Caregiving can be a difficult task, especially when you live in a different state from your parents. While this is a normal occurrence, and it works out great in many cases – until your parents start to age. As they need more help, it can leave you in a tight spot trying to take care of them long-distance.
There are many steps you can take to ensure your parents are taken care of. Check out some of these long-distance caregiving tips.
1. Recognize What You Can Do
The first step is one of the most important. You must admit to yourself what you can – and cannot – do. While you might want to think you can do it all for your parents, there is no shame in admitting you need help. This is critical because it can help you identify who you need to assist with your parents’ care. For example, if you are comfortable handling their money and bills from afar, you can take on that piece, and seek help for medical care.
2. Talk to Your Parents
You need to have an honest conversation with your parents and other family members about the long-term plan for your mother and father. It’s essential to determine if they will go into a senior care facility, or if they will remain in their house and will require in-home care. Having this conversation will have a major impact on their finances, and the amount of coordination you will need to do to ensure they are getting the proper care, medication, caregiving, and meals they need each day.
If you have siblings, it’s essential to get everyone on the same page and to set up regular meetings with them to divide tasks and ensure everything is getting done. It’s also important to make sure those who are making medical and financial decisions for your parents are legally able to do so. An estate planning attorney can help with this.
3. Plan Regular Check-Ins
While caregiving for your parents from afar is possible, it’s also essential to plan regular visits to see them, talk to their doctors, and help take care of their financial needs for them. If you are not able to make a physical visit to see them, then trying to FaceTime them to better monitor their condition, or scheduling regular meetings with their doctors, accountants, and attorneys can help make you feel more involved in the process.
4. Find a Support System
If an emergency occurs with your parents, you will need to have a plan in place for how to get them help immediately. Since it will take you a while to arrive, you should put a support system in place to ensure there are people near your parents who can help until you arrive. Make sure you keep their contact information handy, and that they know their role. This will make emergencies less stressful and can put both you and your parents at ease.
5. Hire an Elder Law Attorney
One of the most important steps you can take to help your parents from afar is to hire an experienced elder law attorney. They can establish an estate plan, name power of attorney, create a revocable living trust, and take other legal actions to protect your parents and their estate and ensure their wishes are being carried out.
Why Hire Us for Elder Law and Caregiving Assistance
Protect your elderly parents with long distance caregiving and by hiring an estate planning attorney. Hire our attorneys at Johnstone Adams LLC to help you.
Ranked in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 12 practice areas, we have experts in many areas of law to give our clients top-notch representation. In business for more than a century, our firm can mix its experience with the ability to evolve with the changing times.
To get started, contact us at 251-319-4659 or info@johnstoneadams.com.