Family
Houston Hospice WOWs with New Technology
Digital Health Transformation Rolls into Hospice Care
By Suzy Martin, Volunteer Blogger
According to the recent article More Than Just Tech: How Houston’s Smart Hospitals Are Embracing Tech Innovations by Emily Reiser, “Texas Medical Center (TMC) member institutions are leading the nation in innovation and setting the standard for what smart hospitals can look like and how they will transform the healthcare landscape in the coming years.” As a TMC member institution, Houston Hospice is leading the way in Digital Health Transformation in the hospice care industry.
The 42-year-old nonprofit hospice organization implemented several new technology solutions that help doctors and nurses communicate more effectively with patients and families during fourth quarter 2021. In addition, admitting patients into hospice care is now streamlined and hospice field teams have greater access to online, on-demand, multi-lingual interpreters, as well as accurate procedural instruction available 24/7. Funding for this digital transformation effort was made possible by grants, donations, and the COVID-19 Economic Relief Fund.
Workstations on Wheels (WOWs)rolled into Houston Hospice to the excitement of nurses across the organization.
“I can’t wait to chart immediately so that I can continue to help others,” said Thomas Moore, RN, Director of Specialty Teams, and nine-year veteran of Houston Hospice.
Thomas Moore Director of Specialty Teams Houston Hospice
These eight mobile workstations help nurses document care and update electronic medical records EMRs in real time. Houston Hospice is the only hospice using WOWs in its Inpatient Unit and within its 13-county service area in Southeast Texas.
Prior to this update, nurses recorded notes on desktop computers at each of three nurses’ stations. Now that WOWs are being introduced, patient information will stay up to date which streamlines workflows. In addition to new technology, Houston Hospice uses hardware that is well known throughout the world.
The nurses at Houston Hospice also use iPads to chart notes and share confidential information securely within the seven-member hospice team called the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT). Faster charting means a better work/life balance for these IDT members. In addition, 60+ iPads (with more arriving in the future) and keyboards have been deployed for these health professionals.
Amy Morales, LVN, Houston Hospice with WOW.
Houston Hospice physicians also use secure electronic devices to assess the needs of patients and communicate updates instantly. “The [Houston Hospice] physicians use mobile laptops and iPhones, which work in much the same way as the WOWs to provide up-to-date information for the physicians during visits, to document the visit, email clinicians’ concerns about the patient, and to provide patients and families with information that they may be looking for from clinical information. I can email the nurses questions about the family’s concerns during rounds, and I often get a response before I leave the patient’s room,” said Thuy Hanh Trinh, MD, MBA, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Wound Care Certified, Hospice Medical Director Certified and Team Physician, Houston Hospice.
When collaborating among team members, Houston Hospice relies on a healthcare platform that is secure and performs in real time, making high-quality care more accessible and efficient. The software increases accessibility to documentation and records and streamlines the admission process. Telehealth (seeing patients via video or audio) is also available to keep patients safe from others who may have viruses or other illnesses while caring for their unique needs.
WOWs, iPhones, iPads, and laptops are important components of improved patient management at Houston Hospice. To make these technologies work well with one another, the best software solutions must be utilized so that hospice patients and families will have the greatest care possible. To achieve this, the organization uses state-of-the-art cloud technology to obtain and share hospice information instantaneously, including everything from patient intake to documentation to scheduling, all on a secure network.
Houston Hospice nurses may find the need to research procedures specific to the needs of their patients. To accomplish these kinds of immediate goals, nurses have access to a software program that contains 1,800 procedures in various specialty settings. In addition, the program maintains compliance with current national guidelines and empowers nurses with the knowledge and confidence to make informed clinical decisions.
As Houston Hospice is a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center that hosts 10 million patient encounters annually, translation services are in great demand. The nonprofit has hired one of the best translation companies in the world to help communicate with patients from all over the world. The interpreter service provides 14,000 professionals, who are on demand interpreters and available via audio and video in 30 seconds or less.
Thuy Hanh Trinh, MD, MBA, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Wound Care Certified, Hospice Medical Director Certified and Team Physician, Houston Hospice.
“The visually-enhanced translation services have been an excellent resource to help connect our patients, their families and our hospice team members,” Trinh said. “Having the mobile translation system with visual contact makes communicating with patients and families easier and more personable. The translator may be better able to address the patients who have difficulty expressing their needs, such as those with slurred speech, when the translator can see the movements of the patient’s mouth and body language.
