Community Aging Support Alliance logo representing aging at home resources and education.
Community Aging Support Alliance logo representing aging at home resources and education.
Group of older adults walking together in a park, highlighting social connections and active aging.
Staying Connected Changes

Keep Meaningful Connections Within Your Parent’s Reach

Friendships, familiar places, and shared interests can remain important as daily circumstances change. Explore ways to help your parent maintain relationships, participate in activities they value, and choose comfortable ways to connect at home and beyond.
Start With the Driving Guide
START HERE

Start With Relationships Your Parent Values

Our connection guide helps families consider who their parent enjoys spending time with, which activities they miss, and what makes participation difficult. Begin with their preferences before suggesting something new.
Read the Driving Guide
Notice Connection Gaps

Explore Barriers to
Everyday Social Contact

SEEING FRIENDS LESS OFTEN

Have Regular Get-Togethers Become Less Frequent?

Fewer visits can reflect changes in transport, schedules, accessibility, or personal preference. Ask whether your parent misses these occasions and which part of getting together has become harder.

Social Connections to Review

  • People your parent would like to see
  • Gatherings they have stopped attending
  • Practical difficulties affecting planned visits
  • Alternatives they would feel comfortable trying
Explore Obstacles to Meeting Up →
GETTING OUT AND ABOUT

What Makes Leaving Home More Difficult?

Everyday outings may become less frequent when transportation, walking distances, or unfamiliar surroundings present challenges. Discuss which destinations your parent still enjoys and what makes reaching them difficult.

Outing Details to Consider

  • Places your parent enjoys visiting regularly
  • Transportation options available for local outings
  • Distances that make certain destinations challenging
  • Assistance needed when visiting public places
Identify Barriers to Going Out →
USING PHONES AND VIDEO CALLS

Are Everyday Calls Becoming Harder to Manage?

Staying in touch through technology depends on devices that are comfortable and accessible. Check whether your parent can answer calls, adjust settings, and communicate without unnecessary frustration.

Communication Details to Check

  • Phone controls that are difficult to operate
  • Trouble hearing conversations through device speakers
  • Video call features requiring additional guidance
  • Preferred methods for contacting family members
Simplify Phone and Video Calls →
RETURNING TO FAVORITE ACTIVITIES

Which Enjoyable Activities Have Been Set Aside?

Past interests may still hold meaning even when participation becomes difficult. Ask which hobbies your parent misses and whether simple adjustments could make those experiences accessible again.

Interests Worth Revisiting

  • Hobbies your parent previously enjoyed regularly
  • Activities abandoned because of practical difficulties
  • Equipment or materials needed for participation
  • Adjustments that could make activities comfortable
Rediscover Enjoyable Activities →
MEETING NEW PEOPLE

Consider Where New Connections Could Begin

Building friendships later in life may feel unfamiliar, especially after routines change. Explore settings where your parent could meet others through shared interests without feeling pressured.

Opportunities to Explore Together

  • Community groups reflecting your parent's interests
  • Local events welcoming first-time participants
  • Comfortable settings for casual conversations
  • Ways to attend activities with someone familiar
Discover New Social Opportunities →
MAINTAINING FAMILY TRADITIONS

Keep Meaningful Traditions Within Reach

Family traditions can provide continuity across changing circumstances. Discuss which celebrations, shared activities, or familiar customs matter most and how everyone can participate comfortably.

Traditions Worth Preserving

  • Annual gatherings your parent values most
  • Family customs connected to meaningful occasions
  • Roles your parent wishes to continue
  • Adaptations that make celebrations easier to enjoy
Preserve Meaningful Family Traditions →
Connection Questions Explored

Consider Different Ways to Stay Involved

View All FAQs →
Are there new rules for senior drivers?

There is no single national rule for senior drivers. Each state sets its own license renewal rules, so check any viral claim against your state’s motor vehicle agency.

NHTSA explains that license renewal rules differ from state to state. More than half the states change renewal rules for drivers over a certain age, typically 65 or 70. Some states also require more frequent vision tests or in-person renewal for older drivers.

