Caring For Your Parents As A Digital Nomad: 3 Tips That Help A Lot
The digital nomad life is amazing; I love it. Buuuut, there are downsides sometimes, especially as you get older…
Okay, so let’s set the stage. You’re traveling the world and seeing amazing kick-ass places. You’re doing your thing…exploring cultures, learning language and living a seriously epic life.
But something happens the longer you do this…you become slightly more detached from your family life back home.
This isn’t always an issue, especially when you’re younger. But it does get harder when your parents start getting older. They become slightly less independent and may need extra help.
But what can you do if you’re on the other side of the world? This is especially tricky if you don’t have siblings or other family member who can step in.
Fortunately, my parents are still pretty young and healthy. But I’ve watched both sides of my family deal with my grandparent’s aging, nursing homes and navigating home care.
So this is a quick guide with some helpful tips for digital nomads, expats and long-term travelers figuring out how to care for their aging parents.
Now let’s do this!
Make Use of the Modern Technology Around You
The fact that we can travel the world, work remotely and build full brands with just the thing in our pockets is proof to how freaking excellent modern tech is.
I mean, we use it for everything else anyways, so why not also use it to help look after your parents?
A core place to start is using a Life Assure medical care alert device that your parents have at home, which sends a signal to you if they fall or have an emergency. It’s a cool tool…and seriously helpful to trade some of your worries for peace of mind while you’re abroad.
You can also use things like:
Setting reminders through home smart speakers (like Alexa) to help your parents remember key things in their daily schedule
Video calls and somewhat regular check-ins or catch-ups
Shared calendars so you can track their medical appointments and such
Explore more:
➤ What AI Can Never Replace
Create a Local Support Network
As a nomad, you already know the value of community. But it’s probably even more important for your aging parents.
Since you’re not physically able to go to their home and support them, you can create a local support network for your parents.
For example, yo can reach out to nearby relatives or neighbors and stay in touch with them for updates on how your parents are doing.
In some cases, it might even make sense to hire a care giver who can check on your parents daily (or do stuff around the house for them).
This creates a support system so they’ve got people close by to reach out to when they need immediate help…or just some other people to talk with (which is important too!).
Or, if they still use you as their first point of contact, you can have someone on standby who can pop over to pay them a visit.
Consider Moving Them Into Community Living Spaces
There might be a time when it’s safer for everyone if your parents moved out of their house and lived elsewhere.
This isn’t always easy (especially for the parent(s)) but sometimes it’s necessary.
Homes are full of safety hazards…like leaving the stove on or forgetting to close and lock doors. These things can be easily missed or difficult to remember for aging parents.
You’ve heard the horror stories.
So moving your parents into senior community living spaces makes total sense. They still retain their independence, but they’ve got the option to get help from experienced medical professionals.
They’re also in a safer community surrounded by people of a similar age, which can make you feel more confident about their daily security.
The first week might be hard on them, but eventually they’ll likely settle into a new normal (and end up really liking their new digs).
The core purpose for this post is help you plan so you don’t feel guilty about living your digital nomad life and being away from your parents.
You made the choice because it suits your lifestyle and goals, but you can still connect with your parents and care for them (even if you’re on the other side of the globe).
Just remember to visit them from time to time too! Home visits (and the tips above) are the move.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for you here. Thanks for reading!
Later ✌️
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