Do You Have an Emergency Plan in Place as a Long Distance Caregiver?

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Senior Care in New Providence NJ

The big problem with being a long distance caregiver is that in an emergency, that distance feels so much longer. If you’re a long distance caregiver, you need to plan ahead for the time that your Senior-Care-in-New-Providence-NJloved one needs you to be much closer.

 

Set up a Support System

Remember that you’ll need a support team on both sides of the equation. You’ll need someone to alert you to the emergency with your elderly loved one in the first place. This could happen because you’re her emergency contact or it could be a result of friends, family, or your loved one’s senior care providers getting in touch with you. At home, you’ll need someone who can take care of your family, pets, or whoever you’ll be leaving behind. Make sure that every part of your support system is aware of their part in the plan.

 

Keep a List of Important Numbers Handy

In an emergency, it’s easy to forget a name or to lose a phone number. You might have the numbers in your phone, for instance, but if you blank on a name, how will you find the right one? Keep a list somewhere that you can access it easily. This might be on a sheet of paper on the fridge or you can keep it on an index card in your wallet. You may even want to do both, depending on your situation. Regardless, the easier your access is to that essential information, the faster you can get to your loved one.

 

Keep a Bag Packed and Ready to Go

If you have to start from scratch with finding a bag, putting some clothes in, and getting everything that you need, getting on the road is going to take much longer than it should. Keep a bag packed with some generic essentials, including duplicates of your toiletries. Then, when you need to leave in a hurry, you can add any last minute items that you need and get going. Keep the bag in a place that’s easy to access, like a hall closet near the door, to make the task even faster.

 

Find Someone Who Can Make Travel Arrangements or Plan Ahead Yourself

During an emergency, it’s tough to deal with the mundane realities of setting up travel arrangements. Perhaps you live close enough that you can drive, which can make the arrangements much easier. If you have a travel agent, let her know that you may need to book a flight home in a hurry. If there are other family members who can handle the travel arrangements for you, delegate that task.

Being a long distance caregiver means that you might have to get to your loved one in a hurry, but you can make that situation easier for you to handle by being prepared.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional senior care in New Providence, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP