 | Carla Shepherd owns the Right at Home franchise in Wichita. Right At HOme is a licensed Home Health Agency providing In-Home Care for individuals needing assistance to remain in their home. Carla is a former manager with Via Christi Health Services with over 20 years of health care experience. Also a Member of the National Privacy Duty Association. You can visit Carla at Right at Home, located at 7438 W. 21st St, Suite 123 in West Wichita. Call (316) 721- 6001, e-mail cjshep@ rah.kscoxmail.com or visit the website at www.rightathome.net/wichita |
Senior Living
2005-03-01 10:09:00
Caregiving from a distance
QUESTION: I live clear across the country from my elderly parents. How can I help with their care giving from so far away?
ANSWER: Today's families are more geographically spread out than they used to be. With many seniors choosing to spend their retirements in warmer climates or their adult children relocating to jobs in other areas of the country, caring for family living far away is a growing concern for many in the United States. Current estimates show that up to seven million Americans are currently providing long-distance care to an elderly loved one. In the past, the expectation was that family members would always be there to take care of family members. Every day, we see the frustration of men and women who live too far away to help their parents or other seniors in their lives as much as they want to.Fortunately, many more options exist today to allow families that are geographically separated to help care for seniors. The first challenge families may need to overcome is that many seniors, for generational, emotional or cultural reasons, are reluctant to accept help from people other than family members. You need to take into account your senior's concerns in discussing the need for assistance. An honest conversation is in order to assess the needs of the senior and to find out the kinds of activities they are finding difficult on a daily basis. Explain that some extra help will allow them to remain independent and that there are so many different levels of care available, starting with a few hours of help around the house each week. Keeping seniors involved in determining the level of care they need, will help ease some of their anxiety. Once a need for care is established, the first step families should take is to be prepared before the need for care arises. Research community-based services in your senior's community, such as local agencies on aging, in-home supportive care providers and senior centers, so you have a list of resources you can turn to. You can find this information on the Internet or by picking up a copy of a phone book from your senior's local area on your next visit. Also, be prepared with specific medical, legal and other personal details that pertain to your senior such as having the names of doctors, medications, insurance policy information and legal counsel to help you make well-informed decisions quickly and efficiently if you suddenly find yourself in that position.Another way for families to stay involved across the miles is to get creative with their use of modern technologies. With your senior's permission, you can ask for e-mail updates from his or her doctors or caregivers. Better still, ask to be conferenced-in via telephone for medical appointments so that you have first-hand understanding of what is going on with your senior's health, or have a caregiver attend with them.