Before you believe or share a post:

  • Go to your state’s official DMV website.
  • Search for “older driver” or “license renewal.”
  • Call the DMV if the rules are unclear.

For safety questions beyond the rules, see our FAQ on when seniors should stop driving.

Sources

  1. nhtsa.gov
  2. nhtsa.gov
Does Medicare cover transportation to doctor visits?

Original Medicare usually does not pay for routine rides to the doctor. It covers emergency ambulance trips when other travel could put your parent’s health at risk. With a written order from the doctor, it may also cover some non-emergency ambulance rides that are medically needed.

After the Part B deductible, your parent usually pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a covered ambulance trip.

Other places to look for rides:

  • Medicare Advantage. Some plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare does not. Call the plan and ask if rides to visits are part of it.
  • Medicaid. Medicaid has a ride benefit called NEMT for people who need help getting to medical care. Each state runs its own program.
  • Community programs. See our FAQ on free transportation for seniors.

Sources

  1. medicare.gov
  2. medicare.gov
  3. cms.gov
  4. usa.gov
How can my parent get free transportation?

Start with your parent’s Area Agency on Aging, which can point you to free or low-cost rides. Volunteer drivers, senior shuttles and reduced transit fares may also be available.

Places to check:

  • Eldercare Locator. Call 1-800-677-1116 or search online. The federal Administration for Community Living runs it to help older adults find services, including transportation.
  • Public transit. Ask about reduced senior fares and whether door-to-door rides are offered for riders who cannot use regular buses.
  • Medicaid. If your parent has Medicaid, it may cover rides to medical visits.
  • Faith groups and volunteer driver programs. Ask at your parent’s place of worship or senior center.

Book rides early, since some services ask for advance notice. Read more about Medicare and rides to the doctor.

Sources

  1. acl.gov
  2. eldercare.acl.gov
  3. cms.gov
What activities help a parent who is home alone a lot?

Mix activities that move the body, use the mind and bring in other people. Simple, low-cost options like a walking club, a library class or volunteering can fill long days.

Good choices depend on what your parent enjoys and can do safely:

  • Social: Try senior center events, volunteering, a faith group or a book club.
  • Physical: Try chair exercise videos, gardening or short walks with a neighbor.
  • Mind: Try puzzles, an old hobby or cooking a family recipe together over video.

Adult day programs are another option. A center may offer social activities, exercise and meals, and it gives you a break too. Ask the Area Agency on Aging what is nearby. More ideas live on our Staying Connected page.

Sources

  1. nia.nih.gov
  2. nia.nih.gov
What are the signs of loneliness in elderly parents?

Common signs of loneliness include pulling away from friends and groups, losing interest in hobbies, sleeping poorly and moving less. Your parent may also seem low or stop caring for themselves or their home.

The National Institute on Aging links loneliness and isolation to higher risks of heart disease, depression and cognitive decline. That makes small fixes worth the effort.

Ideas that are easy to start:

  • Set a regular call time, even 10 minutes a day.
  • Invite a neighbor or old friend to stop by.
  • Look for a class, walking group or faith group nearby.
  • Plan something to look forward to each week.

If your parent seems sad most days, mention it to their doctor. Our FAQ on activities for a parent home alone has more ideas.

Sources

  1. nia.nih.gov
  2. health.clevelandclinic.org
What technology helps an elderly parent stay connected?

The right technology is the one your parent will actually use. Start with simple tools such as a large-button phone, a tablet set up for video calls or a voice-controlled smart speaker.

Match the tool to your parent’s comfort level:

  • New to tech: A smart speaker can play music and set reminders by voice.
  • Some comfort: A tablet can show one video-call app on the home screen.
  • Confident: A smartphone adds shared photo albums and family group chats.

Set up the device yourself first, and write simple steps on a card. The National Institute on Aging says libraries and community centers may offer tech classes. If safety is also a worry, see our FAQ on monitoring systems for a parent living alone.

