Written By Marie Villeza
More and more Americans are having to take
care of their loved ones from a distance. And when a loved one is dealing with
dementia, decreased mobility, or other disabilities, delivering quality
long-distance care can be challenging.
Here are some tips and resources to help.
Use
Technology
There are several ways you can use today’s advanced technology to provide better
long distance care:
Skype or
Facetime. Many phone and computer apps are
specifically designed for video chatting. Video chats provide a valuable
opportunity to stay in touch with your loved one so they don’t feel
disconnected. It also provides a chance to monitor their physical appearance
and check for signs of distress or illness.
Medication
Apps. You can monitor your loved one’s medication
compliance via a simple phone app.
Medical
Monitoring Devices. Diabetes monitors, heart monitors,
and blood pressure monitors are a few devices that you can link to your
computer to download real-time health updates.
Telemedicine.
If your loved one is immobile, or having difficulties
getting out for proper physician visits, several services provide remote care. Compare what each resource has to offer, and
select the one that best fits your needs.
Hire a
Professional In-home Caregiver
If there is no one nearby to help your parent,
you may be need to hire a professional to assist. Various levels of care can be
provided based on your loved one’s needs. They can include meals, grooming,
laundry, medication management and more.
The best way to hire a professional is to
contact a home care agency in your loved one’s area. Ask for a packet of
information that shares details about their specific services, their fees and,
most importantly, references.
Once you’ve reviewed material from a few
sources, The Family Caregiver Alliance recommends asking these critical
questions in a face to face meeting.
●
How long have they been in
business?
●
Is the agency licensed by the
state?
●
Are the workers licensed and
insured?
●
How does the agency train,
supervise and monitor their workers?
When
You Need a Senior Living Facility
If your loved one starts to display signs of
aggression, their needs are expanding past your capacity, or they’re no longer
safely able to care for themselves, it’s time to consider a senior living
facility.
As tough as this decision may seem, it’s
important to remember that senior living facilities provide a lot of wonderful
benefits for residents:
The importance of
socialization. Seniors
living alone often say they enjoy the independence, but in reality many are
lonely, and loneliness can lead to complications. According to Dr. John Rowe and
Dr. Robert Kahn, authors of the book Successful
Aging, “The more participation in social relationships, the better overall
health for seniors.” Facilities offer a wide range of recreational
opportunities to increase interaction.
A safe
environment. Senior living facilities are specifically
designed to minimize hazards that pose risks to the elderly.
Care
based on individuals’ needs. One patient with dementia
may require a whole different set of needs than a patient with limited
mobility, and these facilities are equipped for those differences.
Rapid
emergency response. There is tremendous peace of mind
in knowing that if your loved one needs timely emergency care, they’ll get it.
Trained, on-site personnel can be the difference between life and death.
If you’re thinking about a move to a senior facility, you’ll need to
consider a budget. The good news is that most of your loved one’s former
expenses will be included in one fee. Residents can pay via private pay, a
senior line of credit, long-term care insurance, veteran’s benefits, as well as
other options.
As your loved one’s long-distance caregiver,
remember there is no right or wrong way. Consider the evolution of care as a journey
and take it step by step. One of the most important choices you can make,
however, is to prioritize your own self-care. You can only help your loved one
if your well yourself.
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