How to Care for Senior Loved Ones Long Distance:
Families are spreading out around the country and the globe more and more. Seniors are finding themselves relying on the care of far off loved ones more often. In the US, approximately 5-7 million adults are responsible for caring for a senior who lives more than 26 miles away from them. This can make caring for senior family members extra challenging. While long-distance caregiving is challenging, it can be done safely and effectively with some smart strategies. (caregiver.org)
Facts about Aging in the Modern Day:
- Only 3% of seniors live in nursing homes
- Seniors often choose to live in retirement communities
- Many have age restrictions which adult children do not meet in order to live with the senior or close by
- A large number of seniors choose not to retire and remain independent
- An increasing number of seniors are traveling for fun
- Approximately 1/2 of seniors in the US use social media and connect to family members and others online (Senior Living)
Common Challenges:
Caring for senior loved ones is typically challenging, but distance can add other complications. Coordination of services, ensuring safety, offering companionship, and dealing with emotions are common for all families but especially difficult with long-distance care. Some common challenges are:
- Finding, hiring, and managing professional caregivers
- Filling in caregivers during times of absence
- Tracking seniors’ progress, needs, and well-being
- Offering companionship to combat loneliness
- Arranging for services like transportation
- Gaining assurance of senior safety in their own homes
- Feeling disconnected or out of the loop in the caregiving process
- Paying for quality care plus travel expenses (NCBI)
Strategies for Success:
Long-distance caregiving is more and more common. Agencies are now equipped than ever before to include long-distance loved ones in caregiving due to advances of technology. Smart strategies for long-distance caregiving include:
- Selecting a caregiver agency that offers technology for real-time interaction and transparency between in-person caregivers and family members
- Using video calling technology to stay connected on a regular basis
- Hiring companions, transportation, and other services specifically designed for seniors
- Opting for the support of a professional senior care agency
- Setting up automatic bill pay and other regular needs so seniors don’t have to track them
- Making sure access to medical records has been granted to those living far away (Money US News)
- Using smart tech like:
- Video-calling devies
- Video doorbells which connect to phones
- Caregiving tracking and communication apps
- Wi-fi lights that can be remotely controlled and by voice
- Biosensors that offer health and movement information (NCBI)
Home Care Tip: Seniors and long-distance family members are often anxious over each other’s well-being. Try to stay positive in conversations with either party. Reassurance can many times improve the situation.
(ClearCare Monthly)