Sources

  1. nia.nih.gov

GUIDES AND CHECKLISTS

Keep learning about this topic

GuideAt What Age Should Your Parent Stop Driving? A Family GuideThere is no set age to stop driving. Learn the warning signs, how a driving evaluation works, how to start the talk and how to plan rides without the car.6 min read →
Explore Meaningful Participation

Discover Opportunities That Reflect Personal Interests

Explore Staying Connected Resources →
GUIDE

Find Local Gatherings Beyond Senior Programs

Libraries, hobby groups, cultural organizations, and neighborhood events offer different ways to participate. Use your parent’s interests to guide questions about the setting, schedule, accessibility, and expectations before visiting.
Discover Community Gathering Options
ARTICLE

Reconnect With Friends After Contact Fades

Restarting contact can feel awkward after a long gap. Explore low-pressure ways to help your parent reach out while leaving the choice of person, timing, and message with them.
Reopen Familiar Friendships
CHECKLIST

Check Outing Details Before Leaving Home

Enjoying an outing involves more than choosing a destination. Review transport, seating, restrooms, walking distances, and the return journey so your parent can decide whether the arrangements suit them.
Review Outing Arrangements
VIDEO

Practice Video Calls at Your Parent’s Pace

Follow a simple practice session focused on answering, adjusting sound, and ending a call. Notice how short instructions and time to try each step keep the learner involved.
Follow the Video Call Walkthrough
DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE

Build an Interest List Together

Use conversation prompts to explore subjects, places, and pastimes your parent enjoys. Record activities they want to revisit, possibilities they are curious about, and invitations they would prefer to decline.
Download Interest Conversation Prompts
ARTICLE

Include Your Parent in Celebrations From Home

Missing an event does not have to mean missing every part of it. Consider sharing photos, recording greetings, or planning a separate gathering based on what your parent would enjoy.
Adapt Special Occasions
Share Social Experiences

Exchange Ideas for More Enjoyable Contact

Families approach visits, invitations, and shared activities differently. Discuss experiences that made participation easier, including ideas your parent enjoyed and arrangements that needed adjusting to reflect their preferences better.
Visit the Forum
HOME SAFETY

Making Space for Comfortable Visits

Which household arrangements have helped your parent enjoy having visitors? Share experiences with seating, room layout, and keeping belongings within reach while respecting how your parent likes their home arranged.
Discuss Welcoming Visit Arrangements →
FAMILY & CAREGIVING

Keeping Family Calls Inclusive Across Generations

Busy group calls can leave some relatives with little chance to speak. Discuss approaches your family has tried to include your parent without making the conversation feel formal or forced.
Exchange Inclusive Calling Ideas →

Value Contact Beyond Special Occasions

An ordinary exchange can offer something different from a planned celebration. Share examples of contact that fits naturally into family life, from discussing a television program to sending photographs your parent wants to see.

Connection should reflect the people and interests your parent values.

Browse All Discussions
MOST HELPFUL RIGHT NOW
Exploring Comfortable Daily Routines
Understanding Changes in Conversation
Working Together Around Your Parent
Ideas Worth Sharing

Keep Discovering Ways to Participate Together

Receive CASA articles exploring relationships, community participation, and everyday life at home. Find subjects to discuss with your parents as their interests, opportunities, and preferred ways of connecting develop.
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Older woman and family caregiver discussing paperwork and future care arrangements together on a living room sofa.

Help Your Parent Maintain Meaningful Friendships

Fewer visits may reflect transportation difficulties, changing routines, or personal preferences. Identify relationships your parent values and practical ways to make regular contact easier.
Strengthen Social Connections →
Adult daughter helping her older mother write notes while discussing future care arrangements at home.

Keep Familiar Activities and Traditions Alive

Favorite hobbies, community gatherings, and family celebrations can remain meaningful as circumstances change. Consider comfortable adjustments that help your parent participate in ways they prefer.
Preserve Meaningful Moments →

ASK CASA

Have a question about your parent?

Tell us what is going on. A member of the CASA team will reply by phone or email with guidance that fits your family.

No pressure. Just a place to start.

THE CASA WEEKLY

Be ready before you need to be

Practical guidance to help you spot changes earlier, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions as your loved one ages at home.

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