There may be many reasons why caregivers no longer live close to their parents. School opportunities, jobs and personal preference may send children away from home. This is manageable when parents are young, but as they age, the stress of managing their care from long distance can increase.

Cultivate a local network

If you’re unable to live near your senior, having a local network of people who can help care for them is essential. This can include family members who live nearby and can check on your senior regularly. Trusted neighbors can also provide a helping hand, though they may not want to provide the level of care and communication that a family member would. Hiring in-home health care can also reduce the burden on you as a caregiver by giving you a local professional who can keep you informed of changes in mood or behavior.

Outsource chores

Hiring a maid or landscaping service can take a lot of stress off of seniors by taking the bulk of the work of managing a home off their shoulders. Work with your senior to discuss home and landscaping needs so you can find someone reputable in the area. Additionally, having a trusted person performing house maintenance or necessary modifications as seniors age can make the home a safer place to stay and keep it in good shape.

Embrace technology

Simple phone calls can now be replaced with video calls, Facetime or even social media, giving you more opportunities to check on your senior, make sure they are active and healthy. Emails can also be a way to exchange information with the whole family so the burden of caregiving is shared with family members who can also provide information and talk to your senior.

Have regular conversations

If you only call to discuss problems, doctor’s appointments or obligations, then your senior may find it difficult to open up on their own. Try to have regular conversations that are just that: conversations. Exchange family news, talk about hobbies or work, anything to keep their minds active and interested.

Visit in person

While it may be difficult to get away, taking the time to come by and visit your senior in person gives you a chance to check on the house and their health, make sure they are attending doctor’s appointments, discuss any sensitive topics they may want to only talk about in person and simply spend time together. If your senior wants to travel, bringing them out to visit you can also be a great way to spend time together.

Have a plan for continuing care

Home health care can be beneficial for seniors because it reduces the burden of caregiving and gives them access to a new resource and friend. Some home health care providers even perform light housework and help keep the senior active. By hiring the right in-home health care provider, you can give your senior a trusted resource and yourself peace of mind to handle changes as they come.

Source:  https://www.caregiverstress.com/home-care/long-distance-caregiving/

For Home Health Care Services in Memphis TN, please contact the caring staff at Personal Care Services MidSouth today!