Living far from your senior loved one is already difficult enough when you wish you could see him or her more often. Once seniors reach their golden years, it’s common for family members to discover feelings of guilt begin to creep in along with the normal emotions that come from missing their senior loved ones. Feeling guilty that you can’t be there every time your loved one needs something is best addressed right away so it doesn’t interfere with your relationship.
Acknowledge Your Best Efforts
Guilt tends to develop when you feel like you’re not doing your best. Most likely, you’re doing everything you can to help but are also faced with limitations. Give yourself a break by recognizing the things you do to make your loved one’s life brighter. From sending a text to handling your parent’s healthcare, you’re doing many things each day that deserve recognition.
In Amarillo, elder care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Encourage Independence
There are some benefits to living so far away. Without having you at his or her beck and call, your loved one has to find ways to be independent. Seniors who remain as independent as possible tend to live longer and experience fewer illnesses. Your loved one may still need assistance from time to time, but he or she may also be more likely to look after his or her health when you can’t run to his or her aid at a moment’s notice.
Senior care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
Strategize Your Visits
You can also address long-distance caregiver guilt by making a list of things to do when you visit. Although you might not be able to do everything, you can help with those day-to-day things your loved one can put off until you’re there. For instance, you might be able to help your loved one organize a closet during your next visit. You might also want to schedule a health appointment for your loved one during these times so you can meet the doctor face-to-face.
Set Up Virtual Video Chats
Video chats are a wonderful way to connect with your loved one while feeling a lot like you’re in the same room. Video chats allow you to see how your loved one looks physically, which may alleviate some of your anxiety. You can also use video chats to handle many common caregiving tasks, such as walking your parent through setting up an online account.
Make Plans for Hands-On Care
As much as you may connect with your loved one, it’s still impossible to get the same level of connection as in-person meetings. This hurdle is easily overcome by planning for a local caregiver to drop by to visit regularly. This arrangement lets your loved one enjoy some socialization. You’ll also feel much better when you receive regular reports about how your loved one is handling living alone.
Knowing a professional caregiver is assisting your loved one can relieve a great deal of the guilt you may feel for being away. For many seniors in Amarillo, TX, 24-hour care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Home Care Assistance, we extensively screen all of our live-in and 24-hour caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness. Reach out to us at Home Care Assistance if you need compassionate, professional home care for your loved one. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (806) 803-9991 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.