Long Distance Care Giving – Home Help Companions
Long-distance care-giving can be a particularly challenging task. How do you really know what’s going on? You can ask, sure. But hearing “I’m fine” doesn’t provide a lot of information. And you have to trust that you’re hearing the whole story. Really the only time you have to assess the situation is when you visit, which depending on the distance between you two, might not be very often.
Home Help Companions would like to offer a few things to look out for when you do visit. Check the stove top, is it dusty? This would mean your parent is no longer cooking for themselves. Check the fridge and pantry. Is the food beyond the expiration date? If it is then your parent may not be shopping regularly and suggests a lower coping mechanism. Also check the bathroom. Is the shower wet, or the towels? Fewer showers is a sign your loved one may not be managing very well. If you see signs that suggest they are no longer caring for themselves as well they should than you may want to take some action. Senior care issues often take families by surprise. Instead of trying to figure it out alone, Home Help Companions can help guide the way.
You can talk to neighbors and have them contact you if there’s a problem. Or you can call Home Help Companions for Personal Support Services. Our caregivers can do grocery shopping, light housekeeping during the week and ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living). It’s important to assess the situation and address it as early as possible. Change is never easy for your parent but making sure they are well cared for is essential. So this may mean you have to stand up to them, this takes courage, but it must be done. Once you see signs that one system is failing (no longer cooking or cleaning for example) you can assume that more systems are failing as well (no longer socializing). All of these things will determine the amount of care needed.
Can the required care be done long distance? Will you need to move your parent closer to your home? All of these things cause stress and reasons to worry. Only you will be able to determine what the right answer is, but the sooner you begin the easier it is to make changes before things get too far out of hand. Ultimately you want to have your parent live the best life they can safely manage and get or provide care for the areas they can’t manage. Communication is key and having an honest conversation can address many of these issues.
If you or anyone you know needs assistance with Personal Support Services, Home Help Companions can provide help. We will listen to your needs and help select personalized care options, so you can make informed decisions about what’s best for your aging loved one.
Home Help Companions Senior Care Consultants can offer no obligation FREE consultation, so call us today at 706-305-3533 or toll free at 888-351-6282. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
