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If you’re living abroad with parents in India, you may be in the same boat as thousands - and wondering whether your parents need some form of care in your absence. Whether your parents are in Chennai, Mumbai, or any other part of India, this involves figuring out the right type of care for them. How involved does the care need to be? What’s the best way to convince them that they need care? All of these decisions involve careful consideration of their current health and real needs, to ensure that whatever solution you choose is actually useful to them.
From assessing their overall well-being to determining whether they require home care, a health care concierge, or emergency assistance, this guide will help you make informed decisions. Plus, we’ll explore how Nila can be your ally in providing the best support for your parents.
If your parents are still relatively healthy and active, they might just need occasional check-ins or preventive care. This is the time to ensure they have access to regular health screenings and a healthy lifestyle, with a good diet and regular exercise being strong ways to support this lifestyle. Here’s how you can support them:
Regular Health Check-Ups: Encourage them to schedule regular health check-ups and screenings. This helps catch potential issues early. This is something they could do independently, or with the help of a remote care concierge
Health Monitoring Tools: Recommend using health monitoring apps or wearable devices that track vital signs and physical activity.
Emergency Assistance: Ensure they know how to contact emergency services quickly. A medical alert system could also be a good precaution. Emergency-only services are a great option too; these are not too intrusive, and are excellent in a pinch. Think of this as insurance.
Tip for Convincing Your Parents: Emphasise that these steps are about maintaining their current good health and preventing future issues. It’s a proactive approach rather than a reactive one.
As your parents age, they may experience some health concerns typical for their age group, such as joint pains, slight difficulty with moving, cataract or dental issues or minor memory lapses. While at most times, these are not concerning or out of the ordinary, they may still require some form of assistance. You could consider:
Health Care Concierge / Care Manager: A health care concierge can coordinate regular appointments, manage prescriptions, and provide general guidance on health-related issues. They will also be available in-person to escort your parents to appointments, and manage their health end-to-end. A care management service can also help organise doctors, nurses or any form of healthcare as needed.
Home Care Services: Light home care services such as doctor visits or need-based nursing visits to ascertain your parents’ well being might be useful.
Emergency Assistance: A reliable service in case of an emergency could be invaluable, given these never tend to announce themselves. A service that ensures medical assistance in an emergency could be very helpful, and they often offer scheduled check-ins as well which could be helpful in preventing an emergency.
Preventive Care: Ensure they have a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and have access to necessary medications.
Tip for Convincing Your Parents: Frame it as an unobtrusive way to make their lives easier and less stressful. Such forms of care retain your parents’ independence and yet ensure that there is someone to help them when they need it.
Unfortunately, chronic conditions have become more common over time. Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or forms of dementia, such as Parkinson’s can start off without causing much trouble, but over time end up affecting overall health and wellbeing anywhere from moderately to severely. While your parents can certainly remain active and independent for the most part despite these issues, managing these conditions involves regular healthcare monitoring, medication and visits to a healthcare professional. The probability of an emergency arising is also likely to be higher, and so the form of care needed is likely to vary. Here are some options to consider:
Health Care Concierge / Care Manager: A care manager can help orchestrate the various interconnected aspects of your parents’ care, from specialist appointments, subsequent treatment such as medication or blood tests or scans, to home health services such as physiotherapy or home nursing. They will also make regular check-ins to your parents to keep in tune with your parents’ health needs to ensure that any health need can be preemptively addressed and be available in case of an emergency.
Home Care: Depending on their needs, more long-term in-home care services might be required for things like physical therapy or assistance with personal care, hygiene or companionship.
Emergency Assistance: The unfortunate truth is that with age, the propensity of an emergency occurring increases exponentially - something as small as a slip or a fall could trigger something extremely serious, and it's always handy to have a service provider on call that you can depend on in moments like these.
Tip for Convincing Your Parents: Highlight how a care manager or home care services can reduce their stress and simplify managing their condition. While some of these services may involve someone checking in on them from time to time, you will need to explain the peace of mind that they bring to you, as their child, and they everyone involved would be better off knowing and having the right kind of support at the right time. Like all major decisions, this is best not enforced or rushed.
If your parents' health has deteriorated to the point where it severely affects their quality of life, they may need more intensive care. Several forms of dementia such as Alzheimers or Parkinson’s can unfortunately get to a point where it becomes difficult for your parents to manage entirely independently. Other conditions such as chronic kidney disease, which may involve regular dialysis, cancer, which even post recovery can lead to worry or advanced age, need regular involvement and care, and sometimes more extensive support during instances of hospitalisation or emergencies.
Comprehensive Home Care: This could include full-time caregivers who assist with daily activities, medical needs, and personal care. In certain instances, it may also be useful to have a full time nurse along with necessary medical equipment as the case may be.
Health Care Concierge: An enhanced role of a health care concierge can involve handling complex medical logistics and coordinating with multiple healthcare providers. Having someone who understands your parents’ health needs in-and-out, and can communicate effectively with doctors and other healthcare staff to get the right information can be a life-saver.
Emergency Care: Make sure they have a robust emergency plan in place, including access to emergency care and rapid response services.
Assisted living facility: Some assisted living facilities come fully equipped with a comfortable living environment, medical assistance including emergency services, on-call medical professionals, healthy meals and recreational activities. If your parents are open to it, this could be a good all-in-one solution.
Tip for Convincing Your Parents: Approach this conversation with sensitivity. Emphasise that the goal is to improve their quality of life and ensure they receive the best possible care. Stress the benefits of having professional support to manage their condition and more specifically, to handle emergencies efficiently.
Nila is designed to address a range of care needs for your parents, no matter their current health status:
1. Health Care Concierge Services: Nila offers comprehensive concierge services that manage everything from medical appointments to prescription refills, and making regular check-in calls and in-person medical home visits to assess your parents’ health on a more regular basis. Acting as an extension of your family, this can be incredibly valuable for parents who need assistance with navigating the healthcare system or managing their care.
2. Home Care Solutions: Nila’s extensive network of vetted homecare partners provides a range of home care services, from personal caregiving and assistance and medication management to specialised medical care for chronic conditions, whether nursing or physiotherapy. Nila takes complete ownership of organising the right provider, coordinating the necessary care and making sure that your parents have a hassle-free experience.
3. Emergency Care: In case of emergencies, Nila ensures that there is a reliable system in place for rapid response. Their 24x7 emergency hotline ensures availability at all times and provides access to immediate medical services when needed.
Deciding on the right type of care for your parents from a distance can be challenging, but it’s essential for ensuring their well-being and quality of life. By carefully assessing their current health status and considering their specific needs, you can determine whether they need home care, a health care concierge, or emergency support. With Nila’s comprehensive range of services, you can confidently manage your parents' care, no matter where you are.
Remember, the goal is to provide support that enhances their lives and ensures they receive the best possible care. Approach these decisions with empathy and understanding, and use the resources available to make informed choices that benefit both your parents and yourself.
