8 Tips for Family Members Caring for a Senior Loved One from Far Away

Author

AMADA SENIOR CARE PITTSBURGH NORTHWEST

For more information about the author, click to view their website: www.AmadaPittsburghNW.com

Posted on

Oct 31, 2024

Book/Edition

Pennsylvania - Greater Pittsburgh Area

Until 100 years ago, many people never traveled more than 10 miles from the home in which they were born or lived in when they got married, which was usually down the street or the next farm over. Families remained grouped together for many reasons, including having emigrated from a foreign country and starting a new life together. There was strength in numbers: both economic advantages and in perpetuating long-held traditions that would tie loved ones together in the face of new challenges. Where seniors were concerned, the expectation that younger family members would always care for them was implied—and something not all that difficult if people were living within steps of one another.

Clearly things have changed, and adult children can be hundreds and thousands of miles away from aging parents. This can make it challenging to determine changes in physical, mental and emotional health, often leading to stress and guilt. While long-distance caregiving isn’t always the answer, there are things families can do to help ensure their senior loved one’s needs are monitored and met.

1   Hold a Family Meeting to Plan In-Home Care for a Senior Loved One

First, organizationally, if there are multiple adult children and other family members that can provide long-distance care, have a family meeting—in person or video chat—to decide what everyone’s strengths and skillsets are and what their availability is. Tantamount to that, realistically evaluate how much each can do, knowing that a trusted neighbor or someone else outside the family and local to the senior may need to be hired to fill in any gaps.

If a family member is better at managing finances, for example, s/he should assume that responsibility when the time comes, always with written permission. A Merrill Lynch study revealed about 92 percent of family caregivers are managing their loved one’s finances, including monitoring and paying bills from bank accounts, handling insurance claims, filing taxes, and overseeing investments.

2   Communicate with Your Aging Loved One Every Day

It’s important to check in with an aging parent every day, even several times a day depending on the state of health, particularly if that individual lives alone. If the senior is adept at technology, FaceTime or other forms of video chat are always preferable as visuals are a useful tool in gauging changes. Today there are a variety of simpler forms of senior-friendly video call apps and devices available. These include but are not limited to the Jitterbug Smart3, GrandPad, and CallGenie (British-based product now available in the U.S.).

3   Connect Regularly with Your Beloved Senior’s Healthcare Providers

Schedule regular calls with physicians, visiting nurses, and/or others for up-to-date information about you loved one’s health and evolving needs. If an in-home senior care agency is involved, consistent updates should be part of the protocol.

4   Set Up a Personal Emergency Response System to Maintain a Senior’s Independence

Sometimes dubbed high-tech guardian angels, personal emergency response systems (PERS) support safe and independent living. At the touch of a button (or in some cases by voice activation) an immediate notification is sent to first responders when a fall or other medical emergency is detected. PERS devices can be worn by the senior as a pendant, or a unit can be set up strategically inside the home to provide 24/7 monitoring services.

5   Obtain a Smart Pill Dispenser for Medication Management

As people age, memory can be affected with issues that include failure to take medication or not recalling if a dose was taken or not. Multiple medications are also a byproduct of aging and facing an array of bottles every day can be confusing and disorienting for seniors. A user-friendly solution lies in medication management with automatic pill dispensers, as these smart devices for healthcare can do so much more than hold apportioned pills in a little plastic box. Smart pill devices organize medications and ensure the correct dose is dispensed at the right time, and some can also notify the caregiver if a dose is missed.

6   Explore Alternative Senior Living Arrangements

Is an aging parent amenable to moving closer to adult children? Independent living and assisted living fall under the broad banner of senior living communities and can make the stress that accompanies long-distance caregiving a thing of the past. Many seniors and their families are unsure where to start their search for assisted living and other senior housing options.

7   Plan More Frequent Visits to Keep Tabs on Your Elderly Loved One’s Welfare

Work, raising families, community responsibilities, and everything else can make life overwhelming today. But if a parent or grandparent is aging, there’s no better way to monitor needs than to visit as often as possible—even for a long weekend now and then. If there are multiple adult siblings or young adult grandchildren, spreading the visits out among family members can ease the burden of constant traveling and help ensure changes in health and mobility do not go undetected.

Besides, the opportunity to spend time with mom or dad in their sunset years is precious, and something you will never have again. In your effort to monitor things and provide support, which no one argues can be time consuming and stressful, make sure to slow down and listen. As the saying goes, “When a senior dies, a library closes.”

8   Ask for Information and Guidance from a Trusted Senior Resource

Know that an Amada Senior Care advisor has the expertise and knowledge to assist without obligation as families with aging loves ones navigate their senior care journey. Click HERE to find an Amada office near you or call (866) 752-1961.

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Non-Medical 2611 Nicholson Road, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, 15143

Chad and Vicki Craig, owners of Amada Senior Care Pittsburgh Northwest, both share a lifelong passion for serving our senior population. Having spent the last 25 years of their professional careers in advanced healthcare technologies for older adults, they understand the importance of providing the highest quality care at home so that our loved ones can age in place safely and happily.For both Chad and Vicki, providing quality care to support senior independence at home isnt just a passion, but a calling. Their appreciation for and dedication to our cherished elder community began at a young age. As a child, Chad would often choose to visit residents of a senior facility neighboring his home over playing kickball outside with friends his own age. 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Their extraordinary level of service is the reason why Amada Senior Care Pittsburgh Northwest has a reputation for providing in-home caregivers who exceed client expectations, along with the highest rating (A+) from the Home Care Standards Bureau, the industrys standard-bearer.Chad, Vicki and the rest of the Amada Pittsburgh Northwest team couldnt offer the exceptional quality care that they do without investing time and effort into pairing trained and knowledgeable Amada caregivers with senior clients to promote their well-being and health. Their process of offering excellent caregiving assistance includes regularly checking with their senior clients and families to ensure that individual care needs and preferences are being met. 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It is our pleasure and honor to serve.Specialized Care by Amada Pittsburgh NorthWestWhen senior loved ones need assistance to manage health conditions, our trained caregivers at Amada Pittsburgh NW can address their unique needsFamilies can feel confident that Amada Pittsburgh NW caregivers have the training and education necessary to provide the specialized care meeting the individual needs of seniors who are contending with health challenges. Is your senior loved one recovering from a stroke? Does your spouse or another family member suffer from Alzheimers or dementia? Is your family trying to help an aging loved one manage symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes, Parkinsons or another chronic condition?Assisting Senior Patients Diagnosed with Alzheimers or Dementia According to the Alzheimers Association, nearly 6.5 million Americans were living with Alzheimers or another form of dementia as of 2022. 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