Articles:

• Communicating with Elderly Parents
• Long Distance Caregiving
• Holiday Visits with the Elderly-Red Flags for Relatives
• How to Guard Against Identity Theft
• How to Have a Good Visit with Someone Who Has Dementia
• Prevent Your Elder from Falling
• The Importance of a Professional Geriatric Assessment
• Geriatric Care Managers vs. Caregivers – What’s the Difference?
• Ten Tips for Baby Boomers on Interacting with Aging Parents
• Alternative Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease
• Immunizations for those over 50 Years of Age
• Hoarding and the Elderly
• Following a Heart Healthy Diet
• Daily Money Management-A Missing Piece to Keep Financial Affairs on Track
• Elder Abuse-A Silent Problem
• SUMMER FUN
• Respite-A Guilt Free Time Out

Long Distance Caregiving

Today`s society is different from years past, when families often had two or three generations living together under one roof. Economic and social pressures have changed the family structure, and more often than not, adult children no longer live near their parents. This long-distance relationship can become even more complex if an elderly parent needs day-to-day care.

While it is difficult to anticipate every situation that may arise, there are several steps you can take to be a better caregiver from a distance.

Learn about local resources: Find out all you can about what your parent`s community offers to support the elderly.

Be prepared: Have all of your parent`s medical, legal and financial information in order.

Prepare a list of contacts: This list may include other family members as well as people in your parent`s community: neighbors, friends, clergy and physicians.

Visit as often as possible: If work or other responsibilities prevent frequent visits, make each stay as lengthy as possible. Assess your parent`s living situation: whether he/she is eating regularly, is taking medications properly, and the like.

Respect your parent`s wishes: The goal is to keep your parent as independent as possible. When additional help is needed or important decisions must be made, be respectful of your parent`s point of view.

Resources:
The worldwide web provides an amazing amount of information about nearly every topic under the sun and the topic of long distance caregiving is no exception. With each tip, I`ll recommend web and book resources that you may find helpful.

Local Resource:
The Local Area Agency on Aging website (www.centralcoastseniors.org) contains downloadable senior resource guides for both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County as well as "Be Active for Life", a fitness resource guide for older adults.

Web Sites:
AARP: http://wwww.aarp.org/families/caregiving/caring_parents/
Alzheimer`s Association: http://www.alz.org/Care/DaytoDay/Longdistancecaregiving.asp
UCSB Human Resources Dept.: http://hr.ucsb.edu/Worklife/Elder_Care/elder_care_longdistance .htm
WebMD: http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/5/4041_130?z=4041_12

Books:
How to Say it to Seniors, Closing the Communication Gap with Our Elders; by David Solie, M.S., P.A.; Prentice Hall Press

This book is a practical guide to bridging the generation gap. Solie helps us understand the unique perspective of seniors, and gives us the tools to relate to them. David Solie, M.S., P.A. is an expert in geriatric psychology, and the CEO and medical director of Second Opinion, a life insurance brokerage corporation.

Voices of Alzheimer`s; by Betsy Peterson; DeCapo Press, 2004

In this book, Betsy Peterson attempts to answer the question, "What is it like to live with Alzheimer`s disease". "Voices of Alzheimer`s" is a compilation of quotes and personal narratives from the people who know best what it is like to live with this illness daily, those who have been diagnosed and their family, friends, and caregivers.

Additional information:
Cherish the days: Inspiration And Insight For Long-distance Caregivers, by Martha Evans Sparks

The Complete Eldercare Planner, Second Edition: Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask and How to Find Help, by Joy Loverde.