Connecting with love

Elderly people use phones and social media as channels to connect with friends and grandchildren. (Image for illustrative purposes only)

For nearly eight years, the smartphone has become a close companion for Ms. Ngoc in Ninh Kieu ward. After ensuring her children were settled, Ms. Ngoc built a small house of her own. Her children bought her phones, installed Facebook and Zalo, and taught her how to use them so she could easily stay in touch. Ms. Ngoc often visits her children's and grandchildren's personal pages, saving pictures so she can look at them when she misses them. When the weather turns cold or rainy, she goes on the family Zalo group to remind everyone to take care of their health. Her children's phones are connected to cameras, so they know how their mother is doing at home, reminding her to take her medicine, close the gate, and lock the door at night… Although they don't see each other in person often, the love and care they share are always abundant.

Ms. Ngoc recounted: "My children and grandchildren video call me every day. With smartphones, everyone can see each other and chat comfortably; pictures and news are easily shared. Whenever they see I look tired, they come to take care of me and cook food for me." Thanks to her proficiency in using smartphones and apps, Ms. Ngoc is able to manage many things proactively, from ordering ride-hailing services to shopping online… After retiring, with her free time, Ms. Ngoc keeps up with the news, keeps up with current events, connects with friends, creates Zalo groups with shared interests like cooking and gardening, and shares stories, joys, sorrows, and experiences in treating common ailments in the elderly… Since using social media, she has reconnected with old friends and occasionally arranges to visit each other's homes. Thanks to this, Ms. Ngoc doesn't feel lonely living alone or when her children and grandchildren are busy.

Every day, after finishing work, Ms. Kim Cuc, residing in Hung Phu ward, often uses Zalo to chat with her mother, siblings, and relatives back home. With her husband far away, she only has the opportunity to visit home during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), so her phone has become a bridge connecting the family. Ms. Cuc's mother, over 60 years old, has been taught by her children to use the phone proficiently, mastering features like taking photos, posting on social media, sharing information, and making video calls. Ms. Cuc's mother often films scenes of her fruit orchards at ripening stages, her fish pond, and delicious dishes prepared over a wood-fired stove, then sends them to her children and grandchildren. For a long time, these photographic gifts from Ms. Cuc's mother have served as a bridge, ensuring everyone remembers each other no matter where they are.

Ms. Cúc shared: "When I'm stressed and tired from work, hearing my mother's and siblings' voices through video calls gives me renewed strength. The children are also more well-behaved because their grandmother reminds them to be more obedient." Because they communicate regularly, Ms. Cúc's mother is well-informed about her children's lives and can provide timely support. Conversely, seeing their mother happy and healthy each day gives the children peace of mind to work. Ms. Cúc's mother is a big fan of traditional Vietnamese opera, and thanks to her internet-connected phone, she can search for old plays, share them with friends, and find meaningful joy in them.

Ms. Viet Thu's Zalo and Facebook pages in Tan An ward are filled with heartwarming photos of her family and friends, along with interesting videos and information about her life. Since retiring, Ms. Thu has participated in many local activities, recording singing and dancing videos in her performing arts group and posting them on her personal page, which have been very popular. She and the other women in her group regularly share experiences in raising children and grandchildren, how to maintain a happy marriage, and often invite each other to participate in community-oriented activities, connecting with many kind-hearted people. Her children and grandchildren closely follow her personal page, liking, commenting, and praising her, which makes her even happier. For Ms. Thu, social media brings positive and new life experiences, not only meeting her needs for entertainment and personal connection but also providing timely updates on state policies and laws… encouraging her children, grandchildren, and acquaintances to participate and build a cultured family.

Nowadays, in many families, children and grandchildren tend to move out or work far away. And then the internet-connected phone brought everyone closer together. However, for the elderly, social media use should be moderate, and relatives need to remind grandparents and parents to avoid negative consequences from the virtual world , such as online scams, and to be wary of negative and inaccurate information. While it's necessary for children and grandchildren to call and check on their grandparents and parents, it would be even more meaningful to spend time directly caring for and talking with them, contributing to maintaining an optimistic spirit and a happy, healthy life for the elderly.

KIEU CHINH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ket-noi-yeu-thuong-a189391.html