“For example, one of my patients spoke Cantonese, but I was unaware of which Chinese dialect when I made the request. I had requested the Mandarin translator, who recognized the patient’s dialect even though the patient was speaking with a muffled voice, and she was able to refer me directly to the Cantonese translator for the patient’s support. I think the translator’s ability to see the patient made a difference in realizing what was needed during the visit. The visually enhanced translation system has been a great asset to ensure our hospice team can address the patients’ and families’ needs at any time of day or night,” Trinh said.
As Houston Hospice continues to find new ways to help patients and their families, the use of advanced technology continues to play a key role. “Technology used by Houston Hospice is designed to improve communication between doctors, nurses and patients,” said Scott Watson, IT Manager, Houston Hospice. “This improved care coordination allows for the care of patients remotely and saves time for both the doctor and patient.”
When working to advance technology in the healthcare industry, speaking with colleagues about best practices adds value to the organization’s progress. “We are collaborating with a hospice in Tyler [Texas] to share best practices for healthcare technology implementation,” Watson said. “As we continue to share valuable insights with one another, we will improve hospice care for patients across Texas, the U.S. and even the world.”
As a subject matter expert in IT, Watson has made a prediction that technology in the hospice environment will only get faster and easier to use.
Houston Hospice WOWs with New Technology and its compassionate care is unmatched, reaching hundreds of patients daily. It continues to offer vital services for patients and families, using state-of-the-art practices and procedures. As the organization continues to reach new patients and families who could benefit from hospice care, it will continue to look for new ways to advance hospice care for patients of all socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, and beliefs, regardless of their ability to pay.
For more information about Houston Hospice, visit https://www.houstonhospice.org/what-we-do/services/
Houston Hospice Volunteer of the Year 2021 – Jerri Trigg
Jerri Trigg, Volunteer of the Year
Each year, our Volunteer Team thoughtfully selects the Houston Hospice Volunteer of the Year from over 120 wonderful and generous people. This year’s special altruist was selected for going above and beyond general duties to help hospice patients, families, and staff during one of the most challenging year’s the world has seen. We are pleased to share that Jerri Trigg has been named 2021 Houston Hospice Volunteer of the Year!
“Over her seven years of volunteer work at Houston Hospice, Jerri has donated her time and talent in so many valuable ways,” said Patty Valle, Volunteer Manager, Houston Hospice. “She has worked directly with patients and families, assisted in our Texas Medical Center business office and Northwest office, delivered Thanksgiving dinner to a family in need, decorated holiday wreaths that adorned our in-patient unit, delivered elusive cans of Lysol and N95 masks to help keep us safe during the pandemic, and so much more! We are grateful to Jerri for her generosity, kindness, and dedication to Houston Hospice,” continued Patty.
Jerri’s path to Houston Hospice began when her parents were in hospice care one year apart from each other. In both cases, the family experienced compassion, caring, patient and informative guidance during their journey through the end-of-life process. These quality-of-life experiences had a positive impact on Jerri and encouraged her volunteer efforts.
“I have always volunteered and participated in fundraising events throughout the community,” recalled Jerri. “After my own experiences with hospice, I always said I would like to give back in some way. Then, a friend of mine shared information about an upcoming Butterfly Luncheon. I was surprised to find out that it was hospice for children and that really touched me! I attended the luncheon, and as they say, the rest is history,” she proudly stated.
Houston Hospice Volunteers are an integral part of our multi-disciplinary team, are carefully vetted and thoroughly trained to focus on improving the quality of life of patients with a serious illness. Each team consists of seven members – a physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, bereavement counselor, hospice aide and volunteer. This specialized group of people provide a unique care plan for each individual patient, and their family, throughout the hospice care experience and the bereavement process. It takes a great deal of courage and compassion to be a hospice volunteer.
“Volunteering at Houston Hospice has been a positive and rewarding experience,” said Jerri. “I have met so many wonderful people here. Our many volunteers are like a big, caring family and I am so honored to be a part of this organization,” she beamed.
Houston Hospice is grateful to Volunteer of the Year 2021 Jerri Trigg, and to all her fellow volunteers, for the time, talent, and compassion they have invested to ensure patients and families receive the best possible end-of-life care they truly deserve.
