Caring for your parents from a long distance can certainly be a challenging but very necessary endeavor. If you find yourself in a position where you live far away from your parents who need living assistance, here are some things to keep in mind.
Financial Assistance
One option for providing care for your elderly parents when you live far away is known as becoming a long distance caregiver. Becoming a long-distance caregiver opens various opportunities in terms of taking care of your parents. Being a long distance caregiver can entail simply helping your parents manage and pay their bills, or if you have concerns over how your parents will receive the care they need, another option is arranging for a nurse or home attendant to come to their home and provide the necessary care in person. As you’d be able to if you live within close range of your parents, being a long distance caregiver still gives you the option to locate a nursing home or long term care facility that meets their needs and have them provide for your parents.
When planning a family member’s care from a distance, it can help to know as much as you possibly can about them and have the information readily available. The last thing you want to happen is for your parents to find themselves in a situation that isn’t suited to their needs. Put all their vital information in one place, and make sure to have it on hand whenever you’re making a decision that will affect their care and/or living situation.
Emotional Support
One important aspect of long distance caregiving, especially for your parents, is keeping them in the loop on your life as well as staying up-to-date about theirs. Emotional support, whether through regular phone calls or emails is one of the best ways to keep your parents at ease regardless of their age.
It’s a good idea to plan plenty of visits and know exactly how you’ll spend the time with your parents. If you haven’t seen them for a considerable while, it’s not uncommon to feel like there is just too much to do in the time you have. You can get more done and spend more quality time together by planning your activities ahead of time.
How to Get Started As A Caregiver?
To get started as a long-distance caregiver, you will want to familiarize yourself with your elderly parents' health conditions. Some important information to have on hand is what kind of illnesses they live with, what medical plan is necessary, whether or not they are eligible for Medicaid assistance, and if they have any insurance. These questions will help guide you in the direction of providing your parents the best possible care.
Some important information to have on hand is what kind of illnesses they live with, what medical plan is necessary, whether or not they are eligible for Medicaid assistance, and if they have any insurance.
To ensure that you are doing the most that you can for your parents, we recommend that you hire an elder law attorney for guidance. A professional lawyer will be able to make sure that your role as a caregiver runs smoothly and all of the necessary documents are prepared.