Staying connected is always important, even more so during the COVID-19 outbreak. As we work to stay safe, it’s vital that we practice social distancing. Despite social distancing, we can continue to connect with our loved ones in other ways. 

Here are a few ideas we’ve gathered that may help you and your family members connect with a loved one who is facing a life-limiting illness. 

We recognize some of the ideas discussed below may not work in all situations. If you have any questions, please be sure to consult with your caregivers who may be able to better assist.

Video Calls and Chats

With applications like FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Facebook Video Chat, we‘re able to see and hear our loved ones as if we were in the room with them. Consider pre-recording your video message that can be shown to your loved ones at their convenience. Click here to learn more about FaceTime.

One great way to keep in touch is reading to your loved one. Whether it’s a book, article, poem or passage, this gives you and your loved one the opportunity for daily communication and check-ins. Grandparents can read a bedtime story to their grandchildren. Likewise, grandchildren can practice their reading skills by reading a story to their grandparents. 

Phone Calls

Perhaps your loved one’s preferred method of communication is an old-fashioned phone call! Give your loved one a call and let them know they’re on your mind.

Snail Mail

A nice, hand-written letter from the heart can be the perfect thing to brighten one’s day! Think about ways to get creative with a homemade card, or you can create a card/letter-writing campaign with friends.

To make it easier, you can go online to Punkpost, where you can order a beautifully handwritten card that will be mailed to your loved one. Click here to learn more about Punkpost.

You also can visit Lovepop, which creates laser-cut pop-up cards. Click here to learn more about Lovepop.

Whether you use Punkpost, Lovepop or create your own card, you may want to include the following:

• Share a favorite memory with your family member.
• Tell your family member what life lessons you have learned from them.
• Express your love for your family member and tell them what their love for you has meant to you.

Scrapbooking/E-Albums

One way to brighten your loved one’s day can be sharing and reliving memories through scrapbooking. This helps keep important moments alive and can be done through a physical scrapbook or electronic photo album on sites like Shutterfly or Mixbook.

Music

Creating and sharing a playlist of songs your loved one likes and knows is a great way to reconnect and draw back to important moments and memories. Click here to learn more about sharing music and podcasts on Spotify.

Apple Music also offers option for those who have Apple devices. Click here to learn more about Apple Music.

Here are a couple of other resources that may be helpful:

Social Distancing Can’t Mean Being Disconnected

We Need Art Right Now. Here’s How to Get Into Poetry.