Long Distance Caregiving
Long Distance Caregiving to Alzheimer’s Patients
Being a caregiver is difficult enough, but when the senior has dementia and you are a long distance caregiver, it can become even more of a challenge. Even though a person cannot be in close proximity, there are some things that can be done to make the caregiving process easier and more effective. Below are some tips that can benefit caregivers and the seniors they care for.
1. Make sure to be aware of what services are needed. People with dementia may need assistance doing daily tasks. When visiting the home, be sure to notice what they can do on their own. This will provide a better sense of what kind of services could help.
2. Check the food in the refrigerator to make sure there is enough and that it is not spoiled. Watch how they function in the kitchen.
3. If the home is messy, they may need help maintaining the inside and outside of the home. Laundry can also be a chore for many seniors. Those with dementia will have even more problems. If the senior needs help with laundry and other things around the home, hiring a PCA can be beneficial.
4. Create a list of support contacts. This should include individuals and resources that can help coordinate care from a distance.
5. Keep a current list with names and numbers and note what kind of services they provide.
6. Keep in touch with their doctor so you will always be updated on medical conditions.
7. Make the best of physical visits. While visiting, make necessary appointments, talk with friends and other family members about how the senior is doing and make sure to make time to reconnect with the senior.
Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
