Preserving memories is a great way to learn about family and world history. While such memories were transferred orally in the past, today's disjointed society hardly gets time for oral stories. Everyone is busy, with seniors living in different locations, away from their adult children and grandchildren.
That's why spending the holiday season with seniors is important and should never be overlooked. They are a rich source of history, and we can learn a lot from them. But how do we record holiday stories from senior relatives?
Tips To Help You Record Stories From Seniors
Here's how you can create unique memories and share them with future generations.
- Before recording, relatives should let their elderly loved ones participate willingly. Anyone can get irritated when coerced and may not offer the information needed.
- Adult children should tell seniors of their intention early enough to help them prepare
- For relatives who want their elderly loved ones to record themselves, they should ensure that seniors understand how to use the available recording device.
- They may also want to prepare questions that relate to what they want to know.
How to Record Holiday Stories From Senior Loved Ones
Now that relatives already know what they want to learn, they can leverage technology to preserve family history using the methods listed below:
Smartphones and Tablets
Most Smartphones come with a recording app. If yours doesn't, consider downloading one from Google Play Store. Once the recording is ready and settled, they can set the recorder and let the senior loved one start talking.
Adult children can also use the video recorder on their Smartphones for filming. They should ensure that the setting is appropriately lit and free from noise. The phone should be positioned horizontally to get a clear video. For a more stable video, they may consider using a tablet tripod. This lets them interact freely with their elderly loved ones without worrying about a shaky video.
Digital Cameras
Relatives with digital cameras can get better-quality videos and audio. They only need to prepare their questions if they already know how to record using the camera. If not, they can contact a professional filmmaker to help them out.
Microphone
Some microphones can fit into a phone through the headphone jack. Relatives may also consider using an external microphone for enhanced sound quality.
Laptops
Adult children can also record directly from a laptop. They must set the laptop camera and ensure the environment is friendly for filming. Background noise may distort the audio, while too much movement produces poor-quality video.
Once they are done, they can edit the video and save it in a location that's easy to access. They can create a folder on the desktop and give it an appropriate file name. They can also save the video on a flash drive, external hard disk drive, or a DVD for future reference.
How to Share the Recorded Stories
Adult children can share the video with other family members via:
- YouTube
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
They can also create a backup in the cloud for ease of sharing. They must also protect the video location using a strong password to enhance security.
Liven Up Your Elderly Loved One’s Life With the Help of Senior Helpers of Southwest Houston
Protecting senior relatives and keeping them comfortable may be challenging for adult children. However, with the help of compassionate in-home caregivers from Senior Helpers Southwest Houston, seniors can get the support they need. We offer professional services to seniors from Houston, Pearland, Bellaire, and Harris County, TX, to help brighten their days. Contact us today to learn about our services or schedule an in-home assessment.