Sometimes geographical distance can prevent you from providing the necessary care your loved one needs. Many people providing care for a loved one live more than one hour away. This can present certain obstacles for both you as a caregiver, and the individual you are caring for. Trying to understand the daily requirements of your loved one from a distance can be a difficult task. Living in a different town or city than your elderly loved one can cause undue stress and worry.
Fortunately, our caregivers at Retire-At-Home Toronto are here to help bridge that gap in any capacity you require. We can offer something as simple as daily or weekly visits, or even in-home care for advanced cases. It can really help put your mind at ease knowing your loved is in the capable hands of our trained and compassionate caregiving professionals.
We can help with daily chores like errands and housekeeping, getting groceries, preparing meals, administering medications, and any other medical needs.
If you are attempting to care for your loved one from another city, here are some options that may make the process a little smoother and more manageable.
- Arrange family meetings
- Be prepared for emergencies
- Get outside help
- Communicate with neighbors or friends in your loved one’s community
Family Meetings
Having regular family meetings is good way to make sure everyone involved is on the same page. This way you can delegate any tasks that will be needed to provide proper support. You can take turns checking in and giving your loved one much needed social interaction. Spreading the responsibility can reduce stress for the whole family. This also ensures that no one that wants to be involved is left in the dark.
Emergency Preparation
You never know when an emergency situation might strike, so it is a good idea to be proactive and prepare for a possible unfortunate event before it happens. Make sure to have a “Ready Bag or a Go Bag” packed to save time and confusion. Make sure everyone involved knows what to do and what is expected of them in case of an emergency.
Neighbors and Friends
It is good practice to have a list of contact numbers of friends and neighbors of your loved one. This way, if you are not able to contact your loved one for some reason, and you are worried about them, you can have someone go over and check in on them. This is also a good way to keep updates on your loved one, and feedback about how they are doing in their daily routines.
Outside Help
Contact community centres in your loved one’s area to find out what types of services they provide for the elderly. Most will have programs in place for the elderly to participate in social events or other functions.
Home care services like Retire-At-Home Toronto are an excellent resource to lean on for extra help and support.
