Caring for an elderly parent is never easy, but when an adult child is forced to try and manage this situation from another city or town, it can be extremely stressful for all parties. Relying on phone communication and or video messaging makes it difficult or impossible for the caretaker child to ensure that their elderly parent is attending to daily care needs, such as taking their medications on time and eating healthy meals. If you are trying to care for someone you love while living in a different city, the following options may help you improve the level of care you can provide without being forced to move closer.
Contracting with an errand service
Being able to do manage simple tasks from a remote location can help ensure that elderly parents have the support they need. To assist with things like delivering groceries to the home, picking up prescriptions, and taking non-driving parents to doctor and dental visits, consider hiring a reputable errand service in the area where the parent resides.
Before hiring, make sure that the service you are considering using is bonded and insured, and that all employees who will have contact with your parent have successfully completed a background investigation.
Hire a responsible neighbor to handle lawn care
In addition to finding someone to deliver groceries and assist with transportation needs, having someone close by to handle lawn care, snow removal and other periodic chores around your parent's home can help in two important ways. First, lawn care and snow removal can be handled as needed, and second, there will be someone who can check on your elderly parent often, especially during times of trouble, such storms, power outages, or when your parent is not responding to your attempts to call.
The perfect person for this task could be a teen or retired person who lives in the same neighborhood as your parent and has time available that they are willing to use to assist you in watching over your parent. When working out the details of the job, arrange for them to have your contact information, so that you will be informed immediately when something is needed.
Hire a Senior Care Service
The third, and often the best option may be to hire a professional senior care service in the area where you parent resides. Caregivers who work for these services are trained to handle a variety of needs for elderly patients and you can rest easy knowing they have undergone thorough background investigations and training to ensure that your parent will be safe and given proper care.
Contact a company like Satori Senior Care for more information and assistance.
