Why this helps:

Maintaining social bonds is vital for emotional health. A facilitated group call reduces the pressure of one-on-one conversation, sparks collective memories, and provides a powerful auditory reminder of family connection and love.

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

How to do it:

  • Use a speakerphone or a phone with a three-way calling feature.
  • Pre-arrange a short call with 1-2 familiar friends or upbeat family members.
  • Keep the call brief (10-15 minutes), prompt with simple news, and enjoy the shared voices.

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

Pro tip:

Have a photo of the people you’re calling on hand to provide a visual cue.

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

Comfort note:

If the conversation lags, you can gently steer it or end the call warmly. The sound of loved voices is the goal.

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

Novelty Journaling:

“Who did we call? What was the tone of the conversation? Did you notice a lift in spirits during or after the call?”

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

Example moment:

“We called Aunt Ruth and Uncle Walter every Sunday from the kitchen table. Just hearing their voices made Mom’s eyes light up.”

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

Caregiver note:

This ritual nourishes your own need for connection and shared support, strengthening the entire family network.

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

Additional notes:

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

We used this ritual to connect my parents with their siblings. We also used the phone placed on the piano to sing “Happy Birthday” to friends and extended family, keeping a calendar of all birthdays at the piano—and checking on whose birthday it was as we sat down to sing every day. A beautiful way to sustain our immediate community and family ties!

Image of a phone for helping the loved one stay engaged with friends and family following a dementia diagnosis.

So, why not try it?!

Consider putting on your Stevie Wonder hat to make that call on Valentine’s Day: “We just called to say we love you. We just called to say we care.”

 

Blog Author:

Zulekha ("Zuley") is a brilliant content writer who demonstrates empathy and compassion in storytelling.

Zulekha Ali (“Zuley”) is a freelance writer with a commitment to delivering informative and impactful content to enrich readers’ understanding and empower them to make informed decisions.

Blog Co-Author:

Susan Troyer, MS, BA, is author and curator of ABeautifulVoice.org.

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