Each year, millions of Americans volunteer their time and talents to care for aging-in-place loved ones. And although serving as a family caregiver is highly rewarding, these unpaid caregivers face daily hurdles as they battle physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. Being asked to serve as a caregiver from a distance comes with its own unique set of challenges. As a long-distance caregiver here’s why accepting home care assistance will help ensure a higher quality of life for all parties involved.
Long-Distance Caregiving Statistics
A long-distance caregiver is defined as someone who lives more than an hour away from the care recipient. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, approximately 15% of all informal caregivers are of the long-distance variety. Since the average long-distance caregiver is asked to juggle a career, household along with caregiving duties, feeling guilt and resentment is common.
Here are some other sobering statistics about long-distance caregivers:
- One-in-four is the sole or primary care provider.
- They travel an average distance of 451 miles to provide care.
- They spend an average of $392 a month on out-of-pocket expenses.
- Over half still visit the care recipient at least once a month.
Caring for Loved Ones from a Distance
As a long-distance caregiver, use these caregiving tips to ensure that your aging loved one gets the right nurturing:
Communicate regularly
Whenever possible, schedule family meetings during which everyone can share their feelings, observations, and goals regarding your loved one’s care. In addition, stay in touch with your care recipient so that you can assess their changing needs and provide the level of care that’s needed.
Maximize your time together
Seeing your loved ones in person can reveal so much about their daily needs. Take note of factors like whether or not they are able to keep up their appearance, hygiene, and household. Check to see if the fridge and pantry are well stocked with healthy foods, if bills are getting paid, and if they are still able to get out of the house for social activities. Its recommended that you plan out your visits in advance in order to spend more time together.
Compile a list of contacts and resources
An overly prepared caregiver can hold the key to an aging loved one’s overall health and wellbeing. Create a list of nearby friends, family, and primary physicians to contact in case of an emergency. Also, organize important information like medication lists, financial records, medical records, and legal documents so that they will be easily accessible in the event of a crisis.
Seek professional assistance
One of the important aspects of serving as a family caregiver is recognizing your limitations. This comes with you realizing that you can’t always provide the right care. In situations when you are the only care provider or your loved one’s health deteriorates, it may become necessary to seek outside assistance from trained healthcare professionals.
Online resources like the Area Agency on Aging or the Eldercare Locator can be invaluable when you find yourself in a pinch. For example, you can use those online resources to hire a professional in-home caregiver from a licensed home care agency that serves your loved one’s area.
Quality In-Home Care for Seniors in Boston, MA
Caring for an aging loved one from a distance- or even right across town- can be challenging when you’ve got a career and household to manage. Assisting Hands Home Care Services is available in communities Northwest of Boston, MA– from a few hours a day or around the clock and we customize our care to meet your schedule. Our highly trained team of professional caregivers knows how to help seniors stay safe and comfortable by offering them encouragement and hands-on support.
While serving as an extended family, our compassionate caregivers can also provide dignified in-home personal care services. This ranges from companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation for shopping, appointments, and errands, light housekeeping, and laundry, to personal care and help with bathing and dressing. To learn more about Assisting Hands Home Care Services now, or to schedule a FREE assessment for a senior in Northwest of Boston, MA today, please visit us at www.assistinghands.com.
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