holiday Card

If you aren't interested in using technology and the internet age as part of your long-distance communications with your family members this holiday, try using handmade holiday cards. You can create cards with pictures, drawings, or any other types of artwork that you have lying around your home and send them via "snail mail." Your family will love getting homemade cards from you and your family. Writing a personalized message is a great way to communicate while sending fun holiday cards to your family.

These are 4 great ways to connect with your family across the miles this upcoming holiday season. Many of these ideas offer fun that can be had year-round. It is especially if you want to get closer to your family in 2023 and beyond.

For more information on how to help your loved ones stay connected and how to stay connected with your family, please feel free to contact us at Senior Helpers of Greater OKC. We are proud to service the areas of Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Norman, and we look forward to hearing from and meeting you soon.