Posted on:
October 8th, 2024
Last reviewed:
January 3rd, 2025
Should I join social media to help me feel connected?
It’s not a bad idea. A study led by Bournemouth University has shown social media to be beneficial for those living with dementia as it helps people to stay in contact with friends they might struggle to connect with otherwise. Being on social media can: *Trigger memories thanks to looking at photographs and posts *Start conversations with friends and family *Help you to find support, groups, networks and advice in your area *Keep you present in the mind of others and prevent isolation There’s a caveat to this and it’s regarding online safety and privacy. The organisation, Join Dementia Research UK, reports that it’s best to have someone support you with your social media use. This is so you: * Don’t forget log ins and passwords * Don’t get confused when platforms are updated and look different or have different ways of navigating your way around * Don’t fall prey to scams, fake news and other malicious activity If you’re on social media already, speak to someone you trust about helping you stay safe online. If you’re not already on social media, Age UK has an easy guide here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/work-learning/technology-internet/using-social-media/ If you want to connect safely with others and find social media confusing or are worried about being vulnerable online, use a dementia-specific forum like ours. You can chat with others here . If you want to use social media to find out what’s going on in your area in terms of activities, hobbies and socialising, take a look at our handy What’s On guide here . Source: https://news.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk/research-on-carers-support-for-people-with-dementia-using-social-media/Other relevant FAQs you might like...
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