As we age, and often we move around from place to place, it is easy to lose touch with old friends and relatives. Here are some of our tips for staying in touch with those who were once dear to us.

Write

You can always write a letter by hand or send an email if you are computer savvy. Messages like this are almost always welcome and encourage the one on the receiving end to reply. If you don’t hear back, then write again.

Call

You can call on the phone or you can call by video conferencing. New technology makes it easy to send brief text messages to someone or just use the phone. Diarize to contact someone that you have not heard from in a while.

Social Media

Social Media platforms like Facebook are ways to see what others are doing and send brief messages. It is possible to create groups of friends or family members and talk just to them while cutting out the noise of other distractions.

DNA

Investigating your ancestry and family tree is something that more and more people are participating in. There are several companies that allow you to test your DNA and see if you have relatives in their databases. It’s a way to find old relatives and learn about new ones. Give it a shot!

Sometimes our lives get in the way, but the vast majority of us would love to hear from an old friend. Don’t be afraid to reach out. And if you are not terribly computer savvy, there are likely plenty of others nearby who can help you. Reach out and message someone or give them a call. You will both be happy that you did.

The Hamlets at Vernon is an assisted-living and long-term care community in Vernon, BC, Canada. Designed to take the worry out of senior retirement home living and following the tenets of Christianity, The Hamlets at Vernon offers compassionate care in a beautiful environment.