Overcoming the challenges of caring for a parent or aging loved one from afar takes detailed organization, teamwork from family members and sometimes even community support.
Family members living in other cities or states have to trust that everything will be taken care of without their daily on-site supervision.
Some have found that hiring a local caregiver can help ease the stress—they often take comfort in knowing local, experienced caregivers are checking in on their parent/loved one on a regular basis.
Modern technology offers tools for helping families manage care from a distance. Some caregiving companies, like Take My Hand At-Home Care, have website functions that allow their clients to login and access caregiving schedules remotely—one can monitor caregiver schedules for their parents, grandparents, friends or neighbors from near or far! Sounds great, right?
Children living further than an hour away from an aging parent that needs help are considered “long-distance caregivers”. The National Institute on Aging estimates as many as 7 million Americans are actually long-distance caregivers.
If your family is finding certain aspects of long-distance caregiving are getting harder to manage, like providing companionship, responding to medical emergencies (illness or a fall), transportation to appointments, and helping with meal preparation, consider partnering with a local, licensed and insured caregiver company before deciding to place a loved one in a nursing home.
Receive a free download of the
National Alliance for Caregiving’s
Handbook for Long-Distance Caregivers here
Take My Hand At-Home Care is a locally owned business that is registered with the Washington State Department of Health–all of our caregivers are trained and certified. Our team provides complimentary home care assessments to gain a better understanding of specific needs and expectations for you and your loved one.
Contact us with any questions you have about long-distance caregiving—we are here as a resource for Whatcom County families.