Caregiving Across The Miles?Tips for Successful Long Distance Caregiving

Caring for a parent or a loved one is a difficult job. Your duties as a caregiver become increasingly difficult as the miles increase between you and your loved one. The following are a few helpful tips in order to plan ahead in the event your loved one needs your help, as well as ideas on how to become a successful caregiver once your caregiving duties begin.

1. Have a discussion with your loved one. Years before the need for caregiving arises, discuss ideas and thoughts with your loved one. Discuss with them their thoughts on possibilities of relocation, assisted living or nursing home care, and end of life arrangements. Make sure all of their legal and financial needs have been met. Talking with your loved one ahead of time will make them more comfortable with the idea of needing help down the road.

2. Design a "Family Plan of Action". Before the need arises, get the family together and discuss responsibilities and divide them up accordingly. Devise a plan to keep in contact with those members who may be out of state by frequent phone calls, emails or set up a private chat room on the internet for family discussions. Investigate costs for care and travel expenses. Design contingency plans in the event that funds run out, level of care increases, and availability of family is limited.

3. Gather emergency contact information. Make a list of important emergency numbers such as out of town family members, family friends, physicians, attorneys, clergy, etc. To help preserve this list in the event of an emergency, place this list in a zip lock bag and store it in your loved one's freezer where they keep their ice cubes. Place a magnet on their refrigerator with a note as to the location of this list.

4. Gather important documents. Locate important documents such as social security card, Medicare and/or health insurance cards, legal documents such as living trusts, wills, and powers of attorney, all financial statements including life insurance information and real estate deeds. Inform the family regarding the location of these documents. Keep copies of powers of attorney in the event you need to make health care or financial decisions from a distance.

5. Organize and set up a network. Contact relatives, friends and neighbors who live close by your loved one. Ask them to routinely stop by and visit your loved one, and ask them to contact you if they observe anything out of the ordinary. Find out about community programs that provide services such as meals or transportation, and get them involved. Consider hiring a geriatric care manager to help coordinate the care.

6. Make the most of your visits. Schedule and attend physician appointments with your loved one when you are in town, and keep yourself informed with your loved one's diagnosis. Meet with members of your network, and ask them detailed questions about their interaction with your loved one.

7. Keep a journal. Take detailed notes of your loved one's care such as their progress, medications, changes in level of care, recent injuries, personality changes, etc. A journal will help keep the family organized, as well as provide helpful information for the physician or other caregivers who might be involved in your loved one's care.

8. Be observant. Be aware of changes in your loved one's personality, their appearance such as lack of grooming or soiled clothing. Verify that the mail is being opened and the bills are being paid. Set up a consistent schedule for communicating with your loved one, and pay attention to what they're "not" saying. Remember, your loved one doesn't want to give up their independence, and they may not always tell you the truth.

9. Re-evaluate the situation. Assess your loved one's situation and don't be afraid to make adjustments as the circumstances change. Don't hesitate asking for help from other family members, and investigate the potential for placement in a care facility or hiring a full time live-in caregiver if the family and physician deems necessary.

10. Care for the caregiver. Don't allow yourself to get to the point that you experience burn-out. Get help from other family members, as well as take time for yourself. Maintain a healthy diet and exercise daily. When caregiving becomes too much for the family, and the level of care is beyond your immediate resources, seek out other options. Don't let your guilt get in the way of providing the best care for your loved one, even if a care facility or full time caregiver must provide that care instead of you.

Above all, remember to allow your loved one to remain involved in the decision making process for as long as their decisions do not negatively impact their health or safety. Remember to discuss your concerns with their care in a sensitive manner. Your loved one deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Be realistic about the situation, and in addition to looking out for your loved one's care, remember to look out for your own as well.

---------------------------------------------------------------

You have permission to use this article as long as the author's full bio is present as well as any hyperlinks to author's website.

