Video Calling for Dementia Care: Benefits + Tips for Caregivers

When dementia enters a family's life, one of the hardest changes is watching communication become increasingly difficult. Simple conversations that once felt easy turn into struggles. Words get forgotten. Connections get missed.

For the millions of families navigating dementia care, maintaining meaningful relationships often feels like an uphill battle against time and cognitive decline.

But here's what we've learned from working with thousands of families: the right approach to communication can keep relationships strong. Even as dementia and memory loss get worse. 

Video calling, when done right, offers something that phone calls and text messages simply can't. The power of visual connection that helps anchor conversations in familiarity and love.

Unlike regular phone conversations that rely heavily on memory and voice recognition, video calling gives important visual cues. This can make communication clearer and more meaningful for people with dementia. 

When they can see your face, read your expressions, and benefit from visual context, conversations become more natural and less confusing.

Modern video calling technology has come a long way. Today's solutions include features specifically designed for seniors with cognitive challenges. These include:

• Automatic call answering 
• Live closed captions that help with hearing difficulties
• Group calling that lets entire families connect at once without overwhelming anyone
  
  

We'll explore how video calling can change dementia care for the better. We'll talk about the unique challenges families face. We'll help you choose technology that brings people closer instead of creating barriers. Plus, we'll share practical strategies for making video calls a source of joy and comfort for everyone involved.

Video calling for dementia care goes beyond simple video chats between family members. It's a way of using visual technology to keep strong connections with seniors who have memory and cognitive changes.

For people with dementia, video calls give important visual context. This makes conversations easier to follow and more meaningful. When they can see familiar faces and watch facial expressions, the confusion that often happens with phone calls goes away.

When thinking about video calling options for dementia care, there are some unique things to consider. Standard video calling apps on smartphones or tablets can be overwhelming. Seniors with dementia may struggle with confusing interfaces. They may not remember how to answer calls or use devices.

Good video calling for dementia care needs systems that:

• Turn on automatically when family calls
• Are simple to use with little or no action needed
• Work reliably without needing technical fixes
• Feel familiar using technology seniors already understand

Technical problems often present the biggest hurdles. Standard video calling apps often need multiple steps to answer calls, navigate menus, or adjust settings. These tasks become harder as dementia progresses. 

Let's be honest: even tech-savvy adults sometimes struggle with the seventeen different buttons that appear when a video call comes in. 

Smartphones and senior tablets need charging, updates, and maintenance. This may be overwhelming for someone with cognitive decline. There's nothing quite like the frustration of a dead tablet battery when you're trying to connect with family. 

Many seniors with dementia struggle to remember how to start video calls or find contacts. This makes them dependent on others to initiate communication. Finding the video call button shouldn't require a computer science degree.

Privacy concerns deserve careful thought as well. Unlike phone calls, video calls give visual access to your loved one's living space. 

You may want to consider solutions that offer some control. This could be a physical camera cover or microphone switch. 

It's also worth thinking about permissions. Does the solution offer detailed permission control when it comes to things like monitoring and communication? Can you control exactly the type of video calling access?

For example, you might want your siblings to be able to connect video calls automatically. But grandchildren's calls might require someone to physically press a button to answer.

You can start a call audio-only, then turn the camera on later. This gives flexibility for different comfort levels throughout the day. Some advanced systems even let you turn the camera on or off from far away. This helps keep privacy and dignity. It's particularly helpful if your loved one is eating, resting, or simply having a difficult day.

Look for systems that give clear visual signs when the camera is active. Your loved one should always know when they're being seen. The goal is transparency and choice, not watching. Good setup requires balancing necessary oversight with respect for privacy and dignity.

Dementia affects different people in different ways. Some individuals may face specific challenges with video communication.

Some forms of dementia affect visual processing. This makes it difficult to understand what they see on screen. Age-related hearing loss combined with dementia can make it difficult to follow conversations. This happens even with visual cues.

Shortened attention spans are common in dementia. This may make longer video calls challenging. That's why shorter, more frequent connections often work better than long conversations.

Many people with dementia also experience sundowning. This is increased confusion in the evening. It may affect their ability to engage with video calls at certain times of day.

The key is understanding these challenges aren't failures of the technology or the person. They're simply factors to consider when planning your video calling approach. Flexibility and patience go a long way toward creating positive experiences despite these natural challenges.

Choosing the right video calling device for dementia care requires prioritizing simplicity, familiarity, and reliability over advanced features that may create confusion.

The most successful video calling solutions build on technology that seniors already know and trust rather than introducing entirely new devices.

• TV-based systems: Television-based video calling uses the most familiar screen in most homes. Seniors with dementia have typically been watching TV for decades, making it the least intimidating technology platform. After all, if you can master the art of channel surfing, video calling shouldn't be a stretch.
• Existing remote controls: Video calling systems that work with familiar remote controls eliminate the need to learn new interfaces or remember complex button combinations. 
• Consistent placement: Unlike mobile devices that can be misplaced, TV-based systems are always in the same location, reducing confusion about where to find them. The TV isn't going anywhere—it's been anchored to that wall since 2015.

