You live in California and your parents live in Michigan. Your brother is in Florida. When you live miles from each other, checking in on aging parents is tough. Visits are usually short and make it hard to pick up on all of the possible issues your parents are having with health and mobility.
With today’s technology, it’s getting easier to stay connected. Family caregivers should look into these four devices that help you see and talk to your parents every day.
A Laptop or Tablet
Buy an inexpensive tablet or laptop for your parents and use services like Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, or Skype to keep in touch. All three offer video chat as one of the options.
Amazon’s Echo Show
The Echo Show allows users to make video calls to each other. If you have a smartphone or tablet, the Echo Show also makes video calls to the app you install on your device. This makes it easy for your parents to call you without you having to purchase a new device.
Facebook’s Portal
The basic Facebook Portal is far less expensive than some computers. It’s easy to use and allows you and your parents to video chat as often as desired. If you buy two at the same time, there’s a decent discount, too. For your parents to call you, all they have to do is touch your picture on the device’s screen.
Google’s Home Hub
Sales have dropped the prices of Google’s Home Hub. The system does a number of things. It will tell and show your parents what the weather forecast is. It can read the news, act as a digital photo frame, and play music.
If you set up Google Duo, Google also says the Home Hub can be a video calling device. The phone or tablet used to call the Home Hub must have a video camera. Calls will be one-way only, but it’s a good way to have your parents call you so that you can see if they look okay. You can call them on your own device and they can see you and any grandkids, friends, and family members who are with you.
When you live miles away, home care services can be your eyes and ears. Caregivers can spend time with your parents every week, send you reports, and keep you informed on your parents’ home care
