The Facts about Facebook for Seniors
Senior Care in Comstock Park MI
Facebook has changed society drastically over the last few years. Now, no matter where you are or how far away you are from your seniors, you can still be connected. So for seniors who are at the
stage where they perhaps are no longer driving and need home care, using social media can help keep them having an active and involved life with their friends and family.
But on any social media, there are a few ground rules that should be set. First, seniors need to understand that letting someone befriend them on Facebook is like opening the front door – it should only be limited to people they know. Second, they should be warned that at times, there have been scams on these social media sites where the people who are their “friends” claim to be in trouble in a foreign country and ask or money. Seniors should NEVER send money to someone who asks for it over social media without checking to make sure the request and need are genuine.
Facebook is a site that is designed to allow people to find, connect with, share with, talk to, and interact with people who they may know personally, have shared interests with, or even may have gone to school with many years ago.
The first thing you should talk to your senior about as you (hopefully) help them set up their Facebook page is setting their privacy controls. A good default idea is that their privacy for posts, photos, and other information be set to “friends only” which means that only those people who are already friends with them will be able to see these things.
Secondly, once their account is set up, you may want to start by filling out their profile. This will include information about where they went to school, what towns they have lived in, where they have worked… and then they can start searching for friends. Obviously, friending the family can come easily, but they may also find they can reconnect with long-lost friends from around the country. Then they can start looking for things to “like” such as their favorite television programs, books, activities, and, of course, the games.
For many seniors, Facebook games (and to be honest, Facebook itself) keeps them feeling connected. They can get up in the middle of the night, log on, find out what is going on with their friends and extended family, see pictures, watch videos, and be a part of the lives of those who may be far away. And perhaps being home alone will feel less lonely.
If you or someone you know needs help with senior care in Comstock Park, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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