Senior Care: Is It Possible to Be a Family Caregiver When You Live in Another Country?
Senior Care: Your job brought you to Europe, but you worry about your mom and dad being alone as your parents get older.
You can’t visit often enough to make sure they’re doing well. Phone calls and video chats are the only way you can check on them. Have you ever considered the benefits of senior care services?
Senior Care in Elba AL: Long-Distance Caregiving
What Can Senior Home Care Aides Do?
Senior home care aides help your parents with all daily activities of a non-medical nature. Suppose your mom fell and broke her hip. She’s not confident getting in and out of the bathtub/shower unit anymore. She can have a caregiver available to help her with bathing and grooming.
Your dad doesn’t cook. He’s never been good at it, so he limits his meals to canned soup or pasta that he can microwave. He could have a caregiver cook nutritious meals for him.
Caregivers can do the housework. If your parents don’t have the stamina or strength to do things like vacuum pet hair from the stairs or wipe down counters, a caregiver can do it for them. They can vacuum, mop, wipe surfaces, organize cupboards, and do the laundry.
Your parents can have their caregiver drive them to stores, local businesses, area attractions, and medical offices. If they don’t want to go to their doctor’s appointment on their own, their caregiver can accompany them. Caregivers can take them grocery shopping, pick up prescription refills, and put their purchases away when they return to your parents’ house.
Are You Locked Into a Care Plan?
One of the best features of a home care plan is that it can be adapted to fit your parents’ changing needs. Your parents only need companionship services right now. But, a year from now, a health issue arises that requires daily help with bathing and personal care. It’s easy to make those changes.
You’re not locked into anything. If your parents decide to visit you in Europe for a month, they can put their care services on a hiatus for those weeks and resume services when they return.
How Do You Make Arrangements?
Call a home care agency and ask about services in your parents’ city or town. You’ll discuss availability and prices. Once you’ve narrowed down the services they need, arrange the days and times for caregiver visits.
Senior care services can be there for your parents when you live too far away. Support them through video chats and phone calls. Leave the rest up to their caregivers to handle. Together, you and your parents’ caregivers will ensure they age at home independently and safely.