Mom and Dad may have sought warmer climes and relocated to Florida, as the Sunshine State offers a range of benefits for the elderly. But being involved with aging parents after they’ve moved out of state takes greater effort. Organizing the correct home care for your loved ones can be important as they move out of state. Here are tips to help them stay connected and promote their well-being.
Long-distance caregiving is not usual. About 15 percent of caregivers in the United States provide care from an average of 450 miles away. This means 5-7 million caregivers support the elderly financially, socially, and even physically. These numbers are expected to grow as more seniors age.
Why do seniors move to Florida for the winter?
Senior citizens are drawn to Florida for its many advantages. Kiplinger calls the state the most tax-friendly for retirees. People from high-tax states are especially keen on relocating here. Florida does not tax retirement income, such as 401(k) distributions and investment income.
Plus, the year-round temperate weather allows elderly Floridians to pursue an active lifestyle. The abundant sunshine allows seniors to golf or visit beaches and enjoy water activities. The senior-friendly communities, with clubs and amenities for the elderly, attract them, too.
What are snowbirds?
Living in a cold region can be tough for seniors, which is the reason many opt to travel to warmer places for the winter months. Florida is one such place that many retirees flock to like migrating birds escaping harsh winters—hence the term snowbird.
What are tips to stay involved with elderly parents’ care?
When aging parents relocate to Florida for the winter months, adult children need to stay involved with their care and continue to monitor their well-being. Despite the miles, long-distance caregiving is a practical feat when families use the following five tips.
Tip 1: Share Important Contact Info
Create a shared online spreadsheet or document containing the contact information of the senior doctors. Include important emails and phone numbers of relatives, friends, or neighbors in the area who can keep an eye on the senior. Regularly update the document as it can be lifesaving in an emergency.
Tip 2: Attend Telehealth Visits
Obtain the elderly parents’ permission to attend telehealth visits, which are remote medical appointments with healthcare providers via videoconferencing. While in Florida, the seniors might elect to set up telehealth visits with their physician located in their summer destination.
The parents’ physicians in their summer location may be asked to prescribe an extended supply of long-term medications to cover their winter stay in Florida. Or locate a reliable pharmacy in Florida to which prescriptions can be transferred. Consider the logistics so their medications are well-managed.
Tip 3: Check In Regularly
Regular check-ins provide adult children with vital information about their aging parents who’ve relocated for the winter. Calls, emails, or texts can reveal details about their health. Don’t feel compelled to touch base every day, as parents can feel smothered or interrogated.
Simple questions about seeing friends point to whether the parents feel lonely or isolated. If seniors respond to casual questions about meals with the same answer, such as heating frozen dinners, it may be an indication they are no longer able or willing to cook, which is a concern.
Tip 4: Build a Support Team
When the seniors have friends in the area, include these individuals in the support team. Ask them if they’d be willing to help with mowing the lawn or driving the senior to a doctor’s appointment. Alternatively, a geriatric care manager can check in with the senior or evaluate living arrangements.
Remember that the elderly parents are equally a part of the support team. Involve them in their long-distance care and avoid imposing unwanted help. Hold conversations with the seniors to determine their needs or areas in which they require help and involve the support team accordingly.
Tip 5: Be Aware of Warning Signs
When aging parents are prone to falls or develop an illness, living out of state on their own may not be the best arrangement. Adult children who visit or speak to their parents over the phone should be vigilant for warning signs of unintended weight loss, falls, or increased isolation.
The snowbird lifestyle can be alluring. But when it becomes apparent that your elderly parents need help with daily activities, it might be time to arrange for extra help at home. A home care agency serving seniors is among the most accessible and preferred options for reliable in-home support.
Trusted Home Care Services from Assisting Hands
Fulfilling the care needs of aging parents while they reside in the Sunshine State is possible for adult children who live afar. Home care from Assisting Hands Home Care makes this happen. We are one of the most recognizable elder home care agencies in Florida, serving seniors with compassion.
We deliver a wide range of non-medical services that help seniors live independently at home and remain in their communities. Professional caregivers are tasked with grocery shopping, preparing balanced meals, transportation, performing light housekeeping, and giving timely medication reminders. We also assist with hygiene activities, like bathing and dressing.
Your aging loved one remains well-socialized with our companion care services. Caregivers engage with seniors by playing games, initiating pleasant conversations, taking them on outings, and pursuing enjoyable recreational activities—all of which prevent loneliness and isolation. Our ongoing efforts promote their social and emotional health.
Whether families choose elder home care or companion care, all of the above-mentioned services are included. We prioritize the physical, social, and emotional health of the seniors we are privileged to serve. Care options are flexible and customized to meet the unique needs of aging care recipients.
When your parents are adventurous snowbirds setting off for the warmer climes of Florida, incorporate Assisting Hands Home Care into their care plan. Serving The Villages, we make long-distance caregiving easier and give families peace of mind. Schedule a free in-home consult or contact us at (352) 758-4512 to learn more.
