As you and your parents get older you may find yourself leaving from the place you grew up in. This may leave you caring for your loved ones at a distance as you cannot provide daily assistance. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your parents get the care they deserve. Even with an alternative care plan in place, it may be best to check in on them a few times a week and make sure no urgent needs have arisen since the last time you saw them.
Get Familiar with Your Loved Ones Health & Habits
When visiting your parents in person, you should express your situation to them and ask to consult with those who get the opportunity to see your parents regularly. These include friends, neighbors, and doctors who live in the area. You can make your own observations based on their health and living conditions. You can make sure that their home is safe and accessible for any condition that they might have. You can help them to modify their home if needed. They should have easy access to both food and medical treatment. Make sure that they can also handle their finances effectively. You should get a general sense of the mood of your loved ones and learn about their hobbies and activities to make sure that they do not live a depressed or isolated life and have a rewarding life.
Collecting Emergency Information
Your loved one having a support system in place is crucial to getting them the care they need in the case of an emergency. This can include friends and neighbors, as well as members community and religious organizations that your loved one is a part of. It’s best to have the contacts of the people caring for your parents even if you feel confident they can keep up with their medical needs. Get familiar with any medications there as well as their health insurance coverage. I suggest getting the contact information of the lawyer assisting them.
Managing finances may also prove difficult for your older loved ones. Know where their financial and legal documents are. This includes estate plans, Financial POAs, and information on their investment accounts. If they need any help in this area, you should help them get a plan put into place immediately while they’re in good health to make their own decisions.
Getting Assistance from Others
Elderly people often hate to give up their independence. That’s totally understandable. However, they may sometimes need help from others to keep them safe and living as independently as possible. You can help find services for your parents that provide prepared meals, activities, and transportation. Even with these accommodations, your family will want to find people in the area who you trust to monitor your loved one’s needs. Sometimes you can trust someone close to them or a geriatric care manager. Check in regularly with your parents’ doctors, so you understand their up-to-date medical information. This will likely require legal documents that allows their doctor to share this information with you – such as a Universal HIPAA Release and Healthcare Power of Attorney.
If this sounds like your situation, you will want to get in touch with your local elder law attorney to help you prepare for future eventualities!