Long-Distance Caregiving for Alzheimer's Often Poses Difficult Challenges

By Dorian Martin, Health Guide Sunday, March 31, 2013

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In 2000, my parents moved back to West Texas after my mother’s chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worsened due to ozone levels and allergies in a major city in Central Texas. On the day they had the moving van in front of their house, I was driving off to start a new job in East Texas. Where...

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Carol Bradley Bursack, Health Guide

4/ 1/13 10:57am

Thanks for this information, Dorian. Our family, like many, had a mix of in-town (me) and long-distance siblings (my brother and sister). With us, the closer to our parents we lived, the more responsibility we took on. I think that's very common.

I have sympathy for long-distance caregivers because they are not in a situation to see the parent frequently. Then, when they visit, they see huge declines. No "update on Mom" can really prepare them. Of course, those of us doing the hands-on care have tremendous responsibilty, so there's no easy route.

Take care,

Carol

4/ 2/13 12:45pm

It is so true that many families are dealing with long-distance caregiving. Sometimes the thing to do is to move the parent to where you are. These days families don't stay together in one place due to work, retirement and destiny. Rarely a family thinks about the future and prepares to be closeby. Some families do so and they do stay close in one area. It is harder these days given the work situation. Sometimes it takes a long-term plan to put the family together in one place. In the end, the elderly has to be near the family, either your own home or the AL.

Regards,

Nina

Long-Distance Caregiving for Alzheimer's Often Poses Difficult Challenges

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