Living far away from your senior loved one already generates many emotions, yet you may have had no idea how much it would hit you when you became a caregiver. While many caregivers experience challenging emotions, those feelings may intensify when there are many miles between you and your loved one. In fact, the wide range of feelings you experience may catch you by surprise. As a long-distance caregiver, knowing these emotions are normal and how to address them can help you continue providing high-quality care for your loved one.
1. Guilt
You had reasons for moving to where you are now. For instance, you might have chosen to move for your career. Alternatively, it may have been your parents who moved away years ago when they were still healthy. The point is that it’s nobody’s fault that you cannot always be there. Instead of ruminating on guilt, focus on developing effective strategies for meeting your loved one’s needs from a distance, such as scheduling regular video chats.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of home care Pearland services. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
2. Frustration
It can be frustrating when you have to work across the miles to get things accomplished. However, effective communication with your loved one and his or her care team can help you stay on top of everything. When you feel frustrated by trying to find solutions for meeting your loved one’s needs, check with his or her caregiver to find available services, such as home delivery for medications.
3. Resentment
Having to dedicate so much of your own time to helping someone else can naturally generate resentment. This can be especially challenging if you haven’t always had the best relationship with your parent over the years. To manage resentment, it’s best to take several approaches. Consider joining a support group or reaching out to a counselor so you can vent. Then identify if there are responsibilities you can delegate, such as having a companion spend more time with your loved one, to free up some time for your needs.
For families living in Pearland, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
4. Doubt
If you’ve never been a long-distance caregiver before, you may find yourself experiencing moments of doubt. After all, you want your loved one to have the best life possible. Reduce doubt by learning as much as you can about your loved one’s health condition, then make sure he or she has professional assistance as well. An in-home caregiver can monitor your parent for signs of issues you might miss from a distance.
5. Joy
Caregiving from a long distance isn’t all drudgery. In fact, you may catch yourself smiling as your loved one describes meeting some new friends during an outing with his or her new caregiver. You’ll also enjoy getting to know your loved one in a new way. When these moments of happiness arise, make sure to allow yourself to fully experience them, since this is what keeps caregivers going when times get rough.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elderly home care. Pearland families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. Call us today to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.
