How to build a long-distance care team?
We live in a mobile society, which means that adult children will not always live close to aging parents. That makes it challenging to ensure their daily needs are provided, especially if an illness or chronic disease strikes. It is possible to create a long-distance care team that will provide your loved one and give you peace of mind. Here are some tips on creating a reliable care team that will serve the best interests of the seniors you love.
A. Ask the senior how you can be of help
⦁ Know their daily needs
⦁ Know their difficult tasks
⦁ Know their appointments and if they need transportation for these
B. Talk to the physician of the senior
⦁ If you have the written permission from the senior, you can ask their physician to update you about their health condition. You can talk to your loved ones about this matter, but often seniors are not open to providing health condition-related information because of their fear of losing independence. You need to know precisely the health impairment so that you can address them adequately.
⦁ But if you don’t have permission to access their medical information, the physician may be willing to suggest the types of support that will be helpful.
C. Talk to the friends, family members, neighbors of your loved one
⦁ Can a support schedule be created?
⦁ Can someone in a nearby house take out the garbage or walk your loved one’s pet?
⦁ Can a sibling who lives nearby accompany your loved one to the grocery?
⦁ Can someone in the neighborhood or nearby family members check the senior regularly, especially during scorching and cold weather?
⦁ Provide your contact details to the care team
D. Check on local resources
Many organizations provide support for your seniors. You can find the organization in your loved one’s area by checking out these sources of information:
⦁ Eldercare Locator
⦁ National Institute on Aging
⦁ Family Care Navigator
Home Care service agencies can also be an excellent resource for care support. Certified professional home caregivers can take care of your loved ones and keep you updated on their condition.
A. Proper documentation
⦁ You can use a binder to compile all notes, medical records, insurance information, schedules, and printed email copies.
⦁ It would help if you also compiled the contact details of physicians, nurse practitioners, physical assistants, case managers, and physical therapists.
⦁ Provide copies of the compilation to the members of the support care team and keep all records updated.
The National Institute for Aging is an excellent resource for information on long-distance caregiving. It has many fact sheets and information about caregiving and other relevant topics.