Caring for a loved one with a brain tumor is hard work but it is especially hard from far away. You may be wishing you could be with your loved one all the time but be limited by work or other responsibilities. If you are caring for someone from a distance, you may be asking, “What type of help can I offer? How can I be in the loop with the medical team when I live out of town?  How do I provide support? What if my loved one needs more care than I can offer by phone or with infrequent visits?” 

The first thing to realize is there is a lot you CAN offer as a long distance caregiver; for example, you can offer emotional support by phone, email, or by sending cards/mail regularly.  You can also help with gathering information via the web.  These days the web can make other tasks easier from a distance too—online bill pay can help if you find yourself tasked with handling the finances.  Sites like Caring Bridge or Care Pages are tools you can use to stay informed or keep others up to date on your loved one’s situation.

In terms of your treatment team, using your in person visits to meet providers face-to-face will help you communicate more easily when you are at a distance.  You can also help by arranging or organizing others nearby to accompany your loved one to appointments and checking in with them afterwards. Finally, if the needs are too great or your loved one is isolated, consider a private pay case manager.  Many social workers moonlight part-time as private case managers and can help with organizing medications, finances, or other tasks.  This may be a solution that works for you. 

This week, we are talking about long distance caregiving.  Do you have a loved one in a different city or state that you are helping? What challenges have you faced? What tips can you share with others?

Blog repost: H Patterson, 6/21/10