Tips for teaching an elderly relative how to video call
Keeping in touch is more important than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, and video calling offers the perfect opportunity to speak face-to-face in a contactless way. For elderly people who haven’t had much access to technology it can be difficult to get to grips with the likes of Skype, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, so we have put together some tips for teaching an elderly relative how to video call which we hope will help to bring you closer during this difficult time.
Identify potential issues beforehand
Preparation is everything and identifying potential issues before you embark on your video call lesson will make for a streamlined process. If you think your elderly relative might feel intimidated by the technology, ensure you’re clued up enough to put their mind at ease. Or if you think they might like to take the lead, try screenshotting visual instructions that you can send over to help them.
Teach them how to download the app
If your elderly relative will be using a smartphone or tablet to video call, the first step is teaching them how to download the app. There are a number of different options to choose from which all have very similar features, so the app you choose to use really comes down to preference. If your relative already has Facebook it might be easier to opt to use their video call service, or WhatsApp is a great option as it’s easy to add contacts.
Be patient
When you’re used to using something every day it can be frustrating when someone else doesn’t understand what feels like a very easy process. However, getting irritable when teaching an elderly relative how to video call is only likely to dissuade them from learning. Practice patience and you’ll find that they’ll pick it up far more quickly.
We hope that our tips for teaching an elderly relative how to video call will come in useful, and talking to you via this communication channel is sure to make their day.
