Placing your parents into a retirement home can be a tough decision, especially if you live out of town or a long distance from them. For many children with retirement-aged parents, they are faced with the feeling or thought that they will lose the ability to oversee their parent’s care and daily happenings. However, that does not have to be the case. There are several ways that you can handle your responsibilities of caring for your parents while also giving them the ability to live in a place like a retirement or assisted living home.
4 Helpful Tips To Keep An Eye On Your Loved One
If you live a long distance from your parents, don’t worry. You can still be a devoted daughter or son. Here are four helpful tips that can help you watch over your parents even from afar.
Communicate and Listen
It’s always been said that communication is key in any relationship. The same goes for your aging parents, except now you also need to listen more than ever.
Communicating and listening to your parents can make a world of difference in determining what your parents actually need. From financial support to emotional help, whatever it may be, allowing your parents to stay involved in the decision and effectively communicate will only make the process easier for both them and yourself.
Set Up Regular Video Chats
Obviously, if you live out of town or out of the state, you will have to speak with your parents to efficiently communicate and listen. While conversations on the phone might suffice, video chats can be much more informative. Think about it. When talking on the phone, it is a lot easier to mask things, whether it be emotionally or physically. That is why it is a good idea to give your parents a smartphone or tablet that is equipped with an easy-to-use video chat app like Facetime or Skype. Also, regular video chats between you and your parents can even help with senior isolation. Holly Hall regularly helps residents Skype with family members around the world.
Build a Relationship with the Staff
Since you won’t be around daily, building relationships with the staff at your parents’ new independent living home is vital. This requires you to go far beyond the initial meeting you had with the staff during your tour. Ideally, these people will be your contact when you need to address any concerns involving your parents. Therefore, it is best to communicate with them on a regular basis as well. This opens up the lines of communication and makes it a bit easier for them to reach out to you when needed.
Be Organized
Organizing your household and your parents’ things may be tedious, but it is a must and can make caring for your parents from afar a bit easier. From their birth certificates to their social security cards to their living wills and beyond, is imperative that you find a safe place for these important documents. Plus, instead of your parents worrying about these documents, they can focus more on their new carefree lifestyle in their new residence.
Holly Hall Retirement Community in Houston
Located in Houston, Texas, Holly Hall Retirement Community is committed to providing your retirement aged loved one with the lifestyle they deserve. From amazing amenities to living care options, Holly Hall Retirement Community is the ideal community for seniors of all walks of life.
Are you interested in finding out what Holly Hall retirement Community can do for you and your family? Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a tour.
