Finding ways to help your aging parents is never an easy task. They constantly need assistance whether they’ve collapsed on the floor or have trouble finding their reading glasses. Unfortunately, being there for them at every moment isn’t always a possibility, especially if they live across the country. Having them move closer is obviously the best choice, but that’s not always a possibility. Fortunately, there are ways to care for your older parents from a distance that we will go over with you today.
Find Someone Nearby To Help
We understand that you are busy living your life and can’t always drop everything to take care of your parents, regardless of where you live. However, the distance makes this relatively impossible. That’s why you need to find someone else to check in on them for you. If they live in a retirement home or a friendly neighborhood, you might be able to ask one of their friends that lives nearby to visit and see how they’re doing every day or two. They likely won’t mind and probably already see them regularly, so verifying that they’re alright for you can be just the peace of mind you need.
If that isn’t a possibility, you could always hire a stay-at-home caregiver. There’s a chance that your parents might be resistant to this idea, but after they get used to someone else at their place, they’ll probably appreciate the extra help.
Set Times To Visit Regularly
Regardless of which option ends up working for you and your parents, you should still try to visit them whenever you can, especially when they aren’t doing very well. Nobody will ever be able to replace your mom or dad, so spending quality time with them is vital.
If you have siblings, doing this will be even easier. You could all go see them at once and have an impromptu family reunion, or you could schedule it out. That way, they don’t have to spend any of their weekends alone.
Utilize Modern Technology
No matter what you do, the space between you isn’t getting any closer. That’s why the final way to care for your older parents from a distance that we are going to suggest is to use technology to stay connected. Video messaging apps and devices make it easier than ever to stay connected with the ones you love. You could even set up a daily time to talk and see each other for 15 minutes or so. You both will benefit greatly from this.
If they’re not doing so great health-wise, you can get them a smartwatch that tracks their vital signs. Of course, there are other ways a watch like this can improve their lives, but knowing when they’re not doing well will give you the ability to call 911 when you normally wouldn’t be able to from such a distance.
