How to Make Sure Your Parents Stay Healthy When You Are Away
The busy schedules of modern life often mean adult children spend more time away from their parent’s home than they’d prefer.
But just because you can’t be there in person doesn’t mean you can’t help promote your parents’ continued wellness. Here are several ways to help keep an eye on their health and wellness from a distance.
Employer or Health Plan Assistance With Everyday Needs
Certain organizations partner with health plans like Medicare Advantage and Medicaid to provide non-medical assistance to members and their families.
This help can reduce isolation by connecting people to companions who assist with everyday tasks, transportation to appointments, and other services.
Companionship programs act as additional support for overwhelmed family caregivers.
Caregivers struggling to find time may receive help driving loved ones to appointments, ensuring they stay active, taking medications as prescribed, and more.
According to research leader Ellen Rudy, Ph.D., the risks of loneliness are greater than those of obesity, inactivity, and excess alcohol use. They even surpass the risks associated with smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily.
Private Home Care as an Option
Private home care can benefit those needing regular assistance. A privately hired caregiver may be suitable for individuals managing chronic health conditions or illnesses long-term.
Family-arranged care offers flexibility but has limitations. Loved ones may lack access to varied caregiver types or perform background checks. Agencies are bonded and insured, and all caregivers are thoroughly screened.
You could consider a family nurse practitioner. As primary care providers, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) deliver preventative healthcare and specialty services to patients of all ages without physician oversight.
Their duties include comprehensive exams, medical testing, and homecare guidance. Through years of care, FNPs develop strong patient relationships and personalized care plans.
FNPs undergo stringent licensure requirements, ensuring their ability to provide high-quality primary and specialty care independently.
Aspiring FNPs have the flexibility to choose from various training pathways, such as RN to FNP online programs or hybrid models. This makes it easier for nurses to advance their careers.
Rest assured, FNPs are highly qualified for their roles. For individuals needing long-term home-based care, an FNP is an excellent choice for private, professional healthcare.
According to Spring Arbor University, many nurse practitioners work in private physician’s offices, hospitals, outpatient facilities, and educational settings.
Their advanced education qualifies FNPs to assess, diagnose, and treat diverse populations across various community settings near patients’ homes.
Consider an Adult Day Center
Adult day centers offer a supportive environment for older adults with conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
These centers are essential for individuals who cannot safely stay home alone during the day. Such programs focus on keeping mentally and physically active through various engaging activities.
The main goals of adult day centers are to provide medical, functional, and social support to vulnerable seniors.
These centers also enable caregivers to work with the assurance that their loved ones are receiving care. Elise Eifert, a gerontology expert told Forbes that that they fulfill an important need.
There are typically three main models of adult daycare:
- Social adult day centers focus on planned social interaction, exercise, and enjoyment tailored to each person’s abilities.
- Adult day health centers incorporate therapeutic services like physical or occupational therapy into their schedules of activities.
- Specialized centers cater specifically to those dealing with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or developmental disabilities.
Costs range from around $25 to over $100 per day, with reimbursement sometimes available through government programs depending on the services and location.
Explore Home Care Services
In addition to medical care, another crucial aspect of supporting your loved one is addressing their day-to-day needs, such as home care services.
Home care services are usually paid at an hourly rate. Individual aides and home care agencies charge roughly $30 per hour on average.
As per SeniorLiving.org, for eight hours of weekly in-home support, total costs approach $1,000. However, prices vary depending on the level of care required to meet an individual’s health needs.
Agencies typically charge higher rates than private contractors but conduct background checks and ensure all required assistance is competently delivered.
In recent years, the rising cost of quality in-home services has tracked the real value of supporting independent living for seniors.
Maintaining Contact with Your Loved One’s Support Network
Leeder told Highgate Senior Living that getting an accurate medical diagnosis is important for addressing physical or cognitive concerns from a distance.
Be sure your loved one attends necessary checkups. Consider discussing power of attorney designation, if not already arranged, and ask if they’re open to occasional teleconferences with healthcare providers.
Many feel anxious seeing doctors alone, so your virtual presence allows participation and reassurance.
FAQs
- How to stop worrying about elderly parents?
A: Focusing on gratitude can help maintain a positive mindset when caring for aging parents, which leads to stress.
Making a conscious effort each day to acknowledge the things one is thankful for has been shown to effectively enhance mental well-being. This practice can also help relieve anxiety and depression.
- Why do I get so angry with my elderly mother?
A: As children, parents often represent strength, health, and control. Seeing declines in their abilities now can shatter that image and leave adult children feeling dismayed, disappointed, fearful, and, yes—angry. Our expectations of their enduring presence have been upended.
- Is it okay to stay away from your parents?
A: For those accustomed to constant contact with parents or avoidance of issues, taking time apart and communicating that decision can seem daunting.
However, if an interpersonal dynamic is unsatisfying and one wishes to improve the relationship, physical and emotional space may prove beneficial despite initial apprehension. Healthy boundaries could foster more positive interactions in the long term.
Physical distance can sometimes separate adult children from their parents. However, ensuring the health and well-being of aging loved ones remains an important responsibility even from afar.
Through open communication, planning, and utilizing available support services, families can work together across miles to promote independence and quality of care.
Maintaining connections with parents and their support teams allows concerns to be addressed early through informed support.
With compassion and coordination, adult children can feel reassured that their parent’s wellness and happiness are being taken care of. This is especially true when they can’t be physically present each day.
Promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing needs proactively helps seniors live with dignity in the setting of their choice for as long as safely possible.