Dad, mom, grandparents ... we'll hug again. Although distant, we remain close, because our affection and that of the people we care about is continually nourished by the messages and video calls that, in this difficult period, allow us to see each other.
Written and verified by the psychologist GetPersonalGrowth.
Last update: 15 November 2022
The health crisis due to the Coronavirus has forced parents and grandparents around the world to give virtual kisses to their grandchildren through the screen of a phone or a computer. Long-distance relationships with grandparents and loved ones can generally seem strange, out of tune and cold, but that's all we have. They are the technological means to which we must cling to ensure an emotional and affective closeness with the people we love and who live far from us.
The elderly have turned out to be the most vulnerable segment of the population in the current pandemic. In Spain and other countries, the impact on RSAs has opened up a sad and bleak scenario for which no one was prepared. Unfortunately, the fact that our parents and grandparents are the most sensitive people obliges us, in many cases, to completely limit visits to avoid infections and preserve their health.
We suddenly found ourselves facing a dystopian situation worthy of a science fiction film. We do the shopping for them leaving it outside the door of the house, forced to greet them from afar. “It will end soon”, we tell them, “you have to be patient, but everything will be fine” they reply with a big smile but with sadness in their eyes.
Despite everything, they resist. Mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandparents are strong and able to always transmit that strength of mind and enthusiasm that comforts us so much. They became tech-savvy, juggle video calls, and learned to tell stories from afar to grandchildren. Times change and sometimes life holds surprises without warning and without anesthesia. How is the long-distance relationship with grandparents?
Long-distance relationship with grandparents during the pandemic
Children live with their parents and many of them, especially the little ones, do not understand why they cannot visit their grandparents. The elderly are more often than not forced to live in isolation in solitude, without the contact of their grandchildren and the daily support of their children.
This situation is not easy to understand, nevertheless we swallow it by force convincing ourselves that it will be temporary and that the most important thing is to get out of it unscathed. Make sure no one in our family gets sick.
On the other hand, everyone lives a different situation: there are those who live in company, who faces these days alone, who has family and who doesn't. And then there are those who live in retirement homes. In all these cases, we must try to maintain a distant relationship with the grandparents.
We may have an octogenarian neighbor who always greets us when she sees us take the elevator. Upstairs could live that gentleman who has children who live in another province. It's never too much to worry about these people, to create a support network to make sure they don't lack for anything, neither the shopping nor a call to be asked how is it going.
When we have a family member in a nursing home
One of the most delicate circumstances of many families right now is concern for family members living in retirement homes. To protect the elderly, extreme measures have been taken by completely preventing visits, making these centers real bunkers inaccessible. How to handle these situations? How to keep the relationship at a distance with them?
- The first thing to do is to understand the reality of the facts. Accept that older people with previous medical conditions are the most vulnerable it forces us to take extreme measures.
- RSA they must best protect their health and protect them, often preventing any visit from outside people.
- It is these same entities, however, that must ensure suitable communication mechanisms to regularly inform family members about the health of their loved ones.
- They also need to come established methods of contact with people who remain outside. Video calls are essential for maintaining contact and talking.
Long-distance relationships between grandparents and grandchildren
In these days of pandemic there is no better vaccine than affection between grandparents and grandchildren, maintaining contact even in the distance.
Long-distance relationships must be nurtured daily, especially these. They are essential for grandparents and healthy for grandchildren, a practice we must promote every day to keep emotions alive, make love indestructible and ward off fears.
- During video calls, ask grandparents how they are, what they ate or what they will eat. It is necessary to always be informed about their state of health and mood.
- Stimulate their attention and memory by asking them questions that bring to mind happy moments from the past, and make you curious about the activities they have done during the day. All this will allow us to better position ourselves in the here and now in a context in which time has become a confused dimension.
- It is very positive to foment hope, both for the elderly and for the little ones. We feed enthusiasm by making plans, devising activities to do when this situation ends and everyday life can be resumed.
To conclude, these days are difficult for everyone but we need to make an extra effort to treat those most vulnerable to this pandemic in a special way.
Our grandparents gave us everything in the past and now they need us more than ever. And paradoxical as it may seem, the best way to do this is to keep physical distances while shortening the emotional ones. Let's keep that in mind.
