Being a Long-Distance Caregiver

“Something is wrong with mom!”  The realization is frightening no matter where you are, but especially when you live far away from a loved one exhibiting signs of dementia. What can you do when you live hours away and a phone conversation with your loved one turns into a confusing jumble of past conversations or paranoid rants? Lately, I’ve had several conversations with long-distance caregivers embarking on this new and scary journey.

Recently I spoke with *Cassandra, a young woman who is her elderly aunt’s only living relative. Cassandra flies across the country fairly regularly to ensure that her aunt’s bills are paid, home is maintained and her medical needs are met. On her most recent visit, Cassandra arrived to find her aunt’s air conditioner broken, the house steaming hot and her aunt looking unkempt for the first time in her life.  Cassandra felt heartbroken, afraid, embarrassed and unsure of…