Caring For Elderly Parents From A Distance (NAPSA)—In today’s world,it’s not uncommonfor adult children to live in a different city than their parents or relatives. It can be hard to know what they need, and particularly easy to feel helpless and guilty. WhatTo Do The first step in arranging care from a distance is identifying what needs to be done.It’s essential to be informed about factors that limit a person’s ability to live safely and independently in the comfort of his or her home. One way to gather this information is through a free online Independent Living Assessment, developed by Interim HomeStyle Services, a leading national provider of home care. Users answer a series of questions to identify how well the individual can perform activities of daily living and other factors that impact his or her well-being. This unique tool is a first step in the process of making sure you or your loved one can remain safe at home. The assessment results provide valuable information about next steps, including recommendations for checking with a physician when appropriate, situ- ations in which home care might help, “red flags” about safety issues, and general, useful information about conditions: what you should watch for and expect. At-Home Assessment At the end of the online assessment, you are given the opportu- nity to send a copy of the results to a local participating Interim HomeStyle Services office and request that someone contact you for follow-up. In almost every instance, it is equally important to have someone actually visit the Caring From A Distance: With elderly relatives, it’s important to determine how well they are able to live safely and independently in their own home. individual and perform an At- Home Assessment. This involves much more detail and is conducted by a trained health professional who asks a series of questions in addition to observing the individual and reviewing the home environment. The At-Home Assessment pro- vides more information as well as service recommendations. You can arrange to receive a copy of the At-Home Assessment report, which indicates the types of services recommended. This helps provide peace of mind in knowing that the safety of a loved one has been professionally assessed and he or she is receiving the right level of care for the right reason. You can also arrange with the participating Interim HomeStyle Services office for ongoing status reports that will keep you informed and involved in the care of your loved one. There may be an additional charge for the reports. To learn more, visit www.interimhealthcare.com or call 1-800-944-8888.
