The Care Tips from "Caring for a Distant Parent"

51 Tips for the Common Decisions and Challenges of Family Caregiving

 Life-Long Care Tips

Care Tip #1: Your First Priority Is You

Care Tip #2: Nothing Is Set In Stone

Care Tip #3: Your Situation Is Unique

 While Your Parent Is Healthy

Care Tip #5: Talking With Your Parent

Care Tip #6: I Want To Be Independent

Care Tip #7: Help Your Parent Prevent Falls

Care Tip #8: Your Parent Behind the Wheel

 When You Don’t Like Your Parent

Care Tip #9: You Don’t Have To Like Your Parent

Care Tip #10: No Guilt Needed--Parents Choose Their Own Lives

Care Tip #11: Unsuccessful Aging [Preview This Tip!]

Care Tip #12: Write a Love Letter

Care Tip #13: What is Forgiveness and Can You Forgive?

 Gather Information

Care Tip #14: Gather Information and Identify Support

Care Tip #15: The Reality Checklist

Care Tip #16: Find Out Where the Records Are Kept

Care Tip #17: Dementia--It’s Not Always Alzheimer’s [Preview This Tip!]

Care Tip #18: Your Parent's Contacts: Part of the Care Team

Care Tip #19: Join AARP

Care Tip #20: Know Your Parent’s Wishes: Advance Medical Directives

Care Tip #21: Talk With an Eldercare Attorney

Care Tip #22: Keep a Care Log

 Business Matters

Care Tip #23: Encourage Your Parent To Sign a DURABLE Power of Attorney (POA)

Care Tip #24: Who Pays for Long-Term Care (LTC)?

Care Tip #25: Medicare/Medicaid: The Government’s Health Insurance

Care Tip #26: Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance…or Save for LTC

The Crisis Event

Assistance Around You

Care Tip #27: Have a Family Conference

Care Tip #28: Use an Eldercare Referral Service

Care Tip #29: Ask! Lean On Others

Care Tip #30: Create a Care Team [Preview This Tip!]

Care Tip #31: Let People Do What They’re Good At

Care Tip #32: A Social Worker to the Rescue

Care Tip #33: Mail Order Help

Care Tip #34: Hire a Geriatric Care Manager and/or a Claims Processor

Care Tip #35: The Pastoral Care Department

Care Tip #36: Contact Your Parent’s Clergy

 A New Home

Care Tip #37: Should Your Parent Move In With You?

Care Tip #38: Moving Your Parent Closer To You Is Not Always Best

Care Tip #39: What Housing Options Are Available?

Care Tip #40: Evaluating Housing Options

Care Tip #41: Choose a Living Atmosphere That Suits Your Parent

Care Tip #42: Treasures of a Lifetime, The Family Home

 Long-Term Care Living

Care Tip #43: The LTC Community Is Home Now

Care Tip #44: Stay in Contact--Even If Your Parent Doesn't Know You

Care Tip #45: Meet and Support the LTC Facility Staff

Care Tip #46: Make Regular Contact with the LTC Staff

Care Tip #47: A Two-year-old With Rights

Care Tip #48: To Visit …Or Not? You Have a Choice

Care Tip #49: Plan Your Visits

Care Tip #50: You Might Not Be There When the End Comes

Care Tip #51: Consider Hospice

Doing Enough

Appendix 1: Core Organizations to Contact

Appendix 2: Your Personal Library

Appendix 3 : Searching for Information