How To Help Family Members Who Care Support That Live Miles Away

Looking after family members who need support and live miles away is a challenge. It’s not something that everyone can easily do, especially when the caregivers or those who have a responsibility towards these individuals have their own lives to lead too.

So with that being said, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to be able to provide some sort of care to family members who need it, here’s how you can support them from far away.

Build local support and resources

Engaging with local contacts, whether that’s a trusted neighbor, friends, or community members, is important so that you’ve got eyes and ears on the welfare of your family members at all times.

While you might not always be there in person, you can be there through others who live and work nearby.

Hiring professionals might be a good shout when it comes to providing professional care, and care that might be needed more frequently than most. Working with companies that provide medical devices and support, like Life Assure personal medical alert, is also worthwhile to provide that peace of mind that they’re always being monitored.

Community services are always useful to explore, whether it’s transportation or meal delivery, for example.

Communicate effectively and always stay connected

It’s always good to try and communicate effectively, staying connected with your family members so that the distance doesn’t feel so far.

Scheduling regular video calls is a good way of making sure the living environment and appearance of the family member in general aren’t showing signs of struggle or problems. 

Make use of digital tools to help share daily life and to keep everyone updated with what’s going on. Small touches like handwritten letters and small gifts can also help to bridge the distance.

Manage care from a distance

Managing care from a distance is always helpful when it comes to keeping on top of the care that’s needed. Coordinating local services, handling bill payments, or appointment booking can all be done from anywhere in the world.

Preparing for emergencies is always useful to do, too, so that you can jump into action if and when needed. On the other hand, you should try to encourage independence for as long as possible with older family members.

Watch for red flags and act fast

It’s a good idea to be attentive to the loved one’s behaviors and anything that gets reported back to you by neighbors or the professionals who look after them

Red flags like changes in their appearance or the home are all good to look out for. Don’t forget to ask more leading questions if you’re concerned, and trust your gut if you need to act on something that’s worrying you.

Finally, don’t forget to look after yourself. Caring for a family member from afar can be equally exhausting as it would be if you were just down the road from them. So be sure to look after yourself in order to support those from a distance.