Long-Distance Strategies for Keeping Your Senior Parent Safe, Happy, and Healthy

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Article by Claire Wentz caringfromafar.com

Keeping Your Senior Parent Safe from a Distance

Being separated by any distance from a senior parent can be stressful and anxiety-provoking. This is especially true for those who have parents in poor health. When you cannot consistently be nearby to provide help — whether for daily needs or in an emergency — it is easy to feel powerless. However, thanks to the wide availability of various technologies, it is possible to stay connected with your loved ones across long distances.

If you’ve been in search of ways to keep your senior parent safe, happy, and healthy at all times, explore the top strategies presented by Wyoming Social Resources Information.

Purchase a GPS medical alert system 

If your senior parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, keeping track of their location is critical. Unfortunately, when you live hours away, this is not an easy task.

Now, you can give your senior parent a wearable location and medical alert device. These devices can keep you up to date on your loved one’s whereabouts using a built-in GPS. If your parent leaves home and gets lost, you can discover their exact location within minutes. Additionally, these devices can provide you with your parent’s health status, which can give you the peace of mind you need. In the event your loved one needs medical assistance and is home alone, they can request emergency services from their wearable device. 

Hire trustworthy in-home care 

In the event that your parent cannot safely live alone — yet do not want to leave their home — hiring trustworthy in-home care services can be an excellent compromise. You can choose to have a healthcare professional drop by once or a few times daily or stay for extended periods of time. The cost of in-home care is often far more reasonable than assisted living or nursing home care and provides your parent with a sense of independence.

Your chosen home care team can also provide you with health updates if you arrange to have the proper permissions. This change can go a long way in keeping your loved one safe and having his or her needs met — and in keeping you up-to-date on their condition(s). 

Schedule frequent video calls 

Loneliness is far more dangerous than most people had previously thought. In fact, recent studies have revealed that experiencing loneliness can cause inflammation in the body, increase the risk of dementia by 50 percent, and can increase “a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity” (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Among all groups of individuals, seniors are the most likely to report being lonely on a regular basis.

To help your parent avoid the negative consequences of loneliness, schedule frequent video calls on Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or any other video chat platform. Having face-to-face interaction — even digitally — can go a long way in preventing feelings of loneliness. 

Encourage your parent to stay social 

You can further help your parent combat feelings of loneliness by encouraging them to stay social. Research senior-specific activities in your parent’s town to see what options are available. From there, you can sign them up for various activities, and arrange transportation if needed. A great resource is their local Senior Center.

Although you cannot physically be with your parent at all times, you can take the steps listed above to provide them with the best care that you can from a distance. This will undoubtedly help both of you feel closer, even if you live hours apart.

Wyoming Social Resources Information is a website that provides vital social resources — including affordable housing, crisis services, and disability services — to those living in Western Wyoming. Search for the information you need today.