Intro

Providing care to seniors can be a major task. We want the seniors in our lives to be safe, comfortable, and cared for. This isn’t always easy, especially if you live far away from your loved ones. Thankfully, there are many ways to connect with your long distance relative.

Living far away from elderly parents or grandparents doesn’t mean you can’t help make their lives a little easier. Here are 5 ideas to provide long-distance care for older family members and loved ones.

Take Advantage of Today’s Technology

Modern technology has transformed how we can communicate with the people in our lives. The market for video chatting software and other communication tools exploded during the lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, we can take advantage of these advancements to help seniors from a distance.

Major video calling apps like Skype and FaceTime allow you to see and talk with your loved one at any time from a phone or computer. Similar services, like Zoom, make it easier to host a group call where multiple family members and friends can participate.

Being able to see someone is a much more effective way to keep an eye on their wellbeing. That’s why video chatting is so much better than a simple voice call. Make sure the senior in your life is clean, happy, and healthy by having a regularly scheduled “face-to-face” video call.

Technology’s benefits extend to much more than video calling. Smartwatches, Fitbits, and other wearable devices provide even more direct monitoring of your loved one’s health and activity. With this software, you can track sleeping patterns, heart rate, mobility, and much more. Keeping a diligent watch on this data can alert you to potential issues before they get out of control.

In-Home Caregiver

For elderly and other people who need help taking care of their day-to-day needs, an in-home caregiver is the most hands-on solution. These professionals provide a deep level of thoughtful service, but they come at a cost. Making a call on FaceTime or Zoom is essentially free, but in-home caregivers for seniors can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars a day to thousands of dollars per month.

For their premium price, in-home caregivers take care of all your loved one’s needs. These caregivers are necessary for many older seniors and those with health limitations or mobility issues. The tasks they can assist with include, but are not limited to:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Grooming
• Cooking
• Medication

There are many resources for finding the right caregiver for your loved one’s needs. The first step is to look up your state’s Department of Aging website to see what resources are available for your loved one. If you would rather seek out a private caregiver, there are many reputable websites like Care.com that can connect you with experienced professionals.

Other Community Resources

In addition to in-home caregiving, your local Department of Aging likely offers other resources that may be of use. Community centers often have events or activities that seniors can attend to socialize and stay active. Some local agencies also offer transportation services and meal delivery programs to help older adults maintain their independence and their quality of life.

Remember to contact the Department of Aging local to your elderly loved one! If you live in a different city, state, or country, your local agency won’t be able to help your long-distance parent or grandparent.

Unfortunately, some municipalities have much broader resources than others. If your government-sponsored resources are limited, check out the other entries on my list for private services. For example, Martha’s Senior Gourmet offers a monitoring service as an extension of its meal delivery program.

Collaborate with Family

If you aren’t the only person providing long-distance care, it’s important to keep everyone on the same page. Whether it’s with other family members or unrelated caregivers, good communication ensures that everyone is up-to-date on your loved one’s health, wellbeing, and needs.

If the senior in your life lives alone, it’s particularly important to keep in touch with them on a regular basis. Regular video calls, phone conversations, and in-person visits are all necessary to prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation. No matter how much you love them, taking care of an older relative is a major burden for one person.

Collaborating with others lets you split the work that goes into caring for someone. Sharing the load in this way takes the stress out of caregiving, but only if everyone is keeping in touch with each other. A shared calendar or task list helps make sure nothing important is overlooked.

Martha’s Senior Gourmet

Martha’s Senior Gourmet is designed with long-distance caregiving in mind. As I mentioned earlier, this meal delivery service is optimized to meet the needs of the senior in your life. The meals are nutritionally complete and delivered fresh to be delicious as well as healthy, but that’s just one part of what we offer.

Martha’s delivery drivers develop a rapport with our clients, providing personal interaction every time meals are delivered. This social connection is vital for isolated seniors. The Delivery Team is also specially trained to observe and note certain details, such as:

• Length of time to answer door
• General appearance
• Changes in speech pattern
• Recognition and cognition
• Changes in mobility

By reporting anything unusual, Martha’s Monitoring Service can help you catch early warning signs and prevent issues before they become major. An on-staff Certified Senior Advisor is ready to address any questions or concerns you have about your loved one’s health.

Martha’s Monitoring Service is available at no additional cost, and it can provide you with peace of mind when you can’t be there for your loved one in person.

Click this link to sign up for Martha’s Senior Gourmet!

FAQs

Why Are Senior Meal Delivery Services Good for Seniors?

Senior meal delivery services allow seniors to enjoy meals that are optimized for their unique health needs. They also make it possible for seniors with mobility issues to enjoy meals independently and from the comfort of their own home.

Are Senior Meal Delivery Services Worth the Cost?

Senior meal delivery services can be affordable, especially when you consider the value of your loved one’s life. While meals come at a wide range of prices, the benefits can be priceless. For example, Martha’s Monitoring Service is a free addition to your meal subscription that can provide potentially life-saving information.

What Are the Two Different Types of Care for the Elderly?

Elderly care is often called Skilled or Custodial care, which can be thought of as medical and non-medical care. Skilled or “medical” care requires medical training and consists of things like physical therapy and using an IV. Custodial or “non-medical” care consists of day-to-day activities like food preparation, bathing, and laundry.