Long Distance Caregiving
Providing meaningful support is possible even if the person with dementia lives in a different city or region.
If you’re faced with the challenges of providing care from a distance, you’re not alone.
If the person living with dementia lives in another city or region, you can provide meaningful support.
Tips for providing long-distance care
1. Stay in contact frequently
2. Establish a routine with them
3. Make occasional visits if possible
4. Research the types of services and availability in their local area
5. Ask others for help
6. Share in Caregiving
7. Make appointments
8. Keep track of their documents
9. Help them to create any legal documents
10. Learn as much as you can about their life story and their dementia.
11. Attend an Education Session
Moving or relocating a person with dementia to the Calgary area
If you’re moving someone from outside Alberta, they can apply for Alberta Health Care coverage once they are here. Sometimes there is a three-month wait after the application is filed.
Once the person has an Alberta Health Care card, they can access extensive community support services.
Alberta Health Care Coverage
Visit their website
Alberta Health Services Home Care
An important first point of contact is Alberta Health Services Home Care
They will complete an initial assessment to find the most helpful and necessary services. Recommendations may include:
- community resources
- supportive housing options
- adult day programs
- support for caregivers
Call (403) 943-1920
Visit their Website
Things to consider before moving or relocating a family member with dementia are:
- Their needs for independence and contact with friends
- Your past relationship with the person with dementia
- Your needs and your family and caregivers’ needs
- Lifestyle differences
- The home environment — space, privacy, safety
- Availability of proper health care
- Availability of publicly funded community resources
- Your emotional, physical, and financial capacity to deal with the person's care needs
- Cost of private care (if available or accessible) from the publicly funded system
- The impact on your employment situation
- The length of time you expect the arrangement to last
- The effect of an out-of-province or out-of-country move on eligibility for health care and other services
- The opportunity for respite relief for you, your family and caregivers (can family members, friends or neighbours provide relief for you?)
- Relocation for a caregiver may also be a possibility if:
- Community services are not currently available or accessible for the person with dementia
- The physician recommends it
- The person needs 24-hour care or supervision
- The person can no longer live safely at home
Stress Management and Self Care
As a caregiver, how you care for yourself is just as important as the care you provide for your loved one.
Respite for Caregivers
Adult day programs give caregivers a break and provide a fun and safe environment for people with dementia to engage in activities and make friends.