We often bemoan the curse of contemporary technology and its insidious assault on our time and attention. The distractions are endless – ringing cell phones, beeping text messages, and buzzing Twitter alerts.

But let’s face it; if you were a long-distance caregiver, or even a local one with a full time job, wouldn’t the prospect of being able to be in two places at once intrigue you just a little?

By now, you’ve probably heard of Skype, even if you’re not exactly sure what it is or how it functions. You may have witnessed how advertisers have used it peddle cookies where a young boy and his father share a goodnight ritual across three continents.

Skype allows subscribers to make free voice and video calls via the Internet, making it the perfect application to offer relief to the long-distance caregiver to help bridge the miles between themselves and their loved ones.

A recent article from the New York Times Health blog explained how a Skype-enabled video of Nancy Crawford, age 100, in Charlotte, NC and visiting her doctor was joined – from his workplace in Montgomery, AL six-hours away — by her grandson Johnnie Crawford. The geriatric care manager who’d accompanied Mrs. Crawford to the appointment provided the Skype link, bringing along a laptop with a Web cam.

Mr. Crawford, frustrated by his inability to drive the 400 miles to Charlotte as often as he’d like, appreciated the connection. “I’d do it again,” he said, “to impress upon my grandmother that I care, to show the people who care for her that I’m involved, to ask the kind of questions I’d like to ask. I hope I’m representing her the best I can.”

The addition of a Home Instead Caregiver can make the arranging of transportation to and from medical visits a headache-free procedure for the long-distance family caregiver. We can assist in finding more ways that having a home care helper can enable a family, separated by distance, to maintain an active role in the lives of their elderly loved ones.

For more information on how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can provide care and companionship to help aging loved ones in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas remain living independently in their homes, please give us a call at our Richmond (804.527.1100) or Tappahannock (804.443.4883) home care offices any time, or view our digital brochure at http://hisc189.digbro.com/.

Jitterbug phone has large numbers and screen

If you have a senior in your life, the following gift ideas can make buying a little easier. Most of these items not only make a nice gift, they are functional, too.

Think about pre-paid services. For instance, landscaping. Why not pre-pay for a year of landscaping for a senior who has a home and lawn? Other helpful pre-paid services include a dog walker, a hair stylist who makes home visits, or even a personal chef.

 A large button cell phone. One example of this is the Jitterbug phone. It has a large, lighted visual display, large buttons, and speed dialing.

A lap table. These are great for using a laptop, eating dinner on the sofa (or in bed) and having somewhere to put things like the remote, eyeglasses, and phone.

A Medical Emergency Notification System. Services like Life Alert, MedScope or LifeLine Services. These devices are worn by an individual (imagine a necklace or a bracelet) and when the button is pressed, emergency medical services are summoned.

Fashionable clothes that make life easy. New clothes are always a fun, appreciated gift. Consider your senior’s style and look for easy pieces that incorporate zippers and elastic instead of buttons or instead of pullovers that they might find difficult to pull over their head.

A large-button Universal remote.  Let’s face it – remote controls often have small buttons and are difficult to use, especially in the dark. Make television watching more enjoyable by giving your senior a large-buttoned remote that is a snap to use.

Large clock with day and date makes a nice gift for an elderly person

A clock with a large dial and day / date.  This makes it easier for an elderly person to know the day of the week and the date, as well as the time. 

A long-handle shoe horn, especially the metal kind to doesn’t break or bend.  One of the best gifts, at any age.

And, remember, if the senior in your life is finding it difficult to live independently, a CAREgiver from Home Instead Senior Care can make all the difference in being able to provide simple but important tasks such as medication reminders, transportation to doctors appointments or place of worship, help with dressing or bathing, meal preparation and companionship.  For a full list of services, please click here or simply call us at 804.527.1100 for a free, no-obligation care assessment.