8 Caregiving Tips for People Living From a Distance

Caregiving tips for people living far away from their parents, family members, or friends are vital to peace of mind for all parties. Whatever the circumstance, realizing that someone you care about is struggling with daily living will come with a myriad of emotions when trying to find a solution. This is compounded if you are caregiving from a distance.

There are approximately 5-7 million people in the United States that are caregiving from a distance, according to the National Council on Aging. Oftentimes, these individuals still work full-time jobs and have their own family obligations. Some tasks, such as paying bills, are easy to accomplish when you are far away. However, the inability to help more often leads to frustration and feelings of inadequacy. That’s why many find caregiving tips for caring from a distance helpful. Just remember, you aren’t alone and there are solutions.

Caregiving Tips 

Know When Help is Needed

It’s important to stay cognizant of when it’s time to get help or even move your parent or parents to a community. This can be even more difficult from a distance. To determine the kind of care a family member needs you must know whether or not they can live independently or are in need of assistance. Do they need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) or is skilled nursing necessary? Are they determined to age in their own home or are they open to moving to a community? These are important things to know before care is needed.

Perhaps you could have a regular Zoom call just to check-in.

Know When to Back Off

As with helicopter parents of the nineties and early thousands, children too can hover over every aspect of their parents’ life as their parents age. Out of guilt or concern, adult children sometimes lecture, micromanage, and otherwise infantilize their parents. This behavior can drive a wedge between you and your parents and impact your parents’ dignity. Being a helicopter child, even over the phone, can be tempting. This is especially true if you aren’t getting assurance that your parents are doing fine.

Just keep in mind that you might not always know best. Realize you could be conflating your parents’ safety with your peace of mind. Remember that empathy is key and listen to how your parents feel about things. And above all, know when to back off.

Let Technology Help

Monitoring a family member can feel a bit like spying at times. Technology can help you feel closer and more connected from a distance. There are also some new technologies that can help give you peace of mind. From monitoring activity to medication dispensers, there is a technology out there that can help keep your parents safe. 

Stay in Touch

Empathy and listening without judgment or patronizing are the foundations of a good relationship. Whether you are connected over the phone, social media, or email it is important to keep the lines of communication open.

Do Your Research

If you are caregiving from a distance and your family member has a medical condition, educate yourself on the basics of that condition, treatment, and how it will progress over time. Become familiar with the possible side effects of prescriptions and how they interact with other medications.

Consult your care recipient’s doctor and schedule conference calls as needed. A HIPPA form will be required before you will be able to access medical records, test results, and so on. Consider hiring a care coordinator who can act in your favor and provide objective insights regarding your parent’s health and treatments.

Familiarize Yourself with the Community

Get to know the local resources and services in your care recipient’s area. Government and privately funded organizations address issues like food and nutrition services, adult day programs, housing options, transportation, and legal assistance. Take time to contact local organizations to provide extra peace of mind.

Ask for Help When Needed

When you choose to shoulder the responsibilities of a caregiver, you’ll probably need help balancing looking out for your care recipient’s quality of life, maintaining your own health, and fulfilling your responsibilities. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Request the phone numbers of your care recipient’s neighbors and have a contingency plan in place should something come up and you are unable to give care.

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