Healthcare3 Ways to Care For Aging Parents in Lakewood From Another State

You have decided to move to another state from Lakewood, Colorado, for work. However, you are worried about your aging parents. Who will take care of them? Well, long-distance caregiving is the solution.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines what qualifies you as a long-distance caregiver. Technically, you should live at least one hour or more away from the person in need. Moreover, you should help them with money management, in-home care, planning emergencies, and more.

In this blog, we will discuss three ways you can offer care to your elderly parents from a distance.

#1. Opt for Affordable Care

Assisted living costs approximately USD 57,289 a year, which might be financially draining. Instead, you can offer them support with the help of a home care company in Lakewood, CO.

In-home care is cheaper, and your parents need not relocate. This convenient option will put your mind at ease as your parents stay in their comfortable home. Moreover, your elderly parents will have better independence and access to personalized care.

According to Always Best Care, a good home care company combines national strength with personal service and local accessibility. You no longer need to worry about your parents settling into a new environment with unknown people.

#2. Evaluate Your Abilities

You must evaluate your abilities and options before you choose distant caregiving. It is okay if you cannot do ‘everything’ to care for your elderly parents. That is why you need to determine your strengths, such as:

• Financial management
• Handling medical care
• Organization skills

You can offer financial help, coordinate medical care, and assist your parents with home management from afar. Remember to loop in your family members or your parent’s neighbors when you decide to move away. It will ensure that everyone is well-informed about your parent’s living situation.

Furthermore, Lakewood has resources for in-home care and senior living options. You can also enroll your parents in the older adult activities that happen in the city. Simply put, you should build a list of resources for your parents. It offers physical, emotional, and mental support when you are away.

#3. Communicate and Visit Regularly

Your parents go through a cognitive decline that can affect their physical health. For instance, isolation can contribute to your parent’s poor health.

Online communication and phone calls might not break their social isolation. They will feel happy when they get to see you, other family members, and grandkids. That is why you must visit your elderly parents regularly, irrespective of how busy you are.

Ideally, older adults feel fulfilled when they interact with younger generations. Moreover, regular communication and visits can help you assess their physical and mental health. Remember to pre-plan visits and be vigilant about daily calls. This way, your parents will have something to look forward to.

5 Tips for Long-Distance Caregiving

Long-distance caregiving is challenging. Accurately handling things for your elderly parents from afar can get strenuous. However, video calling technologies like FaceTime and Skype allow you to talk to your parents in Lakewood from anywhere in the country.

In some cases, long-distance caregivers develop guilt due to helpless circumstances. The fear of the unknown and isolation from your parents can make you anxious. As a result, it can affect your decision-making powers.

Take a look at these tips to help you cope with long-distance caregiving:

1. Move closer to your parents if it is a viable option
2. Formulate an emergency plan with your relatives
3. Ask your parents to appoint a power of attorney
4. Regularly assess their safety and independence
5. Schedule a family meeting and share responsibilities

As a Lakewood resident, you know how communal and friendly the city is. With a population of 156,120 people, the neighbors will surely help you with long-distance caregiving if you ask them. For instance, you can ask the neighbors to check your parent’s food storage situation.

Remember to take care of yourself among all this. Moreover, you should gather all resources available about long-distance caregiving. Examples include understanding medical information, healthcare management, and more.

The Bottom Line

Your elderly parents might insist that they do not need support. The main reason is that they hate feeling like a ‘burden’ to their family members. For instance, your parents might love driving or gardening. They will insist on doing these without help, even if they have deteriorating physical health.

Long-term senior care for baby boomers has become increasingly expensive. A 65-year-old woman sold her husband’s boat and pickup truck to help with assisted living. Her daughter sends USD 500 per month, which is not enough. The cost of assisted living is USD 5,950.

This instance proves the inability of Generations X and Z to take charge of these expenses based on their salaries. That is why you should formulate a plan based on the ones shared.

Doing so will help you start the long-distance caregiving journey. Remember to evaluate your parent’s needs and choose the caregiving option in Lakewood accordingly.