Who is a long-distance caregiver?.
Who is a long-distance caregiver?
Anyone, anywhere, can be a long-distance caregiver, no matter your gender, income, age, social standing, or employment. If you are living an hour or more away from a person who needs your aid, you’re definitely a long-distance caregiver. Anyone who is caring for an aging friend, family, or parent from abroad can be labeled a long-distance caregiver.
• Help with finances, money management, or bill paying
• Arrange for in-home care—hire professional caregivers or home health or nursing aides and help receive essential durable medical equipment
• Locate care in an assisted living facility or nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility) (also known as a skilled nursing facility)
• Provide emotional support and sometimes respite care for a primary caregiver, the person who takes on most of the everyday caring obligations
• Serve as an information coordinator—research health concerns or drugs, help navigate through a maze of new demands, and clarify insurance benefits and claims
• Keep family and friends updated and informed
• Create a strategy and get documents in order in case of an emergency
• Evaluate the residence and make sure it's safe for the older person's needs
Your job as a long-distance caregiver will evolve over time as your family member's requirements alter.
For new long-distance carers, the first steps are important.
To get started, follow these steps:
• Find out how you may help the primary caregiver, if there is one, and the care recipient.
• Consult with friends who are carers to see if they have any advice about how to assist.
• Gain a thorough understanding of the person's medical issues and other requirements.
• Pay as many visits as you can; not only will you observe something that needs to be done but can be done from afar, but you will also be able to relieve a primary caregiver for a short period.
Many of us don't come equipped with a wide range of caretaker abilities. There is information regarding training options. Some local branches of the American Red Cross, as well as some charity groups that focus on caregiving, may offer courses. This training is occasionally covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
Learn everything you can about your family member's illness and treatment options. This can help you figure out what's going on, predict the course of an illness, avoid crises, and manage your healthcare. It may also make it easier to communicate with the doctor.
Obtain written consent to receive medical and financial information, as required by the HIPAA Privacy Rule. To the degree practicable, all healthcare providers should speak with the family member who has authorization. Make a notepad, either on paper or online, with all of the important information regarding medical care, social services, phone numbers, financial concerns, and so on. Make copies for other caregivers, and make sure it's current.
Find out what the care recipient would want to do during your visit by talking to him or her ahead of time. If necessary, speak with the primary caregiver to understand what he or she requires, such as taking on some caregiving chores while you are away. This may assist you in establishing clear and achievable objectives for your stay. Make a list of priorities and delegate the rest of the work to a later visit.
Remember to pay attention to your family member and spend time with them. Make time to do things that aren't linked to being a caretaker, such as watch a movie, play a game, or go for a drive. Finding time to do something easy and relaxing can benefit everyone, and it may be enjoyable and memorable for the entire family. Also, try to put off outside distractions until you return home.
Look for folks who live close to your loved one and can give you a realistic perspective on what's going on. It's possible that this is your other parent. A social worker might be able to keep you up to date and assist you in making decisions. Many families organize conference calls with doctors, assisted living facility staff, or nursing home personnel so that several family can participate in the same conversation and receive the same up-to-date information on their loved one's health and progress.
Don't undervalue the importance of having a phone and email contact list. It's a straightforward approach to keep everyone informed about your parents' needs.
You might also wish to get a cell phone for the individual you care about (and make sure he or she knows how to use it). Consider having a private phone line put in your family member's room if he or she is in a nursing home. Doctors', friends', family members', and your own phone numbers should all be programmed into the phone, as well as a list of speed-dial numbers to maintain with the phone. Simple strategies like these can save your life. However, if you find yourself getting a lot of calls from your parents, try to be prepared.
