Calling Services

Dear Linda:

My mom’s an ailing widow. Until now, I’ve been able to call everyday to make sure she’s okay, but I’m being deployed and won’t be able to for the next year. She wants to remain in her home and is well enough for that, but she needs to be checked on. The problem is that all her other relatives and friends have passed on. What can I do?

A Concerned Son

Dear Concerned Son:

Your mother must be very proud. To have a son care so much about his mother and his country speaks volumes about the job she’s done raising you.

Before you leave, be sure all her legal (i.e. Last Will and Powers of Attorney), medical (i.e. Insurance and Living Will and Directives), and financial (i.e. Trusts and Bank Accounts) documents are in order. Put all her important papers in a fireproof box. Make duplicate copies for yourself in case you need to confer about them long distance.

Develop a Care Plan to accomplish her Activities of Daily Living (like trips to doctors, pharmacy, grocery store and hairdresser), and identify any special needs she has. Then ask for help from people in the community—her neighbors, members of civic, religious and social organizations. Contact the National Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) for help in identifying local service and aging agencies.

Her level of independence should determine the amount of support she needs. There are in-home agencies that handle housekeeping and meal preparation chores, personal care and grooming needs, and therapy and nursing requirements.

If all she needs are phone calls, there are agencies that provide only that service. No special equipment is necessary. Any touch-tone phone can receive agency calls, and you should be able to choose call times—generally made twice a day. Follow-up calls should be made if Mom doesn’t answer, and the agency will need a contact list for emergencies. Contact Call Reassurance Center at 602-265-5968 (ext. 7) for information.