Are you faced with long distance caregiving? It can become very challenging and presents possibilities for more problems than in home care. However, in today’s world, it’s not always possible for children to be close to their parents when they get older, because of their job, or other responsibilities.
When kids grow up, they tend to move all over the United States in search for a better job and a better future for their families. This is the right decision to make in many cases.
Unfortunately, these young adults are sometimes faced with the reality that one of their parents needs assisted living care, but they cannot be there for them.
In this article, we will briefly discuss this dilemma and ways to make the best of a complicated situation. After all, it’s your mother or father we are talking about, and there is no way that they should be abandoned or put in an awkward position at this time in their lives.
Long Distance Caregiving Tips
Here are some tips that can assist you during long distance caregiving:
Power of Attorney – Make sure you have given power of attorney to another family member or close friend while you are away. Someone will need to be there to help assist in some of their needs if they are not placed in an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
Help Organize – You will need to gather all of your loved one’s relevant information that will help anyone who will be taking care of your mom or dad. This includes medical records, insurance information, and general information about your loved one and their wants and needs.
Meet with Your Family – Often families don’t get fully involved when it comes to dealing with an elderly family member’s needs. Or, the responsibilities are placed on the shoulder of one family member. This should never be the case as it is the responsibility of everyone.
Use of Video – Today’s video streaming technology allows any persons with a computer, web cam and a microphone to speak and see each other when they want. Chat programs, such as Skype offer free video chatting for anyone who installs the software on their computers.
Whoever is caring for your family member should be instructed on how to use the video program that is installed. There is really a big difference in seeing the person you are talking to versus only listening to their voice.
You can see the difference by the expression on the faces of both sides.
Friends Assistance – It is likely that your loved one has good friends who would not mind keeping in touch, and helping out when they can. It’s good to have someone else check
Plan for the Worst – You know that eventually you will have to return unexpectedly to your love one in case of an emergency or death. You should have sufficient funds set away for those occasions.
Ask What They Want – Too often family members assume the role of caretakers, but then forget to ask what they elderly loved one wants. Ask them if they have any particular needs or wants. Then, do your best to provide them if you can.
Long Distance Caregiving – Conclusion
Always remember to do the best you can for your loved one in need. If you are doing everything that you can, then there is no reasons for having guilty feelings or remorse. Get organized and provide the best long distance caregiving that you can.