Obstacles of Long-Distance Caregiving: Arranging Out of State Elderly Care
Today, it’s not uncommon for family members to live far from one another. Whether you moved away from your parents or they moved away from you, distance is an obstacle to properly caring for an aging parent that needs it. So what are the best ways to support and provide care for a family member who lives out of state?
Today, we’re going to answer some of the most burning questions you have regarding caring for a family member who lives far away.
Understanding the Role of a Caregiver
To better support a distant family member in need of homecare, you first need to understand the role of a caregiver. According to MedlinePlus, a website of the National Library of Medicine, a caregiver is someone who takes care of someone else. There are three types of care providers:
- Crisis: due to an emergency situation or other crisis;
- Long-term: this is more applicable to those with chronic illness or disease who need lifelong care either from childhood or as an adult.
- Long-distance: this type of care involves caring for someone in need who lives far away.
Oftentimes, your role as a caregiver can change over time due to situational changes in your life or the life of the person you’re helping. Each caregiver’s role looks slightly different depending on the situation, yet each one has the same primary responsibility: to ensure that the needs of the person under their care are met.
What are the responsibilities of a Long-Distance Caregiver?
A caregiver has the overall responsibility for the health and well-being of the person in need, both physical and emotional. Such activities include:
- Grocery shopping;
- Driving them to medical appointments;
- Maintaining the home;
- Managing finances;
- Monitoring their medical condition;
- Communicating with doctors;
- Assisting them with getting out of bed, getting bathed, and getting dressed;
- And preparing meals.
Most of the responsibilities of a caregiver involve direct physical care. However, if your family member lives out of state, there are many duties you can still do. Such long-distance caregiver duties include:
- Managing finances;
- Administrative communication, such as making appointments, talking with doctors, and dealing with insurance;
- Calling them daily to attend to their emotional needs and ensure they’re being cared for physically;
- Coordinating with a direct caregiver;
- Arranging in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care;
- And keeping family and friends updated.
Researching Programs and Services for Out of State Elderly Care
If you are a long-distance caregiver, one of the primary areas you can help is researching programs and support services for elderly care. There are seven different senior care options that you should consider for your elderly parent or friend:
- Independent Living Communities allow older adults to be fully independent yet provide for minor medical needs.
- Assisted Living Communities and Residential Care Homes allow residents to live in private rooms or apartments but have caregivers on staff to help with daily living.
- Nursing Homes are primarily for those who need the highest level of care, unable to do very little themselves.
- Memory Care Communities are for those seniors who have Dementia or other memory problems and need 24-hour care.
- Respite Care or Adult Day Care is for those seniors who have a caregiver at home (such as a family member) but the caregiver needs a temporary break.
- Home Health Care or In-Home Care companies offer professional caregivers to come to the home and assist with daily activities.
- Hospice Care is for those who are at the end of their life or in the final stages of an incurable disease.
While you research health care services, you’ll want to ask yourself the following questions:
- What are the needs of your loved one and your family? Do they need a high level of assistance or are they more independent?
- Where will they be living? Near home? Near you?
- What can you or your loved one afford?
- How will you be paying for it?
Once you’ve answered the above questions, it’s best to call home care companies and talk to them, determining if and how they can accommodate your needs.
Paying for Senior Care Services
Senior care can be expensive. The National Investment Center for Senior Housing and Care gave some incredible costs for senior care during 2023:
- Independent Living: $3,702 per unit per month, $44,424 annually;
- Assisted Living: $6,017 per unit per month, $72,204 annually;
- Memory Care: $7,899 per unit per month, or $94,788 annually.
These are staggering costs and it’s only expected to rise as inflation rises. As a caregiver, whether close or long-distance, you’ll need to know how to pay for these costs. There are many financial assistance programs in existence today that will help you pay for any services your loved one may need:
- Some states allow Medicaid to pay a family member or friend to become the caregiver.
- Long-term care insurance can assist with senior care expenses such as in-home care or assisted living. Some insurance plans even allow family members to get paid as caregivers.
- Paid family leave can allow you to take paid time off to care for a family member. You’ll need to check with your employer for any specifics, such as time allowed and amount of pay.
- The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides grants to states to financially support caregivers. Check your state for any programs available.
How Thrive Wealth Advisors Can Help
Living far from an elderly family member can be difficult, especially with ensuring they have adequate care. Dealing with the financial fallout from the costs of such care is an added stress that can be prevented with proper planning. Healthcare is a complex part of retirement planning, whether you’re planning your own or helping your loved ones.
At Thrive Wealth Advisors, we understand the nuances of healthcare costs for seniors, especially Medicare, long-term care insurance, and other retirement healthcare options. When we create a retirement plan, we include healthcare expenses, building you a comprehensive retirement plan.
Schedule a consultation with Thrive Wealth Advisors to strive for financial security.
Important Disclosures:
This material was prepared by Midstream Marketing.