Torey L. Farnsworth, CSA has over 12 years of experience working with seniors. Ms. Farnsworth's vast expertise encompasses a wide variety of senior issues ranging from adult care to elder law. Most recently, Torey served as Elder Law Director and Paralegal for a Phoenix based law firm where she provided assistance in a variety of areas including long term care planning, estate planning, ALTCS eligibility and Medicaid planning. Ms. Farnsworth is also a certified caregiver with the State of Arizona as well as a Certified Senior Advisor. Ms. Farnsworth has spent her career in senior care as her family owns and operates assisted living homes.

Ms. Farnsworth currently owns her own senior care placement business called Horizon Senior Care Referral. Her placement services are free to seniors and their families in Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.adultcarecentral.com

---

The Right Wheelchair Accessories Will Ease Your Life and Your Journeys on Wheels

Wheelchairs come in every shape and size with sufficient options... Read More

What Colour was Your Great-grandmothers Hair?

I've just made another Photoshop video. This one is about... Read More

Arizona Assisted Living: Resident Rights

According to the Arizona Administrative Code (R9-10-710), those who reside... Read More

Retiring Abroad and Leaving the Grey Skies of the UK

Retiring abroad needs careful planning. Not all countries have the... Read More

Caregiving Across The Miles?Tips for Successful Long Distance Caregiving

Caring for a parent or a loved one is a... Read More

When Assistance with Long Term Care Becomes Necessary

According to the Administration on Aging, it is estimated by... Read More

Scaling Down (almost) Painlessly

Moving to a smaller house or apartment in a retirement... Read More

The Golden Years

1) What does Adrian Mitchell say we do to people... Read More

Why Everyone Over 50 Should be Training for the Senior Games

by Phil Campbell, M.S., M.A., FACHE Senior Games participant and... Read More

Paying For Elder Care Just Got Easier

It's not a surprise that thousands of families across the... Read More

Scaling Down (Almost) Painlessly

Moving to a smaller house or apartment in a retirement... Read More

Mom Wont Participate!

Q: Six months ago we placed my mother in an... Read More

The Truth About Christmas

Every year, as Christmas approaches, you hear Christmas carols everywhere.... Read More

Assisted Living Facilities ? What Are They?

Assisted Living facilities are generally for person's 60 years of... Read More

Board and Care Homes ? What Are They?

Board and Care homes (also known as RCFE's - Residential... Read More

Stair Lifts - Straight and Curved Rails

There are two types of stairlift. Straight and curved. The... Read More

Alzheimers Care Giving While Maintaining Your Own Health

Just for a moment I want you to imagine that... Read More

What You Need to Know About Helping Senior Citizens

IntroductionThe baby boomers is the population which haven taken birth... Read More

Angels Are Reaching Out to the Elderly

I am reminded time after time of the profound effect... Read More

Caring for Aging Relatives

It happens somewhat slowly in the beginning, maybe with a... Read More

Strategies on Paying for Nursing Home Care and Medicaid

The decision to place your loved one into a nursing... Read More

Baby Boomers: Will They Be Able to Afford Their Parents?

Do you worry about whether your aging parents have their... Read More

Second Hand Stair Lifts

Buying second hand stair lifts is a viable and cost... Read More

Helping Caregivers Get Comfortable Asking For Help

Becoming a care giver might not have been a conscious... Read More

The Dryer Ate Your Underwear!

Q: My mom is in the early stages of dementia... Read More

Senior Care for Alzheimer?s

As a person ages, a certain amount of memory loss... Read More

Senior Living: 5 Ways to Help Reduce the Risk of Falling

Every year we hear stories of seniors falling, ending up... Read More

As the Baby Boomers Age

Many employees today are calling in sick - not to... Read More

Feeling Lonely?

Q: I hate Alzheimer's disease, not only has it robbed... Read More

Prevent or Delay Alzheimers Disease

Argh! Where are my glasses? I put them down .... Read More

Local Businesses Serving Seniors Prove Commitment to Quality Care

Good news! You no longer have to risk chance when... Read More

The Best Investment You Can Make Right Now: Long Term Care Insurance

Don't think you need it? Consider this: a full 50%... Read More

New Hope for Alzheimers Treatment

There is now widespread agreement among research scientists and medical... Read More