Caring for the Elderly When They Live Far Away

It’s always important to keep in touch with our elderly loved ones. With their declining health and potential issues, anything could happen that will compromise their health and cause them to end up in hospital, in pain or even on the floor in need of assistance. It’s not always possible for your elderly parents to move in with you so you can take care of them and you might not have the time to look after them in the first place. However, it might also not be possible for them to enter a care home given their circumstances or personal wishes. It’s understandable that some seniors prefer to live in their home they spent their lives paying for and want to remain as independent as possible.

If you have an elderly relative that lives a long distance away, then we’ve got a couple of tips and useful advice to help you look after them. Long distance caregiving takes on many different forms and it’s not just always about sending money or hiring someone to look after your elderly loved ones.

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Keep in touch with them

Something important about elderly care that people often overlook is that they want company. Whether it’s a simple phone call, a visit or even some messages via the internet, it’s important that you try and stay in touch with them as much as possible. If your elderly loved ones are open to technology, then don’t be afraid of teaching them how to use a simple phone for messaging or even the internet. While they might struggle with things like social media and Facebook, it’s never a bad idea to at least try so that it’s easier to keep in touch with them.

Hire long-distance care

The option of long distance caregiving is one of the most common ways to ensure that your loved ones get the right care they need in their later years. Make sure you look at reviews to ensure that the service is trustworthy and don’t be afraid to check up on them every now and then to ensure they’re doing a good job.

Get to know their neighbours

Good relationships are the foundation of stress-free care. When your elderly loved one’s neighbours are caring and genuine people, you can rest assured that they’ll help you look after them. The only way to nurture such a trusting relationship is to get out there and speak with them, invite them over for dinner, and show that you genuinely want to take care of your elderly loved ones. You’ll also be able to contact them when you can’t get in touch with your elderly loved ones and they’ll help you relay messages.

Do regular house checks

Everything from a loose carpet rug to an old cooker stove might become a hazard if your loved ones aren’t aware of it. Home issues can easily happen over time and it’s important that you do regular house checks to ensure that everything is fine.