For more information about volunteering at Houston Hospice, visit www.houstonhospice.org/volunteers.
Houston Hospice Spirit Award Honors The Garden Club of Houston
Houston Hospice is pleased to announce this year’s Spirit Award Dinner will be honoring The Garden Club of Houston. The 22nd annual celebration will be a hybrid event, live-streaming and in-person, and is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas.
Author Elin Hilderbrand
Historically, The Laura Lee Blanton Community Spirit Award recognizes the grace and generosity of a community leader or organization that has made a positive impact on the Greater Houston Area. Established in 1924, this year’s honoree, The Garden Club of Houston, has supported a plethora of Houston area green spaces, including The Garden at Houston Hospice, in addition to providing educational programs that promote the love of horticulture in children, teens, and adults.
Nurses Week 2020
Houston Hospice 
‘s Our Nurses
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National Nurses Week starts with National Nurses Day on May 6, 2020 and concludes on May 12, 2020 with International Nurses Day, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is credited with founding modern nursing. The week-long celebration has been established as a recognized, annual event for appreciating health care workers, but you already knew this long-established, nursing-history fact. I bet you didn’t know that nurses make up over 50% of the global healthcare workforce, and on January 31, 2019, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed a call for 2020 to be officially recognized as the ‘Year of the Nurse and Midwife’. Finally, a whole year dedicated to nurses, and it’s about time. Wouldn’t you say?
Presenting! 
Today’s modern nurses are Frontline Heroes, from all walks of life, and with more strength and courage than you can shake a stethoscope at. “Houston Hospice places tremendous value in our nursing team,” says Jim Faucett, President and CEO, Houston Hospice. “Our highly skilled RN’s, LVN’s, and Nurse’s Aides epitomize hospice care excellence and are the cornerstone of Houston Hospice. Without them, we would not be able to provide the team-oriented, medical care that our patients deserve. For their faithful compassion and commitment to the needs of our patients and their families, I want to extend my deep appreciation and a Thank You to our entire Nursing Team,” continued Jim.
People of TMC
The Texas Medical Center interviewed our very own, Gabrielle Staten, RN, BSN, associate patient care manager, IPU. “We’ve been able to allow family members to visit their dying loved one when hospitals couldn’t,” stated Gabrielle. Click here to read the entire piece, highlighted on the TMC website.
Employee Committee Lights the Way
Are You One of the 40 Million Americans Who Are Taking Care of a Loved One? Here’s What You Need to Know
It isn’t easy, but it’s important
Published in thriveglobal.com by BJ Miller, MD and Shoshana Berger
All over this country there are people like you who are driving out of their way to pick up a prescription after work, using coffee breaks to visit someone and make him lunch, missing out on dates with friends in order to make sure someone is safe before they go to bed, or taking trips to the hospital.
We see you (we are you), and you are not alone. In the United States at any one time, 40 million adults are caregivers. You are more likely to be a woman — especially if you’re doing the difficult work of bathing and toileting — though the percentage of male caregivers is on the rise: in 2009, 34 percent of caregivers were men; as of 2017 that number was 40 percent. On average you provide more than twenty hours per week of care for four years. It’s a hard job, but when they look back on the experience most people say they wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Courtesy of Africa Studio / Shutterstock
But, as the airline industry reminds us: in order to help others, we need to put on our own oxygen masks first. We’ll go even further — since someone in a predicament is relying upon you: it’s selfish to not take care of yourself. Self-care is a muscle you need to learn to flex so it becomes part of your routine, instead of a rare treat. It means paying attention to yourself, even when the only thing you want to pay attention to is your beloved.
Here are some ways to care for yourself.
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Advanced, palliative care plans important part of life
Published in Cleveland Jewish News by Becky Raspe
It’s best to be prepared in every situation, especially when it’s health-related.
According to Rabbi Akiva Feinstein, director of spiritual care at Montefiore in Beachwood, and Dr. Beth McLaughlin, chief medical officer at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, creating a plan for advanced and palliative care makes decisions easier.
Learning Has Shaped Oncology Nurse’s View of Patient Care
Published in oncnursingnews.com by Jean Sellers, MSN, RN
There is an old proverb I’ve heard many times, attributed to several sources: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Although I was anything but ready to face the concepts of death and dying, in 1990, my teacher appeared. He was 59 years old and presented to the emergency department with sudden onset nausea and vomiting, along with a severe headache. I vividly remember standing outside the thin curtain separating his stretcher from where I stood, dumbfounded, as the doctor introduced the words “temporal mass” and “cerebral edema” into my life.
