Caregiving At A Distance

Beyond determining the care needs of an elderly parent or loved one, is coordinating and managing how those care needs are going to be met when the family caregiver lives out of town, or when the caregiver has a demanding job.  Often, the busy, working adult child, or long-distance caregivers have families of their own, with their own careers to manage, while at the same time arranging care for their loved one that is living in another town, city, or state.

When considering how best to meet the needs of your loved one, finding the right resources and local services can be invaluable.  When looking for elder care options, turn to professionals like an Aging Life Care Professional or elder law attorneys.

A long-distance caregiver, trying to coordinate care of an aging parent or loved one can be stressful, time consuming and costly. Hiring an Aging Life Care Professional™ when you need help planning for care is really no different from hiring an attorney for legal needs or a CPA for preparing taxes.  Aging Life Care Professionals guide you through the often complicated maze of long-term care. From determining optimal housing to managing chronic health care issues, the expertise of an Aging Life Care Professional ensures quality care and an optimal life for clients, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for out of town caregivers.

For long-distance caregivers, Aging Life Care Professionals can provide the ongoing supervision and communication, so often needed to avoid frequent and costly trips. They can alleviate stress through meeting individualized needs, offer information about local elder care options, monitor care and recommend adjustments as needs change, and suggest appropriate and cost-effective services.

A long-distance caregiver can try to keep their own stress levels low, from the overwhelming responsibilities of your loved ones care, by:

• Knowing what resources are available-research local services and directories using the internet
• Being organized-having all medical and financial contacts and information in one place.
• Seeking assistance from a professional – an Aging Life Care Manager can be the connecting bridge offering resources, options, and solutions.
• Planning your trips – whether you are a few hours away or across the country, plan your schedule and your finances to include trips to check in on your elderly loved ones
• Making legal and financial plans-getting advice from an elder law attorney, or financial planner on cost of care
• Asking for help- set up conference calls, or meet with siblings, other family members, and in-town friends that can and are willing to help.
• Take care of yourself- Rest often and take a break once in a while, practice relaxation techniques. Give yourself credit not grief; you are doing the best you can.

Beyond caregiver services, our professional Aging Life Care Management™ services can address elder care concerns that may be especially helpful to out of town family members and busy in town professionals. To learn more call us at 504-828-0900