Many adults move away from home with their own families, which doesn’t stop them from caring about their senior relatives, but what happens if your loved one needs help when you’re on the other side of the country? Here are a few caregiving tips for people who don’t live close to their senior loved ones.
Find a Trusted Caregiver
There are many different types of caregivers who can provide varying levels of care for your loved one. Depending on your loved one’s needs, asking a trusted neighbor or friend to look in on him or her on a daily basis may be enough. Caregivers hired through agencies can help with errands, transportation, cleaning, cooking, bathing, and medication reminders. Help from a professional caregiver can be customized depending on your loved one’s needs, allowing him or her to stay independent while care is still being provided.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. Richmond families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Communicate Frequently
Advances in technology make it easier than ever to keep in contact with loved ones and their caregivers. Communicating via Skype, cell phone, or instant messages on a regular basis can ensure your loved one is being cared for, keep you aware of any changes or health concerns that may arise, and prevent your loved one from feeling lonely.
Enlist Help from Others
Being a long-distance caregiver can be stressful at times, but obtaining the help of others to make sure your loved one is always cared for properly can alleviate some of the stress. Neighbors and friends who live nearby can be asked to check in on or provide transportation for your loved one. Siblings who still live locally can divide the caregiving responsibilities to ensure a large burden isn’t being placed on just one person.
Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Richmond, VA, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver.
Stay Organized
Collect and make copies of any important documents your loved one may have. This can simplify communication that may need to happen with government agencies, such as the Veterans Administration or Social Security Administration. Copies of banking, financial, legal, and medical information should all be kept organized in a file. If a crisis arises, having access to these papers can help you resolve any issues from a distance.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading in-home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks. Call Home Care Assistance at (804) 207-4746 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.