Boosting the Spirits of Your Elderly Parent Who Lives at a Distance

Elder Care in Southampton NY

Being a distance caregiver can present a wide variety of challenges that are different from those of caregivers who live locally to their loved ones. One of these is feeling as though you are not connected enough to your parent. Being an effective caregiver is not just about ensuring that a senior’s physical needs and challenges are fulfilled. You must also work to support their mental and emotional health, and maintain the quality of your relationship moving forward. Because you are not able to visit with your parent as frequently as you would if you lived closer to them, you will need to put more effort into staying connected to your senior.

There are many creative ways that you can stay connected to your parent throughout the course of your caregiver journey with your loved one, including meaningful ways that you can include the entire family. One is to send them items in the mail regularly. This lets you not only show them that you are thinking of them and want them to know that you love them, but also gives you the opportunity to send them things that they need and would benefit from having in their home.

Let these ideas inspire you to boost the spirits for your elderly parent when caring for them from a distance:

• Artwork from your children. Give your senior a bright spot in their day by seeing artwork created for them by their grandchildren. Encourage your children to make cards, create drawings, or do any other small craft that you can include in your parent’s monthly box.
• Special treats. Little goodies are always a nice surprise. Look for treats that your parent particularly enjoys or that are seasonal and your loved one might not get for themselves. There are many websites that sell vintage candies that may not be easily accessible through normal stores. This is a great way to give them a little taste of their younger days.
• Home products. Think of the types of items that your parent should have throughout their home but that they might not think about. This can include air fresheners, scented candles, soft tissues, lip balm, lotion, disinfecting surface wipes, or decorative items that fit with the season. Make sure that you check with the post office for restrictions and regulations to ensure that your gift items will be shipped. If there is any concern, consider ordering these items through a delivery service or grocery website so that they can handle the shipment.
• Enroll them in a monthly club. The idea of a “jelly of the month club” might seem outdated, but these services are still very much around and can be a fantastic way to give your parent a bright spot in their month. Find a service that speaks to their personal tastes and arrange for them to receive a shipment each month so that they can explore different flavors of foods, try out new products, or even receive new clothing or collectibles that they will enjoy. If you cannot choose one of these services, consider signing them up for a magazine subscription or video streaming service that you also have so that you can discuss these during phone calls or video chats.

If you know that your aging parent is in need of additional support, care, and assistance to help them live comfortably and safely, and maintain their independence and quality of life as much as possible, now may be the ideal time for you to consider elderly care for them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a customized schedule tailored to their individual needs, challenges, and limitations, as well as the efforts that you give. This means that they are able to live lifestyle that they desire and deserve while also addressing their needs in a way that is effective, efficient, and appropriate for them. Knowing that your elderly parent has a care provider with them can give you greater confidence that they are able to live the lifestyle and quality of life that is right for them. They can provide a wide range of valuable services to keep your parent as comfortable as possible, including providing transportation to help the run errands or even handling some of these errands themselves so your parent’s home is always stocked and your loved one has what they need at all times.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elder care in Southampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.