It can be difficult being a long-distance family care provider. You might always be worried about something regarding your elderly loved one. Thankfully, there are support services that can help you and your elderly loved one. Keep reading to learn about some of the best services that can help with long-distance caregiving.

Utilize Home Care Services

One of the best things you can do as a long-distance family care provider is to utilize home care services. These are responsible care providers who are certified in caring for elderly people. They can help with a variety of tasks which include the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Transportation
  • Making meals
  • Entertainment

A home care provider can also offer companionship that is essential to the mental state of your elderly loved one. Many home care service agencies are certified to care for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, as well. They can report back to you as much as you want or need them too. This way you will always know what is going on in your elderly loved one’s home and life.

Get Plenty of Care and Support

If you are trying to care for an elderly loved one from far away, you should have plenty of help and support. For instance, you should utilize help from some friends, other family members, home care providers, and other professionals who live close to your loved one. It might be good to create a schedule between these people. This way you can make sure your elderly loved one always has someone checking on them. You can also ask for help from members of their church or local senior center. In addition, if your elderly loved one is ill, you might want to consider having a visiting nurse or other clinical service providers to help with medical care.

Make a Care Plan and Utilize Your Own Skills

You should also make a care plan and utilize your own skills. You can start by assessing your own strengths and using those to benefit your elderly loved one. This will allow you to have some control over their care. It can also reduce some of the stress of caring for them from afar. There are some questions you can ask yourself to assess your strengths. Some of these questions include the following:

  • Are you good at finding information?
  • Are you good at cheering on your elderly loved one?
  • Are you good at talking with medical professionals?
  • Are you good at playing games?

Once you figure out your strengths, then you can determine how you can benefit the physical and mental health of your elderly loved one.

Conclusion

It can be difficult to care for an elderly loved one, especially from far away. However, utilizing help from home care providers, having a network of other people lined up who can offer care, and using your own strengths can make things a whole lot easier.

Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/8-tips-long-distance-caregiving

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care services in Plymouth, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.