These days, most of us turn to the Internet for information on everything from recipes and train schedules to health and medical tips [see Medical Websites for Multiple Needs]. But did you know that social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can be sources of support and information, too? If you’re new to these sites, or if you currently use them to connect with friends or family, here’s how to making the best use of them as a caregiver.

Facebook  

Even if you don’t yet have a profile, you’ve probably heard of Facebook. It's the website that redefined the word “friend,” and it’s been a staple of the modern cultural landscape ever since its famous founding in 2004. The key for caregivers to remember is that most organizations have their own Facebook pages from which they’ll post tips, article links and comments. As long as you have a Facebook account, you can interact with other caregivers and caregiver organizations by visiting their pages. Finding those pages is easy: Just enter the organization’s name in the “Search” box located across from the Facebook logo.

Check out some of our favorite pages:

• VNSNY
• Caring.com
• Unprepared Caregiver
• Parkinson's Disease Foundation
• American Diabetes Association

When you are friends with or “like” a person or an organization on Facebook, that user’s posts will automatically show up on your News Feed. You can “like” an organization simply by clicking on the thumbs-up icon located on their page.

Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/vnsny.

Twitter

What can a person say in 140 characters or less? Plenty. Although primarily thought of as a platform for comedians and reality TV stars, the Twittersphere is another practical resource that caregivers can use to connect with one another. Here are some terms you should know:

• Tweet: A post of 140 characters or less.
• Follow: Similar to “liking” a person on Facebook, “Following” them on Twitter means that person or organizations posts will automatically show up on your news feed.
• Hashtag: Found at the end of a Tweet, a hashtag is a number sign followed by a phrase describing the general topic of that post. A couple of the most useful hashtags for a caregiver to keep in mind are #caregiver and #eldercare. By entering either of those hashtags into the “Search” field at the top of the page, you can find every Tweet relating to those topics.
• Live chats: There are many caregiver-related chats on Twitter, including #eldercarechat, which occurs the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 1pm EST, and #talkalz, which occurs every other Tuesday at 12 noon EST. VNSNY also hosts live chats on Twitter. Our next chat about depression in elderly adults will be Thursday, May 24 at 1 pm EST with the hashtag #VNSNYchat. Click here to see a transcript of our latest chat on Falls Prevention. 

Find us on Twitter at twitter.com/vnsny_news.

Best Practices for Privacy Settings

Privacy settings might sound technical and boring, but without them everything you post on Facebook and Twitter is available for anyone to see or to find using Google. Be sure to review your privacy settings carefully and always steer clear of posting personal information (from your social security number or credit card information to opinions or events you wouldn’t want your boss or a nosey neighbor to know) about yourself or about your loved one.