How You Can Help Seniors in Ill Health from Afar
Although it might have seemed like a great idea to move away from your parents when you were a teenager or a young adult, when your loved ones get ill, living far away can be extremely worrying and can make you feel as if you are helpless. However, there is no need to despair, and in the modern age, there are now plenty of ways that you can care for and keep up to date with your senior’s health no matter where they are.
- Check Up on The Care They Receive
The first step you should take is to check up on the care they are receiving and ensure that this is of good quality and that your senior resources is benefitting from this care. For instance, you should look at reviews and recommendations online or contact the service in question to find out how your loved one is doing. It would be best if you also spoke to your parent to determine whether they think that the care they are receiving is of a high standard. It would help if you also considered talking to their doctor yourself about their care, which can help you put your mind at rest. However, you should always make sure that you tell your loved one what you are doing, as checking up on them behind their back can cause friction between you and the senior in your life.
- Make Sure That They are Comfortable
The most important aspect of your loved one’s healthcare that you should check, though, is whether they are comfortable and happy, even though they are in ill-health. Many elderly parents may try to hide things from you, especially any developing symptoms, for fear that you will worry about them or that you will make a decision that they do not agree with on their behalf. Then, you should make sure that they tell you the truth about their comfort and condition and ensure that nothing else can be done to help them live the best life possible.
- Get a Proxy
If you cannot check on your ill parent yourself because you live far away, you should try to get someone else that you trust to check on them in your stead, such as a long-time neighbor, nearby family member, or family friend. By doing this, you will ensure that you can hear about how your loved one is doing from someone else, while helping them get all the care and support that you cannot give them. If you cannot find anyone you trust, you should consider employing a reputable care service to do this for you. You might also arrange services to provide the help that an adult child would normally do for their parent, such as a food delivery service. This will make sure that you can still look after them, even if not entirely in person.
- Visit as Often as Possible
When you have an ailing elderly relative, you do not always know when the last time you see them will be. You should then make the most of your loved ones by visiting as often as possible and treasuring the time you can spend with them. Sometimes, a phone call is not enough, and unless you live on the other side of the world, you should arrange to take time off to visit them either alone or with family. Not only will this light up their day, but it will also allow you to check on them and to provide them with the care that they need. This is especially important if they are unable to receive the services that you have arranged regularly.
- Look Around for Good Treatment Options
When your loved one is ill, there are often multiple treatment options that they can try, both medical and holistic. Rather than accept the first treatment that is offered to them, it would help if you looked around for the solution that might be best for them. This is especially the case if any treatments impact their quality of life, if they are unable to have the most common treatment due to issues such as allergies or mobility, or if the treatment they are currently taking is not working or comes with negative side effects.
- Find Assisted Living Facilities
If your loved one is struggling with their health and it does not look as if they will get better, you should research potential assisted living facilities for them in your local area. For instance, Belmont Village provides assisted living Orange County to ensure that all of their health needs are met while still providing them with a good quality of life. Not only this, but the 24/7 care that they will receive will prevent them from falling or injuring themselves in the home and can make sure that any symptoms that they start to have are noticed immediately, even when you are not there.
- Make Sure They Have a Life Away from You
However, just because your loved one is ill, this does not mean that their entire world has to orbit around you. If you are struggling to give them the attention that they need, you should make sure that they have an enjoyable and rich life away from you. For instance, you should ensure that they have the means and transport to meet friends and attend classes and groups they still enjoy and are passionate about. This can help them stay healthier for longer and prevent you from feeling guilty about your absence.
Trying to help seniors in ill health from afar can be incredibly stressful for both you and your loved one, and many people find themselves under a lot of pressure to give their loved one the best life possible, even if they cannot be there in person. However, there are still many ways to make a connection with them and allow them to thrive, though you are unable to be a constant physical presence within their lives.
