Staying away from mom
and dad is tough, but you want to prioritize their health, safety and care
while the pandemic continues. Living far away from your folks can also add to
the challenge of caring for them. Now might be a great time to consider in-home
care or assisted living options nearby to ensure their care is properly managed
at all times.
Here are some tips
from our assisted living team in Cape May County, NJ, to best manage your
parent’s care from a distance.
#1 – Stay in touch
One of the biggest
challenges during this pandemic is maintaining our mental and physical health.
It’s essential that loved ones stay in touch with their senior loved ones,
whatever way they can. Fortunately, with video chat options like Zoom and
Skype, it’s easy to chat and see each other as often as you’d like completely
risk-free.
For anyone without access to a smartphone or tablet, regular phone calls are
just as good. Regular catch-ups or even a quick call once a day to check in are
ideal – and they’ll help you cope with your concern for them too.
#2 – Drive by
It sounds like a funny
idea, but a quick drive by when you are in the area is a great way to check on
your loved one! Let them know by phone when to expect you, and drive by their
home at the appointed time.
Stay physically distant, wave, blow kisses and tell them you love them.
Sanitize any care packages thoroughly, and place them by the door for pick up
while your loved one is inside. People have gotten so creative with this option,
organizing funny parades with music and noisemakers, having socially-distant
drive-by birthday parties, and just having a great time!
#3 – Create a
network
It takes a village to
look after senior loved ones, and the pandemic has really highlighted this!
Don’t try to take it all on alone, especially if you live far away from your
parents. Have a Zoom or Skype chat with other family members (especially those
nearby), get to know your parent’s neighbors and even get some professional
help if needed.
Having an organized network to share the load is beneficial to everyone,
especially your parents. Neighbors can keep an eye on the house and let you
know if they have any concerns, family members can take different days of the
week to call your parents or deliver groceries/medications, and together you
can make caregiving a lot easier and more effective.
#4 – Have a plan
No one wants to face
an emergency, but it’s important for their wellbeing and your peace of mind
that everyone knows what to do if one does. Whether it’s a fall, a possible
COVID-19 exposure or anything else, you and your parents need to have a set
plan in place to cope with it.
This should include contact numbers for doctors or healthcare professionals,
knowledge of the symptoms of COVID-19 (especially important ones like shortness
of breath or chest pain), and having an emergency healthcare kit at home
complete with other important contact numbers, health information, insurance
details and an updated list of medications. This will ensure that health care
emergencies are taken care of as quickly and effectively as possible, and that
the right people are contacted to keep you informed.
#5 – Consider
assisted living
Going into assisted
living is a big step for families and it is often a difficult decision to make,
especially during an on-going pandemic. However, these communities are often
very different from what everyone imagines! United Methodist Communities at The
Shores is a safe community that supports senior health and independence in true
comfort.
Our team responded
quickly to COVID-19
with industry-leading health and safety protocols for residents,
associates, vendors, and visitors to follow. We also understand that responding
to this virus is much more than just enhanced health and safety measures. It’s
also important to keep our residents engaged and connected to the outside world
through means of socially distant activities and video streaming services.
At The Shores, our aim
is to create a community where quality of life for seniors comes first –
really, we’re working to create a home. Contact us today to find out more about
our senior care services, or visit our website at: https://theshores.umcommunities.org/services/
Original content posted on https://theshores.umcommunities.org/the-shores/how-to-manage-your-loved-ones-care-while-socially-distant/
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