It’s usually very difficult in not impossible to care for loved ones from a distance. First-hand knowledge of their situation can be rare, so when you are traveling home for the holidays this year, look for a few basic warning signs to assess your loved one’s situation.

Start by understanding your elder’s activities of daily living (bathing, eating, toileting, medications, and social outings). Once you see how he/she handles daily life, you can move forward with some other questions that need to be answered right away.

These include:

* Is the house or apartment generally safe, both inside and out?

* Can he/she make clear, independent decisions?

* Can he/she self-medicate, or do the meds need to be poured/organized?

* Is mail opened in a timely manner?

* Are bills paid on time?

* Is food in the refrigerator fresh, wholesome, and edible?

* Is his/her general appearance up to his/her regular standard?

* Can he/she drive or use public transportation or does your loved one have a higher need of assistance to remain mobile?

* Is your loved one keeping up with a social life or is he/she withdrawing from family and friends and events like the holidays?

Approaching your caregiving challenge this way gives you a path to follow that will make elder care easier.

As a long-distance caregiver, you may want to enlist the help of someone who lives closer to your elder. Sometimes local family members can be called into service, or your loved one’s best friend or neighbor might help. If the finances are available, consider hiring a professional geriatric care manager to handle things for you.

Resources Available from AGIS.com:
My Loved One is In a Crisis
Assessing Your Loved Ones Needs
Finding Facilities & Services

Filed under: Caregiving, Doctor Marion, Expert