When taking care of you is priority, caregiving improves for your aging loved one living in Phoenix. When your senior is safe and comfortable, worry lessen.

Help with finances or money management

•    Arrange for in-home care; from providing respite care for a primary caregiver to creating a plan in case of emergencies
•    Act as information coordinators
•    Help aging parents understand their needs and to accept them, including home health aides, insurance benefits and claims, and durable medical equipment.

For the long-distance caregiver:

•    Make occasional social phone call to share family news
•    On calls mention how to manage household bills,
•    Get medical information,
•    Arrange for food or grocery deliveries

What begins as a monthly trip to check on elderly loved ones may become moving them to a new home or nursing facility closer to where you live.

Long Distance Caregivers can also track the following:

A caregiver living afar can help organize the following information and update it as needed. Just know that parents are even reluctant to share personal information with at son or daughter. So, don’t take it personally. Explain that you are not trying to invade their privacy or take over their personal life, but that you are getting them organized in case of an emergency. Assure them that you will respect their privacy, and then keep your promise. If they insist, ask if they would be willing to work with an elder law attorney or with a trusted friend.

Here’s a list on where to start

•    Full legal name and residence
•    Birth date and place, birth certificate
•    Social Security and Medicare numbers
•    Employer(s) and dates of employment
•    Education and military records
•    Sources of income and assets; investment income: stocks, bonds, property
•    Insurance policies, bank accounts, deeds, investments, and other valuables
•    Most recent income tax return
•    Money owed, to whom, and when payments are due
•    Credit card account names and numbers
•    Safe deposit box key and information
•    Will, beneficiary information
•    Durable power of attorney
•    Living will and/or durable power of attorney for health care
•    Where cash or other valuables might be kept in the home

There may be as many as 7 million people in the U.S. who are long distance caregivers.

Build a network of close friends of your parents or neighbors, they will be your eyes when you’re away.