Tips for Caring For A Long-Distance Loved One
Acting as a caregiver for an aging loved one is one of the most selfish and valuable things you can do for another person. According to the CDC, about 23 percent of adults in the United States provide some level of care to a loved one, and nearly one-third of those family caregivers provide at least 20 hours of care each week.
Many hurdles come with transitioning into a family caregiver role, but there’s often an additional layer of challenges with long-distance care. Long-distance care is when you provide care to a loved one who doesn’t live in the same city. As a long-distance caregiver, your role focuses more on managing tasks than doing them yourself.
The Challenges Of Long Distance Care
As a long-distance caregiver, you won’t be around to help with the day-to-day tasks. Instead, you will focus on tasks like assisting with finances, arranging at-home care, ordering household supplies, planning for advanced care, and finding ways to stay connected with your loved one.
One of the biggest challenges with long-distance caregiving is not being physically close to your loved one. You might constantly fear that if something happens or your loved one needs your help, you won’t be able to get to them fast enough. Not being close also makes it impossible to help with daily tasks, provide transportation, attend appointments with loved ones, and provide the physical support they may need as they age.
Since you cannot physically help with tasks, you often have to find others to step in. Sometimes, that is willing family and friends, but other times, you may need to hire someone to assist.
Caring For A Long-Distance Loved One
Caring for someone else can take a toll on one's physical and mental health. However, preparing for your transition and knowing what to expect can help make the caregiver role feel more manageable. Before you become a long-distance caregiver, consider these tips to provide the best quality care for your loved one.
Discover What Your Loved One Needs
One of the first steps in providing long-distance care is discovering what your loved one needs. Do they need assistance with household tasks like cooking and cleaning? Do they need someone to drive them to appointments or help run errands? Do they need medication reminders? Do they require mobility assistance?
Create a list of all the tasks your loved one needs help with as a starting point. Check in with this list every few weeks or months to assess how your loved one’s needs have changed and what new assistance they may require.
Investigate What Insurance Will Cover
Before you take on the financial burden of hiring caretakers or other service providers, check with your loved one’s insurance to see what care and assistance they’ll cover. Many insurance companies will help cover the costs of professional caregivers, medications, and other health-related services.
Recruit Help From Nearby Loved Ones
Once you know what your loved one needs and what insurance will help pay for, you can recruit help from nearby loved ones. Reach out to friends and family close to your aging loved one and ask what capacity they have to help.
You don’t need to put expectations on others, but instead, learn what they can help with. Maybe someone can drop groceries off occasionally or stop by to do laundry. Even something as simple as stopping by once a week for five minutes can benefit your loved one and give you peace of mind that they’re safe.
Schedule Additional Services
Even with the help of loved ones, there will likely be some tasks that you’ll have to hire professional help for. You can find professional assistance with nearly every household task, from cleaning and transportation services to grocery delivery and at-home caregivers.
Connect Virtually
One of the most important parts of being a long-distance caregiver, or any type of caregiver, is providing companionship. Even though you’re not close enough to physically spend time with your loved one, you can connect with them virtually. Consider scheduling weekly phone or video calls to stay updated with their life and connect.
Long-Distance Care With Visiting Angels
When the occasional check-in or virtual connection is not enough for your aging loved one, it’s time to consider other at-home care options, such as hiring a professional caregiver. Professional caregivers are trained individuals who can assist with nonmedical tasks that make living alone safer for your loved one.
The best place to find reliable long-distance care is through a home care agency like Visiting Angels. We’re a locally owned and operated agency working with seniors throughout Gadsden and the surrounding areas. We help clients with everything from light housekeeping and cooking to ensuring clients get to doctor’s appointments and take their medications. Our ultimate goal is to keep clients safe at home while relieving any stress or worry from relatives who can’t provide daily check-ins.
Learn more about at-home care with Visiting Angels by contacting our Gadsden office and scheduling a complimentary consultation.