As you get older, your parents get older too. It’s something that people tend not to think about too much—until they actually have to. There often comes a time when your parents are no longer able to care for themselves effectively, and when this time comes, you’ll of course want to do everything you can to help.
But what happens when you live far away? Your first instinct will be to travel to be with them. But often, due to family or work commitments, this isn’t feasible, especially on a long-term basis.
Caring for elderly parents who are far away is something that many people have to deal with. Luckily, there are some tips to make this a little easier. Read on for some helpful information on aging parent care at a distance.
Plan Regular Visits
Although you may not be able to move in with your parent permanently, it’s a good idea to visit them as much as you can. This is good both for your own peace of mind and for your parent’s well-being. Regular socialization and having something like a visit to look forward to can help elderly people immensely.
You should aim to visit as often as is convenient for you. If you have siblings, you can work together to make a schedule, so the burden doesn’t fall only on one person.
Have an Emergency Plan in Place
Hopefully, nothing bad will happen to your parent in the course of their daily life. But when you’re caring for aging parents, this is something you need to plan for and take seriously. Because you won’t be able to get to them right away in a crisis, you should have some sort of emergency plan in place.
Can you ask a neighbor to keep a spare key and help them out in the event anything goes wrong? You can consider providing your parent with an emergency alert button, so the relevant authorities will be notified in the case that they have a slip or a fall.
Be Proactive About Their Health
When your parents reach a certain age, it’s a good idea to begin to be proactive about their health. Older people are more at risk for certain diseases, such as osteoporosis and dementia, but there are things you can do to minimize this risk.
For example, it may be a good idea to hire an occupational therapist. The advantages of occupational therapy for elderly people are numerous. It can help prevent things such as cognitive health deterioration and loss of independence.
Caring for Elderly Parents from Afar
Caring for elderly parents when you’re unable to be near them can be tough, but with modern inventions such as video chats, it’s getting easier all the time. Being organized about how you’ll care for your parent is half the battle, so making plans is always good. If you’d like more tips on how to care for your loved ones, check out the rest of our site now.
