Tips For Long-Distance Caregivers
by Robyn Mooney
If you’re a family caregiver living far from your loved one, you’re not alone. It can be difficult to connect and communicate with your hired caregiver from a distance. Of course, the way you navigate the situation will vary depending on your loved one’s state of health, independence and situation, but here are five general tips that will help.
- Choose the Right Caregiver – Each home care company is different and each caregiver is different. Your loved one will feel comfortable around some caregivers and not around others. Spend the time up front choosing the right caregiver for your loved one to avoid any hardship as you move forward.
- Get a Trusted Individual Involved – When you can’t be nearby to be a part of the caregiving process, it’s important that you have someone you know and trust to help. This could be one of your loved one’s neighbors, a friend or a family member. Ask them to periodically check in on your loved one and to get to know your hired caregiver face-to-face.
- Keep in Touch With Your Hired Caregiver – Whether via phone, email, text or otherwise, it’s important that you consistently communicate with the caregiver. You’ll inspire better care while helping to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications.
- Show Your Gratitude – It is so important to have a caregiver that you can trust, especially when you can’t be close to your loved one. If you’ve found a caregiver who’s doing a great job, make sure you show your appreciation. Send a card with a few kind words explaining how much they mean to you. They’ll want to keep up the good work, plus it keeps you involved in a deeper way.
- Stay Organized – Put your mind at ease and reduce stress by having a plan in place and a way to track medications, doctor’s appointments, bills, and other important pieces of information, as well as knowing who to count on for certain tasks.
Robyn Mooney is president of CarpeVITA Home Care (www.cvhomecare.com).