I wasn’t a nurse then. I was a mother to 2 young girls, and I was not prepared to take care of the man behind the curtain. He was the greatest man I had ever known, the same man whom I would forever refer to as my first patient. My father. His diagnosis was an aggressive glioblastoma, and he lived 9 months from that day. I was forced into a crash course on surgery, radiation therapy, and end-of-life care. His final 2 months were spent in my home. The man who defined a “good day” as 18 holes on a golf course was now confined to a hospital bed in my guest bedroom, wearing diapers.
My family came together with the best of intentions, but we never quite had the conversations we needed to have. Some family members refused to acknowledge he was dying, and others viewed hospice care as giving up. Some did not want to treat his pain with narcotics for fear he would become addicted. I was desperate to find anyone who could help me ensure that my father would not suffer, which finally led me to call the hospice answering service—and brought another teacher in to my life.
The hospice nurse returned my call later that evening. Nothing could have prepared me for the way it felt to feel so completely heard and understood in the midst of that terrifying time. She listened to my concerns, fears, and confusion. She became my lifeline and helped my family to have the difficult conversations exploring what a “good death” could look like and what my father would want.
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How to Help Your Loved One Stay in Touch with You
During the holidays, relatives will especially rely heavily on two-way communication to stay connected.
Published in caringfromafar.com
Technology makes communicating with your loved one as easy as the push of a button, which is a true blessing for long-distance caregivers. However, your loved one might not be as tech-savvy as you are, or they may have trouble communicating due to vision or hearing deficiencies. The following are simple ways to make staying in touch a breeze:
Start with the Basics
You might have gotten rid of your landline phone years ago, but for older adults, this is the phone they grew up using and are most comfortable with. Technology is confusing, and trying to teach your loved one how to use it could be more stressful than it is helpful. In fact, a landline phone may even be the safest option, as it reduces time spent routing the call to the correct emergency response center. In addition, calls from landlines automatically show emergency responders the address, name of the residence, and a map, which could be a lifesaver should your loved one call for help and be unable to talk or get confused about where they are.
Depending on your loved one’s needs, you can switch out the landline for something more feasible such as a phone with larger buttons or a high ringer volume. Keep in mind that getting your loved one a cell phone, and teaching them how is use it, is still a good idea, as they can take it with them when they are out of the house. To really ramp up the communication measures, install a medical alert system that makes communication with emergency services quick and simple.
Set a Schedule
Once you choose the preferred communication, set up a time each day to check in and stick to it. This not only gives you peace of mind that your loved one is okay, but even simply hearing a familiar voice could be the daily pick-me-up they need. If your loved one is tech-savvy, use video chat such as Skype or FaceTime, or have a local family member or in-home caregiver assist them.
In addition to communication with your loved one, it is imperative that you chat regularly with their primary caregiver to get details and information your loved one might not feel comfortable sharing with you. If you chose to hire an in-home caregiver, check in with them daily, and don’t be afraid to request a log of what they did each day. Don’t forget to ask your loved one how they feel – sometimes caregivers aren’t the right match.
Staying in touch with your loved one will take a continued effort on your end, but it is just one of the many responsibilities that come along with being a long-distance caregiver. With the right technology and a consistent schedule, you can make the miles between you seem far less.
How to Choose Hospice Care
Important questions to consider before you arrive at a decision
Published in NextAvenue By Liz Seegert
Part of the LIVING TO THE END OF LIFE SPECIAL REPORT
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a special report for The John A. Hartford Foundation.)
Making the decision to transition your loved one to hospice care (for people whose medical conditions mean they are expected to die within six months) is a time of emotional upheaval. It’s often accompanied by confusion, with little understanding of available options or how hospice actually works.
Knowing ahead of time which hospice services are available and the tasks you may be required to take on can help you make the right choices when decision time comes.
Home Hospice, Hospital-Based Care or Stand-Alone Facility
One of the first things you will need to decide is whether to use a home hospice service, hospital-based care or — if available — a stand-alone facility. Nursing homes may also have hospice units or hospice floors.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each, according to Gilbert Oakley, a hospice nurse with Visiting Nurse Service of New York, who’s been providing home hospice care for over a decade.
