Maybe you have reached a point in which you want to take care of an elderly person, be they a parent or not, but you live a considerable distance away. To take care of a parent over a long distance can wear on your nerves since you will be constantly wondering what they are doing daily and also feeling like you just can’t get comfortable with the situation. You will need to determine the best way that you can take care of your elderly parent but also give them the self-confidence they need and sense of independence. In this article are 8 strategies that you can apply in caring for a loved one over a long distance:
1. First get a true understanding of your elderly parent’s situation so you can organize your own issues and thoughts. Understand where things stand with your parent’s ability to care for themselves, their mental acuity level, mobility problems and their overall health. Take a look at the overall picture to understand what you need to tackle.
2. Take some time to travel to your elderly parent’s residence. The best way to tell what is going on with them and their life is to go see them and spend some time. You may want to schedule a visit around one of their doctor’s appointments so that you can attend. If they have neighbors you do not know then introduce yourself and get a feel for what kind of neighbors they are. If your elderly parent attends events such as Bingo or church, then see if you can go with them to get a feel for their friends and activities. You will need these lifelines whenever you come back into town or need help long distance. You can arrange for neighbors or friends of your parent to taxi them around where they need to go. As well, these lifelines will be able to tell you what is happening with your parent or take care of errands if something is needed.
3. Get all the legal paperwork completed. Many loved ones are reluctant to talk about Wills and dying but it is vitally important that you have a Will set up or any trusts that may be needed. Having them give you the Power of Attorney is important as well so that you can act in their behalf on legal matters. Do these things while your loved one still has the ability to understand what is going on.
4. Every area has a geriatric network that you can tap into. Locate centers on aging and facilities in your elderly parents area so you can be prepared if you need their help. Tap into these resources on aging if you need to hire part time homecare nurses, assisted living facilities or agencies that can help with dementia. Several resources on this site can point you in the right direction when your hands are tied.
5. Be prepared at all times with emergency action plans. If your loved ones friend or local caregiver calls you with an emergency at hand, you will want to be ready right then. You don’t want to begin at that time to research what airlines to use or how to rent a car in your parent’s area. Being ready means that you don’t have to try to think when you are under stress from worrying about the emergency call. You want to be able to mindlessly follow your plan so you can get to them quickly and provide your own caregiving.
6. Use modern technology to help out. Jointly work with your aging mother or father to set up finances and bank accounts that you can control along with them. Set up automatic bill paying and joint bank accounts which can be accessed online so your parent doesn’t have to worry about forgetting to write a check and you can balance their checkbook at your own home.
7. If things get too bad then you may have to consider moving your aging parent in with you if at all possible. They may get to the point where they need 24 hour care or in-home nursing care. At that point you will have to look at your own life and options to see if you can move them in with you or if you should set up assisted living for them.
8. The last but not least strategy is to pay attention to your needs as well as your parents. You don’t want to get so stressed out that your own life begins to fall apart. Balancing things and planning will help in that respect. Don’t neglect your physical or mental health during this trying time.
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Good work…all the points u have given is truly help us to give a care to our parents from long distance.I know some home carers provider they give a complete care to our elderly.