Vacation is Approaching But What Should the Family Do With Mom or Dad?
Vacation season is upon us. It’s something you planned for the entire year, only now that it’s approaching, you’re suddenly feeling guilty about leaving your elderly parent or parents without anyone nearby in case of an emergency. That’s the dilemma faced by many Baby Boomers. Even if mom or dad may still be fairly healthy and living independently, the concern is certainly justified. “We typically find that many people, long after they’ve booked their tickets and made their reservations, suddenly feel a pang of guilt about going away and leaving the elderly loved ones alone,” said Ed Trapasso, a Valhalla resident and president of The Perfect Home Care, which offers non-medical home care to families in Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester and Putnam counties. “They suddenly fear that mom or dad will fall or have a health issue, and they won’t be around to help.” To protect against these concerns, here are some tips to consider if you’re going out of town and leaving mom or dad behind.
Consider Respite Care. For those family caregivers who have a legitimate reason to worry–such as in cases where they are the primary caregiver and mom or dad has a health issue–it’s probably a good idea to find a reputable home care agency that will provide a licensed aide for respite care while you’re away. This can run from several hours a day to live-in care for the time you’re on vacation. The aide provides help with dressing, bathing and grooming as well as meal preparation, light housekeeping and transportation to and from doctors’ offices.
Senior Day Care Programs. This can be a good way for seniors to stay busy, particularly those who normally depend on family for much of their daily activities.
Give Out Important Contact Information. Even if mom or dad has a clean bill of health, it is recommended that a neighbor or friend be given your travel itinerary, contact information for you during all times of your vacation and any emergency phone numbers of doctors and other family members.
List Medications. Prepare a list of medications taken by your parent and make sure it’s provided to both your parent and a neighbor or friend.
Buy an Emergency Pendant. If you haven’t gotten one in the past, now may be a good time to invest in a two-way emergency pendant that should be worn at all times. These devices provide two-way communication between the individual and an emergency responder or police station should the senior fall or face an emergency situation.
Communication System. Before you leave, you should sit down with mom and tell her, for example, that you’ll call or text her at 9 p.m. every other night and will then expect her to contact you right back. Just make sure you take different time zones into effect and that you remind mom or dad after each call or text when you’ll next be calling. This is a good way to stay in touch and pick up on any issues before they become problematic.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
