Family
Caring For Aging Parents: Keeping In Touch
By
Jan 3, 2008, 20:52

(NAPSI)-On Bob's most memorable trip, he landed on Omaha Beach on D-day. His most recent trip landed him on the azaleas behind his house. He was cleaning the gutters and fell off the ladder. That was two hours ago.

The bushes broke Bob's fall but the impact sprained his ankles. It is November in Minnesota. Bob is in serious trouble. So is his wife, who has Alzheimer's.

The preceding is a common event, an elderly person falls, hurts himself and is immobilized. It is also the nightmare of every son or daughter living at a distance from aging parents. Today, that is common, too.

Over 40 million Americans now care for a relative in their own homes, a number that may double when baby boomers hit their 70s. We tend to honor our parents' wishes to stay at home as long as they are capable. Besides, institutional care is expensive, much dreaded, and not keeping pace with our aging population.

The best quality of life and the most cost-effective option is to let the elderly "age in place." The question remains, however, what if something happens to the caregiver?

In Bob's example, we can see that seasonal extremes can turn a relatively minor accident into a potential disaster. One safeguard is communication.

Bob hears the phone ringing again, followed by his own voice as the machine picks up. Then another voice comes on the line:

"Hello, Bob. This is Phyllis of the Peace of Mind Program. I've tried three times now, so per your son's protocol, I'll call your neighbor to come check on you. And I'll be contacting your son, too. When you get this, please call (866) 541-7667."

The Peace of Mind Program is a nationwide subscription service that helps families monitor aging relatives. There may also be local church-operated call trees or call-in services run by support groups.

Monitoring services are not intended to replace family contact, but rather to augment it. Keeping in touch with elderly parents can be hard due to distance and busy lives, but it can also be a lifesaver.

Ask your parents' senior center about available call ser-vices. The Peace of Mind Program can be reached at the above number or on the Web at www.pomp4seniors.com.

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