Technologies accompany us in all areas of our lives. We use them for work, to travel, to shop online and to stay in touch with friends. So why not also use them to stay in contact with family?
When parents become elderly, it’s the children who must start taking care of them. Sometimes this is difficult because of work, children or simply not living in the same city. It is therefore difficult to visit one’s parents. A video call can help us in this situation since it allows us to stay in contact remotely.
New technologies allow us to stay in permanent contact with our loved ones. They promote moments of happiness with seniors. But it’s important to choose adapted solutions. There are different ways to make a video call or FaceTime with an elderly loved one. Let’s take a closer look!
1. Video Call or FaceTime: What Is It Really About?
Video calls or FaceTime gained momentum during the lockdown period. Indeed, lockdown made us understand the importance of relationships. That’s why we found a solution to overcome distance. Video calls or FaceTime allow us to see the other person’s face and make the exchange more real.
What Exactly Is a Video Call?
First, we must say that a video call uses the principle of videophony. In this term, we can find words like television and telephony. In practice, this means that you can see the other person during the conversation. This is a revolutionary method that allows you to contact an elderly parent while having the opportunity to see them. It’s as if you were in the same room. The video call is made through a mobile phone screen, a computer or a tablet.
Furthermore, this technique uses applications, a mobile plan or a 3G or 4G compatible smartphone.
What Is FaceTime?
FaceTime is a videoconferencing application developed by Apple. It is useful because this application allows you to contact your loved ones at any time.
When you don’t have time to travel to see an elderly parent, FaceTime becomes an interesting intermediary. This is a free application necessary to keep in touch with your loved ones. FaceTime works for free on iPhone and iPad.
FaceTime operates depending on the device the user has. If you have an iPhone, it will be in the “Settings” option. The same applies with an iPad.
Using FaceTime
Apple designed this application to make it easy for anyone to use. The user must act with full knowledge. First, someone using an iPad will need the FaceTime email address of the person they want to contact. When it comes to an iPhone, you will use the phone number instead.
On the other hand, note that to answer a FaceTime call, you proceed as with a voice call. Simply click on the screen to start the conversation. However, this operation is not always easy for some seniors. That’s why experts have developed tools dedicated to elderly people.
2. Finding an Effective Tool for Video Call or FaceTime with an Elderly Parent
Not all seniors know how to use smartphones or smart phones. Why not offer them an appropriate solution?
Technologies are not only adapted for young people. On the contrary, today there are more and more elderly people using smartphones or tablets.
An Innovative Tablet for Your Elderly Parent
Elderly people most often have difficulties using new communication technologies. Hence the importance of providing them with a tool that adapts to their needs. Fortunately, experts have thought of them by bringing effective tools to market for making video calls with people. Consider, for example, the tablet. But it’s not just any electronic or digital tablet.
Prefer a tablet for video conferencing or FaceTime that is easy to use. You can choose a model where your elderly parent won’t have to touch their screen to start the conversation. The system is designed to trigger automatically.
Configuring FaceTime on a Computer or iPad
These latest generation tools can help you maintain connections with your elderly loved ones. This is possible if you configure FaceTime on them. You can proceed as follows. You can create an account on an iPad computer or a Mac computer.
Of course, you will need an Internet connection for this configuration. An icon appears immediately when FaceTime is installed. Go to the “Contacts” option to display the list and select a contact. The video displays each time a contact accepts the call. For an elderly person, it is possible to simplify the use of FaceTime. For example, disable automatic updates.
The Advantages of Using a Video Application Specialized for Seniors
At 80 or 90 years old, you don’t have the same vigor as a thirty-year-old young person. Seniors have difficulty easily manipulating applications. However, a specialized video application simplifies life. It’s better to invest in such an application if your elderly parent doesn’t know how to use a smartphone.
Some elderly people have vision or hearing problems. This is an opportunity to provide them with a means of communication more adapted to their situation. Others, on the other hand, suffer from memory disorders.
3. Properly Selecting Your Video Call Solution for Elderly Parents
You will need to make the best choice from this range of video applications. You can make your selection according to the elderly parent’s age.
The LiNote Application
It was developed to meet the needs of people over 80 years old. It has an automatic answering system. It’s a simple solution intended for a loved one having difficulty pressing a screen or button. The advantages of calls via LiNote are numerous. Indeed, with this application, there is no button to press to answer a potential video call. Another advantage is that the application allows you to receive messages and photos. You can share memories of your vacation moments with your elderly loved one.
The Visiofixe Application
Like LiNote, Visiofixe allows you to make video calls with family members. Visiofixe is especially for young seniors. It should be noted that this application is compatible with hearing aids. It uses a Bluetooth function in this case.
The Komp Computer
This videoconferencing communication solution is intended for individuals over 70 years old. It works with a single button. The Komp computer works with an automatic answering system. You can receive photos.
4. Combining Pleasure with Relationships
Video calls are certainly very useful for maintaining relationships with loved ones. On the other hand, it can happen that you don’t know what to say, have moments of silence or even that your elderly loved one gets tired quickly. One solution can be to use games to maintain a positive relationship.
The CLINT Application
CLINT is an application with more than 30 cognitive games to stimulate all cognitive functions. The proposed activities are fun and cultural so you can have fun together. Thanks to the games, the senior will also evoke memories and can share their experiences.
Your loved one can play alone at home, on their tablet or smartphone, and you can talk about it together during calls. Or you can play together on FaceTime.
Clint and FaceTime
In the Clint application there are certain games that can be played together, via video on FaceTime. You can therefore call your loved ones and share a fun moment. You can participate in the call and therefore in the game with four people. You can therefore bring together the whole family.
You can play in collaborative mode, so play together to reach the goal. You can also play in competitive mode, so one against the other.
Brain Training Programs
There are many ways to exercise your memory and cognitive functions. Daily practice of brain exercises reduces the risk of neurological disorders, as some programs work on all cognitive functions.
The CLINT brain training program was specifically designed for adults to keep the brain healthy through fun and stimulating brain exercises. It has more than 30 cognitive games and targets concentration, focus, reflexes, languages and many other cognitive functions.
5. Training Family Caregivers in Digital Technology: A Lever for Senior Autonomy
Even though digital tools are increasingly accessible, they can remain intimidating for elderly people. That’s why it’s essential that their loved ones – children, grandchildren, caregivers – are trained to effectively support them in this digital transition.
Why Train Loved Ones in Digital Support?
-
Better guide seniors when using a tablet or application like FaceTime or LiNote.
-
Gain autonomy by learning to easily configure a device or solve small technical issues remotely.
-
Prevent digital isolation of elderly people by ensuring regular technical support.
-
Promote intergenerational transmission: children or grandchildren become the “digital coaches” of their elders.
Concrete Examples of Useful Training:
-
Municipal or association workshops on the use of adapted tablets (such as those from DYNSEO).
-
Step-by-step video tutorials to learn how to install and use video apps (e.g.: create a contact, start a call, answer).
-
E-learning sessions for caregivers offered by associations or health platforms (for example France Alzheimer’s or the Red Cross).
-
Applications with simplified interface offering a “caregiver mode” to guide remotely (such as Komp or Ardoiz).
Tips for Supporting a Senior in Digital Learning:
-
Show patience and value each progress to avoid discouragement.
-
Prefer short but regular sessions, focusing on one feature at a time.
-
Favor simple visual supports (pictograms, colored buttons, large fonts).
-
Involve the senior in concrete uses: calling a loved one, looking at a photo, following news.
