The Internet is a prevalent means of communication and there are many ways that we can stay in touch with family. With smartphones now the norm for many individuals, your parents don’t have to wait to chat with their children and grandchildren or to catch up with an old friend.
Skype is a communications download that is available for smartphones and computers, and even some televisions. The application uses the Internet to connect one person to the other, allowing you to conduct voice, video, conference calls and instant messaging. Any two people who are connected to the Internet and have the technological capability for chat or video can communicate with Skype calls at no charge. However, if you are calling to a cellular phone or landline, you can purchase monthly subscriptions or pay-as-you-go plans. Skype is also an excellent way to share documents or pictures with your loved ones, even if you are several states apart.
FaceTime allows users to connect with family and friends around the world. You can make audio and video calls from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to other iOS devices. On an iPhone, a user can activate FaceTime during a phone call by pressing the FaceTime button. You may need to upload a separate FaceTime app if it is not already loaded to your phone. FaceTime is currently incompatible with non-Apple devices.
Although many social media platforms are in a public forum, there are many ways that they can help you stay connected – especially with friends. Facebook and Twitter are by far the most popular options, though both are very different from one another. Facebook allows members to communicate through photo sharing, status updates and comments with their Facebook friends. Older generations are becoming more adept at navigating the website, and many say it’s a great way to keep up with their family’s and friends’ activities, according to Socialnomics. Twitter is another free social media application that is essentially a microblog allowing for 140-character posts. You can subscribe to your friends’ or family members’ accounts and receive updates as they post them.
If you already enjoy journaling, you might like online journals – also known as blogs. You can post as often or as little as you like and let your friends and family know what you are up to. On many sites, your family members can post responses, making this another excellent form of communication. Another option to stay connected with friends and family is setting up an email account if you haven’t already. Both of these tools can be access with a standard computer, laptop or tablet.
With so many 21st century communications advancements, logging in is an excellent way to stay in touch with family and friends, especially for seniors.
When you visit your nearest Aegis Living community ask our Life Enrichment Director how they help residents stay in touch with family.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.