• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WHO WE ARE
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • News and Events
  • Areas We Serve
    • Essex County, MA
      • Andover
      • North Andover
    • Hillsborough County, NH
      • Manchester
      • Nashua
    • Middlesex County, MA
      • Concord
      • Lexington
      • Wakefield
      • Winchester
      • Woburn
    • Rockingham County, NH
      • Exeter
      • Londonderry
      • Salem
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Loss Of A Loved One
    • Pet Planning
    • Power Of Attorney
    • Probate and Trust Administration
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Nursing Home Planning
  • Resources
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder law reports
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Elder Law Resources – Londonderry, New Hampshire
        • Elder Law Resources North Andover, Massachusetts
        • Nashua, New Hampshire Elder Law Resources
        • Woburn, MA Elder Law Resources
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Articles
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning for Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Free Seminars
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Business Planning
      • Charitable Gifting
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Wills and Trusts
    • Newsletters
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Presentations
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss Of A Loved One
      • Probate Resources
        • Nashua, New Hampshire Probate Resources
        • Probate Resources – Londonderry, New Hampshire
        • Probate Resources – North Andover, MA
        • Probate Resources – Wakefield, Massachusetts
        • Woburn, MA Probate Resources
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Published Books
  • Live Seminars
    • Online Seminars
    • In-Person Seminars
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC

Serving Southern New Hampshire & Essex Country, Massachussetts

Call us today(603) 894-4141

(978) 969-0331

Online Seminars
Attend Free Seminar
Home » Estate Planning » How to Be a Long-Distance Caregiver

How to Be a Long-Distance Caregiver

January 30, 2020Estate Planning

Watching a parent or other elderly loved one succumb to the physical and/or mental deterioration that goes along with the aging process is never easy. Trying to provide care to a loved one from far away can make things even more difficult. Nevertheless, many people find themselves in precisely that role – a long-distance caregiver. In an effort to make your life a little easier, a Woburn area elder law attorney at DeBruyckere Law Offices explains how to be a long-distance caregiver.

Unpaid Caregivers by the Numbers

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, about 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the last 12 months. The majority of those caregivers (82%) provide care for a single adult, usually a close family member. The monetary value of the services provided by unpaid caregivers is truly staggering – and it is increasing noticeably as the older population continues to increase at a historic rate. Over five years ago, in 2013, the economic value of all unpaid care in the United States was an estimated $470 billion. Compare that to the value of that same care in 2007 when it was estimated to be at $375 billion – an increase of almost $100 billion in just six years.

Long-Distance Caregiving

Not all that long ago, adult children tended to remain fairly close to their parents even when they started their own families. In fact, it was common for three or more generations to live together, or within walking distance of each other, in large part so that they could all take care of each other. Today, however, it is just as likely for families to be scattered across the country if not across the world. When an elderly parent (or other family member) does reach a point at which care is needed, picking up and moving back home in order to provide that care may not be a realistic option.  Being a long-distance caregiver though is hardly easy. If you are a long-distance caregiver, there are some things you can do to make your “job” a bit less stressful, including:

  • Educate yourself with regard to your loved one’s current medical conditions and medications. Check with your parent’s doctors and research online. Make sure though that you have permission for online access to medical records and other information protected by HIPAA. To help care for your parent you need to have a clear understanding of how any medical conditions they have impact them. This will help you know what to expect and what symptoms to watch out for that could indicate a serious problem.
  • Take the time to fully research potential care providers. While it may be difficult to do from afar, make an effort to learn what you can about the health care professionals caring for your parent. If someone provides in-home care you want to develop as close a relationship as possible with this person because he/she has direct access to your parent and could exert considerable influence over him/her.
  • Secure important documents. This might include his/her birth certificate, social security card, insurance documentation, bank account statements, estate planning documents and anything else that seems important.
  • Obtain original copies of important legal documents. In order to properly care for your parent you will likely need the proper legal authority to do so. That authority may be given to you in the form of a general power of attorney, as the Trustee of a trust, in medical release forms, as an agent in a medical power of attorney, or as a court appointed guardian. You may also want to become a joint owner of property owned by your parent to make it easier to manage the property. In any case, you need to have the proper documentation close at hand in case someone questions your authority.
  • Plan for an emergency.  Whether you are caring for an elderly loved one who lives in the same house as you or who lives thousands of miles away, you need to be prepared for an emergency. Make sure your vehicle is road trip ready if you live within driving distance. If you live too far to drive, decide ahead of time the best way to get there quickly (plane, bus, train). If you must travel abroad, make sure your passport is up to date. Finally, have a contingency plan for children, pets, and your job in the event you must pick up and go on a moment’s notice.

Contact a Woburn Area Elder Law Attorney

For more information, please download our FREE estate planning worksheet. If you have additional questions or concerns about providing care for an elderly loved one, contact a Woburn area elder law attorney at DeBruyckere Law Offices by calling (978) 969-0331 to schedule an appointment.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Daniel DeBruyckere
Daniel DeBruyckere
Attorney Daniel A. DeBruyckere has been practicing law in New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1998, and has helped hundreds of clients with their estate planning and elder care issues. He is very well respected in the area of estate planning, probate, trust administration, elder law issues, and business planning.
Daniel DeBruyckere
Latest posts by Daniel DeBruyckere (see all)
  • Fewer People Have an Estate Plan in Place Than in Years Past - February 16, 2021
  • Biden Administration Could Reduce Estate Tax Exclusion - February 1, 2021
  • Estate Planning for Singles - January 28, 2021

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Biden Administration Could Reduce Estate Tax Exclusion
What Is an Incentive Trust?
Providing for Your Spouse If He/She Is Not a Citizen
DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC | Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys
Estate Planning — 3 Mistakes to Avoid
What the 2020 Election Could Mean for Your Estate Plan
A Time for Thanks and Community

DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC

Download our free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Please fill out the form below:
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

Blog Subscribe

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

I felt complete trust and confidence in Dan DeBruyckere and his staff. They have a caring, low-key approach and there is no pressure to add products to the estate plan; rather he makes me aware of changes in the law, etc. I always learn something new to assist me in our planning!

LN

Your seminar was the only seminar we attended without financial advisors wanting to invest our money instead of protecting it! The information this firm provided was easy to understand even though it is a difficult topic. Thank you for all of your help!

HR

We both felt so comfortable in they way our Estate Planning was handled. We felt like someone was watching out for our best interest. Everyone we worked with at the firm was thorough, and explained everything in a way where we could walk away feeling like everything was complete.

RS

A truly great experience all the way through. Felt like we were a part of the family! Thank you.

LW

We could not have picked a more qualified law firm. Everyone that we came in contact with made us feel at ease.

Happy Client

We were very impressed with the statements put forth by Dan at the Seminar. We were impressed even more by their down to earth approach and the efficiency they accomplished it all.

Charles

Londonderry Office

Londonderry Office
One Verani Way
Londonderry, NH 03053
Phone: (603) 894-4141

See Larger Map Get Directions

Nashua Office

Nashua Office
76 Northeastern Boulevard, Unit 31B
Nashua, NH 03062
Phone: (603) 894-4141

See Larger Map Get Directions

North Andover Office

North Andover Office
231 Sutton St, Suite 1B
North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 686-4645

See Larger Map Get Directions

Woburn Office

Woburn Office
444 Washington Street, Suite 503
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (978) 969-0331

See Larger Map Get Directions

By Appointment Only

BEVERLY OFFICE

Beverly Office
900 Cummings Center Suite 204-U
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 969-0331

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

dadlawoffices_sidbr_map
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2021 DeBruyckere Law Offices
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement

© 2021 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.