The interface design can make or break the video calling experience for someone with dementia.

• Large, clear displays: Television screens provide large visual displays that are easier to see and interpret than small smartphone or tablet screens.
• Simple navigation: The best systems require minimal or no navigation from the senior, with calls appearing automatically when family members reach out.
• Visual clarity: High-quality video and audio help ensure that seniors can clearly see and hear their family members, reducing frustration and confusion.

Thoughtful accessibility features can accommodate the changing needs that come with dementia progression while ensuring all family members can participate meaningfully.

• Automatic answer capabilities: Systems that can automatically answer incoming video calls eliminate the pressure to remember how to respond to calls.
• Closed captions: Essential for seniors with hearing difficulties, live closed captions display spoken words as text during video calls, ensuring communication remains clear even when audio processing becomes challenging.
• Volume control: Ability to family members to adjust the TV volume remotely during video calls helps accommodate hearing changes without requiring technical knowledge.
• Multi-way calling support: The ability to include multiple family members in the same video call creates richer social experiences while preventing the confusion that can come from managing multiple separate calls.

The ability for family members to provide technical support remotely is crucial for long-term success.

• Remote setup and management: Caregivers should be able to set up, modify, and troubleshoot the system without requiring in-person visits.
• Remote system control: Ability for caregivers to control the experience remotely, including adjusting TV volume and turning web camera on or off during the call as needed. 
• Passive monitoring capabilities: Some systems allow family members to check in visually without requiring active participation from the senior. This can be helpful to check that it's a good time before making a video call.

Long-term success depends on systems that work reliably with minimal ongoing maintenance.

• Family training: Caregivers need thorough training on how to use all features effectively and troubleshoot common issues.
• Ongoing support: Access to technical support that understands dementia care challenges ensures the system continues working effectively over time.

Successfully integrating video calling into dementia care requires thoughtful planning, patience, and flexibility as needs change over time. The goal isn't to achieve perfect communication—it's to create meaningful moments of connection that enhance quality of life for everyone involved.

Establishing a routine becomes particularly important for people with dementia, making scheduled video calls more effective than random contact attempts. Regular timing that aligns with your loved one's best periods of clarity and alertness works best. Many people with dementia function better in the morning or early afternoon.

Start with shorter, more frequent calls rather than lengthy conversations. Five-minute daily check-ins often work better than hour-long weekly calls. Think of it like exercise. You wouldn't start with a marathon if you haven't run in years.

Initially involve the same family members in video calls to reduce confusion, gradually expanding the circle as your loved one becomes more comfortable. Adding the entire extended family on the first call is like inviting everyone to Thanksgiving dinner when you're still figuring out how to make toast.

Be prepared to adjust timing and frequency based on your loved one's changing needs and daily rhythms. Some days will be better than others, and that's perfectly normal—just like the rest of us before our morning coffee.

Video calls work best when they feel natural and enjoyable rather than forced or clinical.

Plan activities you can do together during video calls, such as looking at photo albums, listening to favorite music, or talking about a favorite TV show.

Share news about family members, pets, or familiar people to maintain connections to their broader social network.

Consider using multi-way video calling features to include multiple family members in the same conversation, but start with just two or three people to avoid overwhelming your loved one. Gradually expand the group as they become more comfortable with the technology.

And don't forget accessibility accommodations to make the call experience more enjoyable. Enable closed captions if available to support seniors with hearing difficulties. Ensure good lighting and clear audio for optimal communication quality.

When technology challenges arise, focus on solutions that reduce rather than increase complexity.

• Simplified interfaces: Choose systems that minimize the number of steps required from your loved one. The top video calling devices for elderly people prioritize simplicity over advanced features. Nobody needs seventeen different filter options when they just want to see their grandchildren.
• Practice sessions: Conduct practice calls when your loved one is alert and comfortable to build familiarity with the system. Think of it as a dress rehearsal, but with less drama and more smiles.
• Professional support: Don't hesitate to involve dementia technology specialists who can optimize systems for your specific situation.

Video calling for dementia care is a powerful way to help maintain the human connections that make life meaningful, even as cognitive abilities change.

The key to success lies in choosing systems that work with your loved one's existing abilities rather than requiring them to adapt to new technology. When video calling feels natural and effortless, it becomes a source of joy and connection rather than frustration.

Remember that the goal isn't perfect communication. Every smile shared over a video call, every moment of recognition, and every "I love you" exchanged creates value that extends far beyond the technology making it possible.

For families navigating dementia care, video calling offers a practical way to stay involved in daily life while respecting independence. It provides the visual confirmation caregivers need for peace of mind while giving seniors the dignity of aging in familiar surroundings.

The investment in appropriate video calling technology pays dividends in preserved relationships, reduced isolation, and enhanced quality of life for everyone involved. As senior living technology continues to evolve, the opportunities for meaningful connection will only expand.