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Kevin Knaup
Kevin Knaup received his Kansas Adult Care Home Administrator's license in 1983 and is the Administrator and part owner of Sunset Manor, Inc. in Frontenac, KS. He has been employed at Sunset Manor for 31 years. He is a member of Kansas Health Care Association and Kansas Adult Care Executives. He has served on various local and state committees for education and training in the Adult Care home field.
Senior Living
2012-06-05 09:23:08
Providing long distance care
Q: I am in a tough spot and any advice you can give me would be appreciated. The problem I am having is that my elderly parents live out of state, over a thousand miles away and I am trying to provide care and support long distance. They will not leave their home (or the church they have gone to for 60 years) to come here, and there is no way I can move there and risk giving up a job at my age, even if I could afford to do so. I have no idea what I can do to help.
A: I just want to say that I can feel your concern and love for your parents. You are facing something that about 7 million other Americans also face. While I am not sure what you have tried, let me offer some practical ways you can still provide valuable support. One of the first things is to go for a visit as soon as possible. Forming a working tactical plan is much easier when you are there to see all the components. Use the time to organize important documents so that if there is an emergency, you can direct someone to those documents if they can get there before yourself. Get the phone numbers for their physicians, and the name and dosage of any prescriptions. Next, enlist the help of several people from your parent’s social groups, such as the church, to make regular visits to check on them. Develop a network of people you can call for help. Look in to aging services in the area and get connected. For example, if you are worried about them not getting regular meals, connect to Meals on Wheels. Generally, there are far more services available than people realize. Finally, there are many ways you can stay connected and on top of things, even long distance. You can organize doctor visits and schedule transportations services (for some, you can even pay online). Show your parents how to use Skype, or install video systems where you can monitor over the computer. Depending on the level of care they need, you may need to enlist more help as they continue to age. Start the conversation now about available options and let them help develop a long-term game plan. Transitions are difficult; talking about the changes is far better than making them feel forced.
 
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