According to the MetLife Study of Long-Distance Caregiving, about 76 percent of people providing long-distance care assisted a parent, stepparent, or parent-in-law. On average, these caregivers live about 450 miles away from the person they care for, and it takes 7.23 hours to get to the senior’s physical location. These factors can make providing emotional and financial assistance over the phone necessary. About 80 percent of long-distance caregivers still work full-time while assisting their loved ones, adding stress to daily life. If this sounds familiar, you may benefit from some advice for long-distance caregiving:
Keep Records at Hand
There is a lot of information to keep track of when you are far away from the person you are helping. To provide assistance in administrative matters like paying bills and making pharmacy mail-orders, you should keep the following information at home:
- The senior’s social security number.
- Their bank information.
- Doctors’ phone numbers.
- Vehicle license plate and registration numbers.
- A copy of their birth certificate.
- A copy of their driver’s license.
Consider adding medical records to your list if the individual has health issues.
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Work with Someone Local
You likely cannot skip out on daily life to address every need of the senior you care for. That is why working with someone who lives near them is crucial. This person may be a friend or relative, a neighbor, a paid nurse, or a home health aide. These individuals should be available to assist the senior at a moment’s notice and to check in on the person every few days. It will be a massive help to you knowing you can send someone you trust to assist as needed.
“Communicating with the senior will help you spot potential problems.”
Stay in Touch
If a senior lives alone, they may not realize if something is amiss. For example, the person could be developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and be completely unaware of this budding health condition. It would be best if you stayed in touch with the senior. Talk about any health complaints, and be a friend to listen and hear about the older individual’s day. You can provide advice, offer reminders, and ask questions to ensure your loved one is healthy and safe.
Work with Healthcare Providers
Seniors won’t likely remember everything they hear at a doctor’s appointment. You should contact their physicians if you have the legal right. Learn what medications the senior takes, discuss symptoms, and understand what to look for regarding potential new conditions or the worsening of pre-existing issues. You may gain valuable insight into ways to assist seniors by providing them with a medical alert bracelet that issues medication reminders. You can also digest the doctor’s information and explain it to the senior if they forget or are unsure, providing peace of mind for both parties.
