Only 76 percent of unpaid caregivers live in the same home or within 20 minutes of the person receiving care. About 7 percent live more than a couple of hours away. When you live hours from your parents, it's hard to help out as much as you feel is needed.
Long-distance caregiving takes planning and cooperation. You can't be near your parents, but you can do your share by helping with things like bill paying, appointment scheduling, and shopping around for lower prices on services like cable TV, internet, and phone. What happens with the rest of the care your parents require?
Come Up With a List of the Senior Home Care That's Necessary
Go through your parents' daily routine and figure out where they need help and where they're able to do things independently. If they can't cook meals, you'd need to find someone to prepare all three meals and snacks for them each day.
Your parents may need people to help them with laundry, housework, and organization. They can't change their sheets and towels each week without assistance. Sometimes, the senior home care needs are more personal and include assistance with showering, toileting, and oral care. If you're not close, you need to have someone else helping out.
Coordinate With Other Family Members
You may not live close enough to help out each day, but there are things you can help do. Talk to other family members about the care your parents need. If your mom and dad have a hard time contacting doctors about the cost of their prescription medications, you could do that for them while your sister does the housework.
Your dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. While your sister gets him to and from all of his appointments, you could be researching the stages of the illness and working up a care plan to go over when you have time to talk.
When there are days that your sister can't help your parents, you can work with her to find another family member with free time or to arrange caregiver services.
Hire Senior Home Care Services
Senior home care is a good option when you don't live close enough to help out each week. Your parents don't have to be alone until your next visit. Caregivers help with companion care, housekeeping, meals, and transportation.
Long-distance family caregivers owe it to themselves and their parents to take a closer look at senior home care. Your parents have the help they need to remain independent and safe. Call to learn more.
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