Getting Started as a Long-Distance Caregiver

As we discussed in a previous post, most modern-day families are decidedly smaller and more spread-out geographically than those of generations past. This has lead to an estimated 7 million long-distance caregivers in the U.S. Luckily, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a handy guide (which you can download for free) which discusses exactly what it means to be a long-distance caregiver, and the difficulties many of these people face in providing several years worth of care to loved ones from a distance.

Below are some pointers from the NIH to help you get a hold on what exactly your role is as a long-distance caregiver:

  • You don’t need to live across the country to be considered a long-distance caregiver. The NIH considers long-distance caregivers as those who “live an hour or more away from a person who needs care.”
  • Care comes in many forms, including: helping out financially, money management, arranging for in-home care, providing respite care for a direct caregiver, creating a plan in case of an emergency, acting as an information coordinator, and helping aging parents or loved ones understand their situation and needs.
  • It’s an ever-demanding role that lasts many years. The NIH notes that long-distance caregivers need to be aware that they are often a role that will last many years, and they should expect their duties to increase over time. For example, what starts out as an occasional phone call to share family news can eventually turn into routine calls about managing bills, estate planning, talking to doctors and professional health care providers, etc. In some cases, long-distance caregivers take extended periods of time off work to move in with their loved one, providing direct care and helping with day-to-day responsibilities, such as moving their parents into a nursing facility.
  • Anyone can be a long-distance caregiver. Gender, income, age, social status, and employment don’t prevent people from becoming long-distance caregivers. And the face of caregiving is changing. “In the past, caregivers have been primarily working women in mid-life with other family responsibilities,” according to the NIH. Now, it’s more common for men to get involved in the process as well. Some surveys even show that upwards of 40 percent of caregivers are now men.

For more information on long-distance caregiving from the NIH, check out more from their e-publication, “So Far Away: Twenty Questions and Answers About Long-Distance Caregiving.”

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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Tips for Long-Distance Caregivers

A 2012 study by the Alzheimer’s Association found that around 15 million caregivers in the U.S. provided more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care–valued at $216 billion. Dividing caregiving responsibilities among family members has become increasingly more difficult, as modern day families are decidedly smaller and more spread out geographically than in generations past.

Many of these long-distance caregivers must provide several years’ worth of limited care to loved ones from hundreds of miles away–not an easy task. In another light, a family member who lives nearby and is able to provide direct care to his or loved one may feel isolated, as other family members don’t understand or see the day-to-day effects a debilitating illness is having on their aging parent, let alone the stress wrought on the shoulders of the person providing the care.

To help long-distance caregivers stay better involved with the direct care provider, a recent article from the Huffington Post offers the following tips:

  • Take to heart that the job of a distance caregiver is to ease the burden on the direct caregiver and help the ailing senior feel at ease.
  • Set a schedule to call the caregiver directly and stick to it. Ask the caregiver to help answer any questions you might have regarding your loved one’s condition and care. Empathize with the direct caregiver, using phrases like “This must be difficult for you,” “You must be tired (frustrated, etc.),” and “What do you want to do about that?”
  • Request copies of medical reports. This will help you better understand the person’s condition.
  • Become knowledgeable about your loved one’s condition (e.g., read the latest information on Alzheimer’s) to keep yourself in the know.
  • Inquire about the direct caregiver’s health. Ask them if they are able to get out from time to time.
  • Offer to contact a local senior care provider to see how their services (respite care, day programs, etc.) can help.
  • Offer to trade places for a few days every few months. This will give the direct caregiver a much needed break.
  • Remember the important milestones in the caregiver’s life, as birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days can be difficult for many caregivers.

Are there any other tips you’ve found to be helpful in keeping up with long-distance caregiving duties? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments.

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here . Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit http://www.encompass-home-health-care.com.”


Great Online Resources for Family Caregivers

More than 44 million Americans are currently family caregivers. And many of these caregivers take on the role knowing next to nothing about what’s in store.

Here’s a hint: caregiving is at times physically demanding, and other times emotionally taxing. Over the last year, we’ve covered many aspects of caregiver stress here on our blog. Today, we’ll share some of our favorite online resources that caregivers can use to help answer the many questions they will have.

Here’s our list:

AARP’ Caregiving Resource Center–This is great site that offers a thorough and easy-to-navigate online resource center related to all things caregiving, including articles written by caregving experts and healthcare professionals, online chats, messages boards and online group support.

United Hospital Fund’s Next Step in Care–Next Step in Care has dozens of free guides in multiple languages for family caregivers including advance directives, LGBT caregiving, hospice and palliative care, and medication management.

Caregiver Action Network– This non-profit organization provides education, peer support, and resources for family caregivers free of charge. They have a useful series of online videos for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and an ongoing “Story Project” where anyone can share their caregiving experiences, among other resources.

Family Caregiver Alliance–FCA offers free facts sheets and online publications on caregiving issues, as well as a section on its website dedicated to new caregivers.

National Center for Creative Aging–While the NCCA doesn’t necessarily focus on caregiving, families can benefit from its articles and programs which promote the idea that creative expression leads to a better quality of life for older adults.

Physicians Choice Private Duty currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here . Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians Choice Private Duty solves the problems families face in finding home health care providers they can trust. Providers who will focus on strategies that keep parents in their homes. To learn more about our health care services, visit http://www.encompass-home-health-care.com.”