When someone you love lives far away, it can be frustrating to try and help them from afar. Seniors, especially, often need assistance with household chores or staying mobile. They may not have a relative who lives close enough to help out. Not only can this add to their stress and anxiety, it can lead to accidents, falls, and injuries. That’s especially the case when they attempt to take care of everything themselves. In fact, falls are one of the most common causes of injury for seniors. In some cases those injuries can be life-threatening.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help your senior loved one, even if you live in a different state. You can hire help to come and take care of chores (like cutting the grass or cleaning). And, you can teach your loved one how to use apps that will make their life easier. A side benefit is that apps can connect the two of you, thereby lessening your worry.
Keep reading for more info on how to get started.
Find the Right Apps
There are tons of apps available that are specifically made for seniors. Whether your loved one needs help remembering when to take medication or where they parked the car, or you just want to be able to see each other when you’re talking on the phone, there are a lot of great options out there. The key is to help your loved one find the right ones for their needs and make sure they’re internet-savvy enough to understand them. For more on apps read this article.
Hire Some Help
One of the most dangerous and overlooked jobs a senior has is taking care of the lawn, yet many seniors take pride in the way their yard looks and want it to be well cared for. One way around this is to hire someone local to come over and help out so they don’t have to spend time in the heat or use heavy, dangerous machinery. The cost of this service varies across the country; go here to find out the national average and to look up price ranges in your loved one’s area.
Help Them Find a Ride
Many seniors find that after a certain age, they don’t feel comfortable driving themselves, either because of vision problems or because their motor skills aren’t what they used to be. You can help out by looking for a senior ride service–many senior homes and hospitals offer them–in their area that will provide a safe ride to the doctor or grocery store.
Make Sure Their Home Is Safe
Many seniors struggle with home safety after their mobility has been compromised by an illness or injury. If seniors have been hospitalized, you can often ask for an occupational therapist to evaluate the home’s safety. An occupational therapist might recommend tossing the throw rugs, reducing clutter, or rearranging furniture. These measures can be especially helpful if a hospital stay has made your loved one more fragile than they were previously.
An occupational therapist may also recommend that you hire someone to install grab bars in the shower. Make sure you buy non-slip rubber mats for the bathroom and kitchen. These are the areas that most seniors fall most often.
You can also have a home security system installed that transmits a live feed to your smartphone. That way you can keep an eye on things even when you’re far away.
Helping your senior loved one from out-of-state doesn’t have to be stressful. With some good planning and a little research, you can ensure that the senior in your life is happy, healthy, and safe. Use technology to your advantage as much as possible and help your loved one become comfortable using it as well.
