As we age, our bodies and minds change. There are things you can do to stay more healthy as you age. Here are the latest articles on senior health from Avalon Memory Care.
Long Distance Caregiving: How to help from afar
Living far from our parents might present an unforeseen challenge when they begin to age and need more assistance. While we want to be physically present to help them each day, it might not be an option when jobs are located hundreds of miles away from where an elder parent or parents live. Most caregivers are in their late 40s, working on the middle of their careers, and sandwiched between responsibilities in their own home and those of a senior parent(s). It can feel overwhelming to juggle it all. Having a plan in place is a good way to prepare for any health, mobility, or cognitive situations that arise. The following are some tips that can get you started. Make a Contact List Brainstorm a list of people both you and your parents trust. Begin with the obvious family members and friends, then branch out. Especially if your parents are homebodies and don’t interact much with the outside world, you’ll have to get a little creative. Family: This includes relatives who live close by, like your siblings, your parents’ siblings, and any other members of the family who are responsible and trustworthy. Friends: If your parents have a core group they socialize with, get their contact info in case you need them to check on your parents in the future. This can be church friends, book club members, or old college buddies who live in town. Even add your own local friends to the list. Neighbors: A trusted neighbor is a wonderful lookout for an elder parent. Find out who lives close and has a friendly rapport with your parents. Introduce yourself and exchange phone numbers. In the case of an emergency, they might [...]