When a loved one needs care but miles separate you, the challenge can feel overwhelming. How do you ensure their safety, well-being, and comfort when you can’t be there in person? While long-distance caregiving is complex, it is far from impossible.
With the right strategies, resources, and a proactive plan, you can provide meaningful support and build a secure network around your loved one, turning distance into a manageable part of your caregiving journey.
This comprehensive guide draws on expert advice to equip you with the essential tools and confidence needed to navigate this role successfully.
Caregiving from a Distance is Challenging
When you live far away from an older adult you’re caring for, you might wonder how to help when you can’t be there in person.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to keep them as safe, healthy, and comfortable as possible – even from a distance.
We found a helpful free guide to long distance caregiving from Family Caregiver Alliance, a leading nonprofit organization that supports caregivers.
Their guide gives an overview of everything you’ll need to know, explains how to plan for success, and lists many useful resources.
There’s a lot of information in the guide, so we’ve highlighted the 7 most helpful sections to start with.
Get Long-Distance Caregiving Tips From This Helpful Guide
This comprehensive guide is free to print or download. It has an overview of everything you’ll need to know to be a confident long-distance caregiver.
It starts by covering the basics and emphasizing the importance of self care and a support team.
Next, the guide discusses important legal and financial documents you’ll need to gather.
Then, it gets into the day-to-day aspects of caregiving.
7 Essential Sections of the Long-Distance Caregiving Guide
All the long-distance caregiving tips in this guide are helpful, but the amount of material might feel overwhelming at first. We recommend starting with these 7 key sections.
1. Checklist of Care Needs, Page 11
The first step is to understand the situation and figure out what your older adult needs help with. That way, you can find the right services to meet their needs.
2. Care Managers, Page 12
Someone who can be there in person is a valuable member of your care team. This section describes how geriatric care managers can help.
3. Who’s on Your Team?, Page 13
We love this section because it tells you how to put your caregiving team together. The team is an essential support system for both you and your loved one.
This list helps you think creatively about people near your senior who can help in person.
4. Places to Start, Page 14
This is a list of key elder care agencies and providers in your older adult’s local area.
5. Paying for Care, Page 20
Long-term care isn’t covered by Medicare and not everyone qualifies for coverage under Medicaid. That’s why it’s important to create a financial plan to pay for the services your older adult needs.
6. Practical Tips and Resources for a Distant Caregiver, Page 21
This is a great summary of the variety of ways you can provide long-distance care and support to your senior.
7. Helpful Agencies & Organizations, Page 24
This is another useful list of key government and nonprofit agencies that provide benefits and help to seniors and caregivers.
Once you feel comfortable with those sections, move on to learn about these additional topics:
- Gathering information so you can make care decisions
- Your caregiving strengths and limits
- Balancing work and caregiving
- How to hold a family meeting to discuss roles and responsibilities
Final Thoughts on Long-Distance Caregiving
When a loved one needs care but miles separate you, the challenge can feel overwhelming. How do you ensure their safety, well-being, and comfort when you can’t be there in person? While long-distance caregiving is complex, it is far from impossible.
With the right strategies, resources, and a proactive plan, you can provide meaningful support and build a secure network around your loved one, turning distance into a manageable part of your caregiving journey.
This comprehensive guide draws on expert advice to equip you with the essential tools and confidence needed to navigate this role successfully.
Next Steps: Print or download this helpful long distance caregiving guide from Family Caregiver Alliance
Recommended for you:
- 5 Situations Where Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager Is Worth It
- Local Community Resources for Seniors and Caregivers: Area Agency on Aging
- 7 Steps to Take When Aging Parents Need Help
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
