Ways to Make Sure Your Elderly Relatives are Safe and Secure Even If You Are Miles Away

Are you worried about the safety and security of your elderly relatives who are living by themselves? This can be difficult if you live thousands of miles away.

The world has become a much smaller place with advanced technology allowing us to keep in touch with family members, even when they are far away. Even though these advances have made communication easier with our loved ones, they can also make us anxious. We think, “what if something bad happened while I’m not there to help?”

Fortunately, there are many ways you can protect your elderly relatives and make sure they feel safe and secure even when you don’t live with them. In this article, we’ve provided tips for creating a plan that enables you to check in on them whilst also offering peace of mind, both for them and for yourself.

Maintain Regular Communication

Staying in touch regularly is one of the most important steps in making sure your elderly relative is safe and secure when living away from you. Set aside regular times for communication and establish preferred methods, such as voice or video calls using Skype or FaceTime. Consider also using emails, text messages, phone calls, or other types of communication that work best for your loved one. 

Make sure that the frequency and quality of communication are maintained on both ends so that all parties stay connected and updated about any changes in their lives.

Manage Living Arrangements Wisely

When managing living arrangements for an elderly relative who’s living away from family members, it’s important to do everything possible to ensure they’re comfortable living on their own. Start by finding a facility or environment that meets the needs and preferences of your senior family member and verify whether any additional support services are offered. 

Additionally, you may want to check if the place can accommodate any necessary medical care should the individual’s health deteriorate due to age or other illnesses later down the line. The property should also be monitored regularly with security features like surveillance cameras or panic buttons in case of emergencies. Furthermore, consult legal advisors before signing leases or rental agreements.

Monitor Mental Health Carefully

An important part of taking care of an elderly family member who’s living away from home is monitoring mental as well as physical health. 

Watch out for signs of depression because prolonged periods spent alone without contact with anyone else can trigger bouts of sadness. Listen if your senior relatives have regular complaints about being lonely.

Other signs of mental health issues include: 

• Lack of interest in activities
• Feeling disconnected from family
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Feelings of helplessness
• Inability to manage daily tasks like eating and bathing
• Social withdrawal from friends and neighbors

If required, consult legal advisors before signing leases or rental agreements. These indicators should not be overlooked since loneliness can increase risks for seniors going through difficult situations like bereavement or relocation. 

It’s also beneficial to suggest activities that promote relaxation and engagement amongst seniors, such as reading books and playing chess, that work best for your loved one based on his or her interests.

Meanwhile, if you are already seeing signs of decline in your loved one’s physical or mental health, you can visit https://generationcareinc.com/ to check if you need personalized care and assistance for your loved one.

Provide Life Alert Options for Your Senior Relatives 

Providing life alerts for senior relatives can be a great way to ensure their safety and well-being. Life Alert devices allow seniors to call for help if they find themselves in an emergency situation. In addition, having family members available in case of accidents or falls is also important. 

With a Life Alert system activated, seniors can live independently, knowing that somebody is monitoring them at all times so that they have the assistance needed in case of an emergency. The life alert cost is relatively affordable but valuable because it provides users with 24/7 access to medical and safety assistance! 

Protect Against Financial Exploitation

Aging parents could still fall victim to scams due to their vulnerability caused by age-related conditions such as hearing loss or memory loss. However, with banks offering digital banking services these days, seniors may no longer need face-to-face visits at branches, and this removes the risk of exploitation to some extent. 

But further precautions must be taken, such as accounting monitoring and budgeting services. It might also help to set up alerts on accounts to inform you of odd activities on financial platforms. You should also include fraud monitoring systems to help track suspicious activity. 

To further protect financial assets, it makes sense to take extra steps when transferring funds, providing power attorneyships, and setting up online wills and guardianships where required. Adequate tax planning must be carried out every year armed with legal advice, so there are no liabilities. 

Conclusion

It can feel overwhelming to have a long-distance relationship with elder relatives during these trying times. Talking to them on a daily basis will give you an idea of how they’re functioning in their day-to-day lives.

If you follow the steps provided in this post, you’ll have more peace of mind knowing that your senior loved ones are well taken care of.

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