A Family Website or Blog
For those who are more Internet savvy, a family blog or website can be very useful to help keep everyone in touch. In addition to being the primary caregiver, however, writing and maintaining a blog or website could put you over the top, so be careful how much responsibility you bite off. This could be a great job for one of your children or a sibling who is close to the situation.
The blog or website can also be a way for your parents or in-laws to share some of their most memorable times. It's a great way to encourage them to talk about their childhood, college years, how they met their spouse, and to share some other family history. Old family photos can be posted for your siblings and cousins to download and share; comments back can keep everyone interacting and connected.
A family blog or website can be a great place for families to keep in touch and interact. Posting and reading blurbs about the latest births, graduations, marriages, and happy family news can also help keep up the spirits of your parents or in-laws. Seeing a few great photos from a family member's European vacation can be a nice way to share the adventure.
It's a great way to post invitations, photos, announcements, and bulletins. Should your parent or in-law have a sudden health episode, it's also an easy way to post updates on her condition and even a few photos to help ease the minds of those too far to visit.
Keep in mind that the Internet is very public. There are ways to keep your blog or website more private by using passwords and other means of limiting access, but again, it's a written format that can be printed or read by others without your knowledge. Used appropriately, a family blog or website can be something to enjoy for years to come.
