When you live some distance away, the first time you call your parents and get no answer, it’s easy to chalk it up to a missed call. They left the phone on the kitchen counter next to the toaster; the phone died last night. But with the third call, your cup of coffee can cool next to your computer as you wonder if something is wrong. Reliable home care provides a person close by who can look in the kitchen, knock on the bedroom door and let you know.
What happens when the morning call goes unanswered?
Maybe the phone went off the charger and into the bed, the hearing aids are still on the bedside table, or the TV is on and too loud. None of this can be seen when you’re far away.
In-home care can make sure your parent is okay and help start their day, perhaps pulling open the blinds, putting the morning medications on the table next to a glass of water, or making breakfast in the blue bowl they like. Then they can send a quick note to let you know what they saw, so you don’t have to worry all morning about calling your neighbors.
How does in-home care help with groceries?
Your parent might tell you over a video call that they have plenty of food at home. What the camera doesn’t see is the contents of the fridge, including a half-empty jar of mustard, a soft apple, and milk expired three days ago. Shopping can be hard enough on its own, but add the challenge of carrying heavy bags (there is a useful breakdown at who.int/news-room), reading small print on labels or figuring out meals when it takes more effort than usual.
You’re First Home Care can see what really is in the fridge and help out by:
- Checking expiration dates on milk, yogurt, ham, etc.
- Making a grocery list on the pad on the fridge
- Cooking lunch and packing leftovers
- Cleaning up a sticky kitchen counter that could attract ants
These small things give you a better idea of what’s going on in your parent’s home than a quick phone call can.
How do you handle a missed appointment?
The doctor’s appointment is written on a calendar in thick black letters, but the reminder slips are still in the pile of junk mail. Maybe the clock is ten minutes slow, one shoe is missing, or the ride never showed up.
Reliable home care can help get them dressed, pack their wallet and medication list, and make sure they get out the door with enough time to walk down the stairs without rushing. They can also help track post-visit information like what the nurse practitioner wrote on the follow-up card or when their prescription is ready (published here) at the pharmacy.
What do you do when you want to know more about the visit?
“Everything is fine,” doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. Do they still have to eat lunch alone? Why is the hallway light still on? Did the squeak in the bathroom hinge make it harder for them to stand up?
When it comes to family communication, it’s important to share meaningful and respectful information. Details like fresh towels hanging on the bathroom rack, the afternoon pills taken, or that they seemed very tired after walking to the mailbox can help you understand what’s happening. It’s also helpful to share these details over multiple visits, especially when siblings are talking to each other in different time zones.
How can you handle unexpected changes in plans?
A canceled flight, a sick child or a car with a dead battery can all prevent you from making a visit. In the meantime, laundry is piling up in the washer and the trash needs to go out before morning.
Local home care can be a reliable backup plan when your plans change. They’ll already know where the laundry detergent is kept, how to stabilize the chair they use to get dressed, and why the back door needs to be pulled extra hard.
Having an emergency plan posted on the fridge can be helpful too, including family numbers, allergies, preferred hospital and where the spare key is.
If the power goes out due to a storm or a pipe bursts, the caregiver knows what to prioritize and who to contact.
Routine visits can also maintain familiar activities that may otherwise disappear. A visitor can leave out the crossword puzzle, water the plants on the porch or facilitate a phone call to an old friend. The loss of interest in any of these things can signal something that needs to be addressed.
How can you continue being involved in your parent’s life from a distance?
Even with a lot of love, living far away means you can’t always check the fridge or hear the creaky step. With reliable in-home care and specific updates, you can take action when you need to rather than guessing why the phone isn’t ringing. Your parent continues to do the things they like to do, and you can help from wherever your house keys are.
