Caring from A Distance: Advice for Families
Published: 24/08/2023
Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges we face as we get older is the change in care dynamics between parent and child. When you reach the point where your parents need additional care, it can be difficult for adult children to manage.
This challenge can be even more complex if you live far away from your parents and cannot realistically relocate to be closer to them.
Caring from a distance presents some unique challenges, but these challenges can be overcome through careful planning and increased awareness of the challenges ahead.
What is caring from a distance?
Caring from a distance is when you support someone that you don’t live near. Distance means something different to everyone. While some people provide support from neighbouring towns because they are unable to travel, others provide care from overseas and visit when they can.
There are many reasons you might live far away from the person you are caring for. It’s important not to feel guilty about this arrangement, as it isn’t always practical to uproot your life to care for an elderly person. It’s also less disruptive to allow your elderly parent to remain in familiar surroundings, so sometimes caring from a distance is the best option.
How can I help my elderly parents from far away?
Helping elderly parents or those with additional needs from a distance can mean lots of things to different people. Here are some examples of how you might be able to help.
- Managing and paying their bills online so nothing falls behind.
- Arranging weekly food deliveries from their favourite supermarket.
- Speaking to them on the phone or video calls to offer companionship and reassurance.
- Arranging household tasks like cleaning, laundry, pet walking and putting out the bins.
- Coordinating medical appointments and visits from healthcare professionals.
- Arranging for prescriptions to be fulfilled and delivered.
As you can see, there is a lot you can do from a distance. While you might not be physically present, you can still maintain an active presence in someone’s life.
What support is available?
The good news is that you don’t have to tackle this all alone. There is a lot of care support available from different sources.
For example, did you know that many pharmacists will deliver prescriptions? You can also look into home care support to provide regular check-ins with your loved one so you have the added reassurance of knowing that someone is close by. If you’re worried about costs, you could look into support such as attendance allowance.
Read our guide: What is attendance allowance?
You can also explore local support groups that will provide extra companionship and opportunities to socialise so your loved one doesn’t get lonely.
It takes a whole community to come together to care for those that need extra support. While you might be isolated from your loved one and unable to provide round the clock care, there are still plenty of ways to make sure they are cared for.
Staying connected from a distance
Regular visits and phone calls will help you to stay connected with your loved one and also help you to spot signs that their care needs might be changing.
Try to schedule phone calls for the same time so your loved one has something to look forward to and can also get into a routine. You should also be aware of their schedule, so you can ask them about things they might be attending.
When you visit, be prepared to observe their surroundings and look for signs that they aren’t coping. Be alert to any changes in their physical or mental health and don’t be afraid to ask for help when things change.
You should also monitor their home to ensure that things are still working well for them. For example, if the rubbish is piling up, is it time to hire a cleaner to help with housework? If they aren’t eating the food you have delivered, could this be because they are struggling to cook? In this case, you might choose a meal prep delivery service or home care.
Final thoughts
Caring for someone from a distance will present some new challenges, but these are certainly not insurmountable. If you are organised and realistic about what you can achieve, there should be no reason you can’t provide an excellent level of care for your loved one – no matter where you are in the world.
If you're concerned about a loved one's health or wellbeing, we can arrange a home visit to determine if daily personal care or live-in care could give your loved one the support they need to continue living independently.
If you'd like to explore the possibility of introducing a carer or even a simple companionship visit to your home, get in touch with our friendly team today. We care for people in Camden, Hampstead, Golders Green and surrounding areas.
Our friendly and supportive team can be reached by calling on 0203 921 1111 or by emailing us at camden.hampstead@rightathome.co.uk
