What is a long-distance caregiver?
Anyone who cares for a parent, other relative, or for a friend can be a care partner. If you live an hour’s drive or more away from a person who needs your support, you’re a long-distance care partner or caregiver.
What can a care partner do from a distance?
Each situation is different, but a long-distance caregiver role may include:
- Helping with bill paying, managing money, and/or finances.
- Making certain that legal paperwork is in order and a care plan is in place.
- Creating an emergency plan if something unexpected happens.
- Overseeing home safety and maintenance help such as lawn care, housekeeping, meal preparation and/or grocery delivery.
- Arranging for in-home care – hiring and managing professional caregivers, home health, and medical equipment rental.
- Researching long-term care facilities such as assisted living communities if/when a higher level of care is needed, OR overseeing the care of your loved one who may be a resident in a long-term care community.
- Serving as a coordinator of information – communicating with doctors, managing appointments and transportation, medications and therapies, insurance.
- Arranging for companion care or creative engagement support, especially if the person in your care is isolated because of mobility limitations or cognitive changes.
- Acting as the communication conduit with family and friends, keeping them informed and updated.
- Offering respite and emotional support if there is a primary care partner (the individual responsible for the day-to-day care and support).
Tips for Long-Distance Caregiving
Long-distance caregiving can have its challenges. These tips can help make life more manageable.
- Be informed. Learn as much as you can about the health and treatments of the person in your care and available resources. This will help you understand what is going on, anticipate the course of an illness, prevent crises, and assist in healthcare management.
- Get organized. Keep all vital information and important paperwork in one place and up-to-date, including healthcare documents, wills and financial information. Provide copies to other caregivers.
- Be prepared. Make sure at least one caregiver has written permission to receive medical and financial information. At least one person should handle conversations with all healthcare providers.
- Practice self-care. Being a caregiver can be challenging and demanding. You need to prioritize your own health and needs as you care for others. Join a support group. Use technology to streamline organization and communication. Get enough sleep. Spend time outdoors, even if it’s only a 5-minute walk in your neighborhood. Find time for laughter and humor. Take a deep breath and pause. Do whatever makes you feel refreshed and destressed is helpful as you. Don’t let your flame fizzle.
- Stay connected. Schedule calls with healthcare providers and facility staff to discuss the person’s well-being. Update trusted family members on your family member or friend’s health and needs. Make plans to visit. If you are going to make an in-person visit, ask the person in your care what they would like to do. Schedule time for some easy and relaxing activities or outings. Check with the primary caregiver to see if you can assist with any tasks or provide respite.
- Hire an Aging Life Care professional. Many of our clients’ families live out of state or the country and entrust Aging Wisdom to serve as eyes, ears, boots-on-the-ground, and advocates for the person in their care. Our care management services bring peace of mind. We can provide a home assessment, accompany your loved one to appointments, manage care coordination, effective advocacy, and personalized solutions to help your loved one live well and you to care well. And we are clear, collaborative communicators.
While this is not a comprehensive list, it provides the foundational elements of long-distance caregiving and caregiving in general. Getting organized can go a long way in providing you peace of mind and confidence that your loved one is receiving appropriate care and that their well-being and safety are being supported even when you are at a distance.
Are you coordinating care from a distance and overwhelmed? Click here to schedule a get-acquainted call with one of our Certified Care Managers and explore how we can help you navigate this journey.
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