2008/05/21 00:00:00
Long-distance caregiving has become the norm as adult children leave their hometowns to pursue educational opportunities, military service, or careers. However, geographical separation can pose unique challenges for family caregivers, because it is essential to have a set of eyes and ears where your parents live. You might be fortunate and have a family member in your parent’s hometown, but more often than not, you will have to rely on outside help.
Choosing the type of help your parent needs depends on the level of supervision he or she requires. If your parent still is fairly independent and lives alone, most local aging agencies provide “friendly phone call” and “friendly visitor” programs. A volunteer is assigned to check in by phone or home visit to provide socialization, assess any potential problems, and alert agency staff about any concerns. This service is a perfect adjunct to family phone calls.
If your parent wishes to remain in his or her home but requires assistance with daily living activities, you have multiple options. Here are the primary ones to consider:
- Meal preparation: Meals on Wheels delivers a hot meal daily to enrollees’ homes. A phone call is all that’s required to initiate the enrollment process. Many churches also provide a weekly hot meal for seniors; check with larger churches near your parents to see if this is available. In addition to hot meal programs, some churches also might provide a box of groceries monthly for a nominal charge. In metropolitan areas, most large grocery-store chains now offer delivery service for a fee. Orders must be placed online, so if your parent does not have Internet access you will have to place their order.
- Transportation: If your parent no longer is able to drive, you might want to explore alternative transportation. Larger cities with mass transportation usually offer discount senior passes. If this is not an option, contact the area’s aging agency regarding senior transportation services. These services readily are available for those who are disabled. The focus primarily is to provide transportation to medical appointments and grocery shopping.
- Personal care: Home care agencies typically require a four-hour block of time for personal care services. If your parent does not require this much time, you will have to hire a private caregiver. The process of hiring a caregiver requires due diligence on your part. It is essential to perform a background check on any individual whom you wish to hire. There are many online sources for completing background checks if you choose to hire a caregiver on your own.
If you use or rely on an agency that specializes in senior caregivers, the agency is responsible for performing a background check. But before securing the assistance of an agency, research the agency’s background. Check the Better Business Bureau and the state’s registry of home care agencies for information on the agency’s reputation and any registered complaints.
Once you are satisfied the agency you wish to hire is reputable, ask the following:
- Can you meet with or interview the potential caregiver by phone?
- What is the agency’s backup plan if the caregiver is not available due to illness or an emergency?
- How and how often is the caregiver paid?
- What is the caregiver able to do and not do for your parent?
- How is the caregiver supervised?
- Whom do you call with questions or problems?
Be aware that the nature of these services can lead to a turnover in caregivers. This can be a result of the caregiver’s decision to leave, changes in the agency’s staffing pattern, or a personality conflict between the caregiver and your parent.
Finding the right caregiver can be a time-consuming process, but it is worth the effort, as this person will have frequent contact with your parent.
Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan is an adult nurse practitioner and professional consultant. She is a featured speaker at national professional conferences and writes about geriatrics for multiple publications. If you’d like to send Nanette a comment, question, or suggestion for a future column, please e-mail rolereversal@moaa.org.
