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When Your Parent Becomes a Permanent Snowbird

As the East Coast settles into winter, snowbirds are living it up (or so we imagine!) in warmer climes. While this can be an exciting time for older adults, it often brings a set of concerns for their adult children, especially when this seasonal move becomes a permanent arrangement.  

If you’re living far from your permanently snowbirding parent, it’s natural to worry about their health, safety, and overall well-being. Here are some typical concerns you might face and how LifeCare Advocates can help you manage them from afar. 

Maintaining regular communication 

Concern: When your parent lives in a different part of the country for most or all of the year, one major worry is the decrease in regular, direct communication. Changes in your parent’s health or daily habits might not be as noticeable from a distance. 

Solution: Establish a routine communication schedule that fits both your and your parent’s lifestyle. Regular video calls, for example, can provide visual cues that might not be apparent over the phone. LifeCare Advocates can facilitate these interactions by providing support with technology setup and regular check-ins, ensuring your parent remains connected and engaged. 

Health management 

Concern: Managing chronic conditions or responding to medical emergencies is more complicated when you can’t be there to accompany your parent to appointments or rush to the hospital if needed. 

Solutions: One option is for a LifeCare Advocates Aging Life Care Manager™ to coordinate remotely with healthcare providers in your parent’s location to ensure they receive consistent and comprehensive care that meets their needs and wishes. Another option is for us to refer our client to an Aging Life Care Manager in the parent’s location. That care manager could provide the adult children with updates and ensure they’re informed about their parent’s health status and needs. 

Social engagement and loneliness 

Concern: Living away from their established community can lead to social isolation and loneliness for an older adult, which are significant risk factors for cognitive decline and depression.  

Solution: Encouraging active involvement in the local community is vital. LifeCare Advocates can help the older adult connect with social groups, activities, and volunteer opportunities that align with their interests. This engagement is crucial for maintaining their mental health and overall happiness. 

Emergency preparedness 

Concern: In the event of an emergency, being miles away can feel overwhelming as you’re unable to be physically present to manage the situation. 

Solution: LifeCare Advocates can prepare an emergency plan tailored to your parent’s location and needs. This includes setting up local emergency contacts, ensuring your parent knows what to do and whom to call, and coordinating with emergency services when necessary. 

Financial oversight 

Concern: Managing finances from a distance can be challenging, especially ensuring bills are paid on time and that no financial exploitation occurs. 

Solution: LifeCare Advocates has a wide network across the country of service providers we trust and can call on. We can help the family find reputable financial and legal experts either in the Boston area or wherever the older adult is living.  

Contact us for a consultation 

We offer in-office consultations to assist families in coping with the stress and uncertainty of having an older adult living at a distance. LifeCare Advocates can help to determine the right options, making sure that everyone’s needs are met. Contact us for more information.