You’ll have to balance what the person who is dying wants versus what you and the family can realistically provide.
If opting for in-home hospice, a home hospice agency will work with you to determine whether an adequate support system exists. Can the family pitch in with necessary tasks — from administering pain medication to bathing to helping the person toilet? Are you financially prepared to pay for additional help beyond what insurance covers?
Medicare-reimbursed hospices (for people 65 and older) all provide the same basic services. However, there still may be differences between providers that might make one a better choice for you over another, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. The best way to know is to compare. Medicare’s Hospice Compare provides lists and ratings of hospice providers in your community.
Your loved one’s physician, hospital discharge planner or social worker can recommend specific hospice agencies or facilities. Geriatric care managers can also be a good resource. Often a physician has privileges at certain facilities, which may limit choices. Ask these experts questions about their experiences working with the agencies or facilities. Then contact a few for informational appointments.
Hospice Questions to Think About
Credit: Adobe Stock
Many of the questions are the same whether you opt for in-home hospice or facility care. Here are some important questions to consider:
Is the hospice Medicare certified? Most are, and are therefore required to follow Medicare rules and regulations. This is important if your loved one receives the Medicare home hospice benefit.
Is the hospice nationally accredited? This designation lets you know that the agency or facility meets certain quality standards. While accreditation isn’t required, it can be a clue to the agency’s commitment to quality.
Has the facility or agency been cited in a negative way in the last few years by a state or federal oversight agency? Find out whether any violations or deficiencies been corrected.
Are the hospice’s doctors and nurses certified in palliative care (providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness)? Experience counts for a lot, but having the credential indicates specialized study in palliative medicine and/or nursing.
How quickly is a plan of care developed for the individual? Some hospices can begin the admissions process and start hospice services within a few hours — even at night or on weekends. Others may only provide intake during normal business hours. Depending on your loved one’s situation, a hospice’s ability to start services quickly might be very important.
How often will a nurse visit my loved one? Medicare only requires one visit every 14 days, but your family member may need more support, according to Perry Farmer, CEO of Crossroads Hospice, a for-profit provider. Find out the answer to this: How often do social workers, care aides, clergy, volunteers or bereavement support counselors come?
What are the options for inpatient care? Patients being cared for at home at some point may need to go to an inpatient unit for management of complicated symptoms or to give their family respite. Facilities vary — from the hospice having its own private inpatient unit to leased beds in a hospital or nursing home. If possible, visit the facilities (or delegate the task to a trusted family friend) to ensure that they are conveniently located and that you are comfortable with what they offer.
How rapid is crisis response? You want to know who would be available after normal business hours, on weekends and holidays. Ask about the hospice’s average response time and who will make the visit. Some hospices offer limited in-home support on nights and weekends, while others are able to send staff out to a patient’s home no matter when a crisis arises.
What are the expectations for the family’s role in caregiving? See whether the hospice’s expectations are consistent with what the family can provide. Often the care partner has no idea what it’s going to take to be with someone as they die at home — administering medication, helping with bathing and toileting and more. Will the hospice provide training to family caregivers?
How quickly can we expect pain and/or symptoms to be managed? Pain management is a key part of hospice care. Ask about the process if medications don’t seem to sufficiently address pain or symptoms, and how quickly they can be adjusted.
What out-of-pocket expenses should the family anticipate? Original Medicare’s hospice benefit covers everything needed related to the terminal illness, from doctor and nursing care to short term respite and grief counseling. This is true even if the individual chooses to also remain in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan. There may be a small co-pay for some services like respite care. Medigap and Part D prescription drug plans pay for other care and certain medications.
Taking this all into a account, having a plan of care is vital, according to Oakley. The caretaker(s) need to be aware of what the hospice can or cannot provide and what you or other family members must do.
If your loved one is a veteran, it’s important to select a hospice with the necessary, appropriate experience. Next Avenue published a story detailing how the toll of war on veterans can complicate end-of-life care and present unique needs that must be addressed. You may want to check out the We Honor Veterans program which works with experienced providers of this type of care.
Oakley also recommends finding out how the hospice handles patient and family concerns. Is there a clear process for sharing issues with appropriate hospice staff and ensuring the concerns are addressed, including a process for escalation if the concern is not adequately resolved at lower levels?
