Social media, which useful for staying in touch, also has its weak points. If your mom is new to social media, you need to make sure she knows how to use it responsibly. Help her learn how to make the most of social media while also being safe.
Go Through the Privacy Settings
Before she engages with family members and friends on a social media site, she needs to go through the privacy settings. She wants to disallow her profile being public. Her posts or photos should only be shared with those on her friends’ list. Make sure people cannot automatically add her to lists.
Teach Her About Messages
She may get messages from people from time to time. They’ll often go into a spam or hidden folder at first. She needs to learn how to look at them without adding the person as a friend. She needs to learn that scammers will often try to befriend people through social media in hopes of getting them to share bank information or send money.
Go Over Who She Should Friend
When your mom allows others to join her friend list or connections, she needs to know them. She shouldn’t add people she’s never met before. Even then, she needs to be careful that it really is the person she expects and isn’t a scammer using a false identity or hacked account. She can do that by calling her friend and verifying it’s the correct profile.
Don’t Post Things She Wouldn’t Say to Someone’s Face
The final thing your mom needs to know is that she shouldn’t post things she wouldn’t say to someone’s face. People often feel safer posting negative, even cruel comments in an online setting. She needs to refrain. If someone keeps harassing or insulting her, she should block that person.
When she posts photos of others, she should ask for permission first. She shouldn’t share personal details. It’s often best to draft a post, sit on it for an hour or two, and then post if it still feels important to share at that point.
Have a Caregiver Help Her
One issue that families face is how far they live from their aging parents. If you’re not nearby, you can’t stop by regularly to help out. Don’t let that stress you. Hire home care aides to stop by and help your mom with housework, medication reminders, transportation, and companionship.
The home care aide can supervise your mom’s initial attempts with social media and be available to answer questions. Learn more by calling a home care specialist.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN ROCKY MOUNT, NC, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS TODAY. CALL (919) 761-5346.