Distance makes the heart grow fonder. And in terms of helping out a family member or friend in need, distance can also make caregiving seem more difficult. In a perfect world, we’d be able to instantly be there for a loved one in their time of need. However, location, work, finances, and a number of other factors can often prevent that from happening. The good news? There’s still so much you can do from far away. If you’re new to long distance caregiving, we’re sharing our insights into how you can best support your loved one even from a distance.
 
What You Can Do:
 
Just because you may not be able to be with your loved one full-time doesn’t mean there aren’t ways for you to remain connected and helpful. Often times our loved ones just need someone to take care of the little things or to know they’re being thought of. Whether it’s emotional, financial, or organizational support, here is a short list describing some of the different ways you can help from afar:
 
·         Provide financial assistance in bill payments and money management
·         Find a professional, reliable Home Care Agency that meets your loved one’s needs
·         Collect and organize all health information including current medications, health problems, insurance, etc.
·         Organize (update, if needed) estate plan/paperwork in case of emergency
·         Provide emotional support with phone calls, cards, and updates to family members
 
What’s important to keep in mind is that your loved one’s needs may change over time, so your role may change as well. The best way to remain helpful is to ask the primary caregiver and your loved one how best you can help out.
 
How You Can Prepare:
 
Many of us don’t have prior experience in caregiving, so this new role can seem overwhelming or confusing at times. In order to support your loved one, you need to first support yourself. Talk with friends who are also caregivers for suggestions or read up on online resources for extra information to assist you along the way.
 
What You Need to Know:
 
To make the most out of your assistance, learn as much as you can about your loved one’s condition, treatment, and living situation. And together, create clear instructions as to what you will take care of to avoid confusion. See if you can run through the following ahead of time:
 
·         Receive written permission—needed under the HIPAA Privacy Rule—to access medical and financial information
·         Create a list of people to contact/keep updated throughout the process
·         Put together a document with vital information on medical care, finances, insurance, contact numbers, and more to keep everything on track
·         Create friendly relationship with primary caregiver for smoother transition when you are able to come visit
 
There are bound to be bumps in the road as a long distance caregiver, but never forget the difference you can make no matter where you are. And if any confusion or questions arise, feel free to reach out and ask for clarification. In the end, your help goes a long way and your bond with your loved one will be even stronger for it.
 
Are you a long distance caregiver for someone in the Highland Park area? Search for a ‘Home Care Agency Near Me’ and let us help in finding the Highland Park Home Care that’s just right for your loved one.  
Distance makes the heart grow fonder. And in terms of helping out a family member or friend in need, distance can also make caregiving seem more difficult. In a perfect world, we’d be able to instantly be there for a loved one in their time of need. However, location, work, finances, and a number of other factors can often prevent that from happening. The good news? There’s still so much you can do from far away. If you’re new to long distance caregiving, we’re sharing our insights into how you can best support your loved one even from a distance.
 
What You Can Do:
 
Just because you may not be able to be with your loved one full-time doesn’t mean there aren’t ways for you to remain connected and helpful. Often times our loved ones just need someone to take care of the little things or to know they’re being thought of. Whether it’s emotional, financial, or organizational support, here is a short list describing some of the different ways you can help from afar:
 
·         Provide financial assistance in bill payments and money management
·         Find a professional, reliable Home Care Agency that meets your loved one’s needs
·         Collect and organize all health information including current medications, health problems, insurance, etc.
·         Organize (update, if needed) estate plan/paperwork in case of emergency
·         Provide emotional support with phone calls, cards, and updates to family members
 
What’s important to keep in mind is that your loved one’s needs may change over time, so your role may change as well. The best way to remain helpful is to ask the primary caregiver and your loved one how best you can help out.
 
How You Can Prepare:
 
Many of us don’t have prior experience in caregiving, so this new role can seem overwhelming or confusing at times. In order to support your loved one, you need to first support yourself. Talk with friends who are also caregivers for suggestions or read up on online resources for extra information to assist you along the way.
 
What You Need to Know:
 
To make the most out of your assistance, learn as much as you can about your loved one’s condition, treatment, and living situation. And together, create clear instructions as to what you will take care of to avoid confusion. See if you can run through the following ahead of time:
 
·         Receive written permission—needed under the HIPAA Privacy Rule—to access medical and financial information
·         Create a list of people to contact/keep updated throughout the process
·         Put together a document with vital information on medical care, finances, insurance, contact numbers, and more to keep everything on track
·         Create friendly relationship with primary caregiver for smoother transition when you are able to come visit
 
There are bound to be bumps in the road as a long distance caregiver, but never forget the difference you can make no matter where you are. And if any confusion or questions arise, feel free to reach out and ask for clarification. In the end, your help goes a long way and your bond with your loved one will be even stronger for it.
 
Are you a long distance caregiver for someone in the Highland Park area? Search for a ‘Home Care Agency Near Me’ and let us help in finding the Highland Park Home Care that’s just right for your loved one.