Facility-Based Care or Hospice Houses
There are times when patients with very complex symptoms or conditions cannot be cared for at home. Sometimes family members are geographically distant or just don’t have the emotional or physical resources to deal with the situation on a day-to-day basis.
One alternative is a freestanding facility known as a hospice house. Hospice houses offer a more home-like atmosphere than typically found in a hospital or nursing home. They’re designed for short stays and may be a good option when the person requires around-the-clock care. Some hospice house programs mandate that a patient be within a month or two of death, so be sure to ask about admission criteria.
“If you have an opportunity to go with a free-standing hospice house, jump wholeheartedly into it because the environment is created specifically to help people as they die and the family members of people as they die,” said Dr. Rebecca Allen, a geropsychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Alabama’s Research Institute on Aging.
Bereavement Support
Allen recommends asking all hospices about available bereavement services. Grief support can vary widely. It may include individual counseling, support groups, educational materials and outreach letters. If you opt for individual or group support, find out what credentials the session leader has.
What’s Most Important
Think about your general impressions after the initial contact with the provider. What was your reaction to the people you spoke with?
Remember to focus on what is most important to your family — most importantly the person who is dying.
Keeping that at the center will help narrow the field, whether there are three options or 30.
New York-based journalist Liz Seegert has spent more than 30 years reporting and writing about health and general news topics for print, digital and broadcast media. Her primary beats currently include aging, boomers, social determinants of health and health policy. She is topic editor on aging for the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Consumer Reports, AARP.com, Medical Economics, The Los Angeles Times and The Hartford Courant.
How to take the worry out of providing long-distance care to seniors
Photo by Pexels
Are you taking up the role of caregiver for a parent or older loved one? Wondering how to provide that care when you live far away? Long-distance caregiving doesn’t have to be so stressful if you take care of the following essential steps.
Get Familiar with Your Loved One’s Medicare Options
The number one concern for seniors is their health, and the number one source of senior healthcare coverage is Medicare. If you are providing care for a loved one from afar, you need to spend some time making sure they have the best Medicare coverage for their situation. Learn the pros and cons of coverage and supplemental plans, as well as important deadlines.
Primarily, you both should know that the Annual Election Period for coverage started on October 15, and you have until December 7 to help your family member make their choices. This crucial enrollment period is the only time you can make changes to current plans, and the deadline is fast approaching, so sit down with a checklist so you can go over all the options in detail. Pick a time when you can visit in-person so that you can have your family member’s Medicare card, copies of the previous year’s medical bills, and a list of any pertinent healthcare information (provider names, prescriptions, etc.). If you can’t do this in-person, use a video call service to connect and have your loved one show or scan you copies of needed materials.
Make Sure Your Family Member Is Safe at Home
Did you know that falls send more seniors to the hospital than any other injury? More importantly, most serious falls happen at home when seniors live on their own. This statistic is not meant to make you feel guilty, but rather to stress the importance of making sure your loved one’s home is free of any fall hazards, both inside and out. If you can make a trip, take a walk around your loved one’s home and look out for issues that could cause them to slip or trip. Clutter can be a recipe for disaster, so make sure any random objects are safely stowed off the floor and out of the path of your family member.
Bathrooms are another sore spot in senior homes, so you may want to help your loved one make changes, such as installing grab bars or putting a seat in the shower. When you need to make these upgrades from afar, you’ll need to find a contractor you can trust. Check reviews online, or ask friends for referrals, so you can find reliable, affordable help to assist your senior loved one with these projects, as well as future issues they may have in their home.
Stay in Touch with a Local Network of Help
When you are providing care from a distance, there will likely come a day when your loved one will need some help and you may not be immediately available to assist them. This is why it is important to build rapport with any neighbors, friends, or community members who may be able to help your family member in their time of need. It’s a major step in effectively providing care for loved ones without adding more stress to your life.
Don’t be afraid to ask neighbors to check in with your parent or loved one, or at least let you know if there is cause for concern. This may include severe weather, odd behavior, or anything else out of the ordinary. Your network can help your loved one get prepared for emergencies, get help when needed, or simply connect with you. As an added layer of protection and connection, look into medical alert services for your parent as well.
Providing care to a senior loved one, when you do not live nearby, can be nerve-wracking. But if you can do some planning, connect with locals, and find ways to keep them safe at home, you can take a lot of the guesswork out of being an effective long-distance caregiver.