Most family caregivers stay one hour or more away from their ailing and aged relatives. You might find yourself in a situation where you are tending to your loved one who is hundreds of miles away from you. As you attempt to stay close to them or provide them with the best care, the high expenses start to put pressure on you.
What are some tips for effective long-distance caregiving?
When in a situation of living farther away from your aging parents or relatives that you’re looking to take care of, it’s important to be familiar with some of the tips that will allow you to do it more efficiently and enjoyably for both parties involved. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Establish access
It is important to have good channels and legal ways of making financial decisions that concern the health of your loved ones. Talk about finances first. Come up with a plan that points out how money will be spent.
Seek information from doctors and attorneys. Some decisions will require several parties to be consulted before they are made. Find out whether your loved one can control the information availed to doctors and hospitals.
If they don’t have a power of attorney, find out how that position can be filled. If the power of attorney remains absent, the matter will have to be taken up by the courts. It is also important to set up emergency contacts.
Create a team
Many tasks can be handled remotely, however, tasks such as bill payments and prescription orders need you or a trusted person present. Don’t feel guilty because you can’t do it all.
Try to build a team. Apart from medical personnel, talk to your family and friends to help you provide ample caregiving to your loved one. Determine the roles that each team member is to play and prepare a detailed list of everyone involved and their contact information.
Spot a local coordinator
A local care manager can hook you up with people to help you give care to your loved one. Consider hiring a licensed professional. They can even help mediate situations where you disagree with other family members when tough times arise.
Verify their certifications by visiting the National Academy of Certified Care Managers or the National Association of Social Workers. Discuss the services that you want them to offer to your loved ones while paying attention to the overall cost. While most managers charge $50 to $200 per hour, they help save time and money in the long run.
Regular communication
Take advantage of every opportunity to keep in touch with your loved one. Ask for their permission to use technology tools such as video monitors and electronic pill dispensers. You could set up an email group to update everyone on current events.
The federal Family and Medical Leave Act might outline whether you qualify for time off to give care to your loved one. If not, find out whether you can work remotely if you decide to embark on a caregiving visit.
Exploit your visits fully
If you find time to visit your loved one, create a list of activities to carry out during the visit. Take advantage of this time to meet current and suitable caregivers, determine areas that need new help, identify any signs of emotional or physical abuse on your loved one and be wary of any caregivers that you have never met.
Remember to enjoy the visit. Do fun activities with your loved ones.
Downsizing San Diego is here to help you organize the details of long-distance caregiving
If you’re looking to find out more about all the ways you can provide caregiving services to your aging parents or relatives, both financial and those concerning their quality of life, Downsizing San Diego is here to help you out. Our expert team is here to provide you with all the information you need to provide excellent care for your parents or relatives and to improve their living conditions, comfort, and convenience as much as possible. Contact us today!