Dear Laura,
One of the most
commonly shared dilemmas regarding the long-distance care of your
parent is the feeling of being out of control — helpless when your
parent is in trouble and you cannot be there to assist, concerned
about matters that you have no power over. For some, it even gets to
the point that they leave their own family behind, book a flight or
drive long distances on a "hunch" or a "feeling" that their parent
needs them, only to find their parent doing just fine. Sometimes there
is conflict between siblings when each child tries to dictate their
point of view. There is even a tendency to place blame when something
goes wrong. Any way you look at it, trying to care for an aging loved
one long distance and still have a stress free life of your own can be
a challenging dilemma.
Our services can
help by performing an assessment to identify your mom’s needs. Next,
we will formulate and implement a plan of care unique to your mom.
Many elderly loved ones will say they do not want any assistance. We
understand this denial and the fear of losing independence. We
continue to work with the loved one and strive to establish a trusting
dialogue and relationship.
Please feel free to
call or email to discuss the concerns you have with your mom. Hearing
sporadic stories regarding an aging loved one having trouble walking,
not eating properly, or reports that she is depressed and not doing so
well can keep you in a constant state of worry. I hope this
information helps.
Sincerely,
Gwen Ledene, RN, BSN
Case Manager
