8 Ways to Stay in Touch With Aging Parents

Move over, "Fallen and I Can't Get Up" pendant — this stylish, smart jewelry is digitally connected. Mom can press it to send an instant alert to your phone if she's in trouble or lost, and it will send you and everyone in her cuff network her whereabouts. Photo courtesy of Cuff

If your parents have mastered computer basics, Skype is one of the best and easiest free video conferencing methods. You can set it to launch whenever their computer is open, so all you have to do is call — no smartphone necessary.

For moms and dads who feel overwhelmed by digital everything, Presto lets you send emails, photos and online stories straight to a proprietary printer without a computer or Wi-Fi network. It works similarly to a fax, but in color and with layout options. Photo courtesy of Presto

Lively is a set of sensors that keeps you posted on your parents' activities around the house, such as when the front door opens and closes or when a pill box is used. Lively also has a program called LivelyGram, a printed newsletter that compiles emails and photos and delivers them by snail mail. Photo courtesy of Lively