Getting Access to Care for Your Elderly Loved One Living in a Rural Area

Rural areas are unique in that they cover massive swaths of land, but house a relatively modest number of inhabitants. Hundreds of miles of rural America may have the equivalent population of a few blocks in Manhattan.

And because the people are so spread out, services are as well. This can be difficult for someone who is trying to obtain the highest possible level of care for their aging relatives. On the one hand, you want to make sure that the care provider you find is close enough that you will be able to visit regularly.

On the other hand, you also want to make sure that the facility has everything your aging relative needs to be safe and healthy. It’s a delicate balance that people all throughout rural America struggle to get right.

In this article, we talk about how you can get the best possible care for your elderly loved one in rural America.

Step 1: Start as Soon as Possible

It’s best not to start looking for care when your loved one already desperately needs it. The cost of the arrangement alone is significant enough to warrant months of consideration. And you also want to give yourself time to weigh the merits of all available facilities. As you look, you may find that while some places seem great on paper, they actually aren’t as good of a fit for your relative's unique needs.

And, of course, as someone living in a rural area, you also might need to put extra thought into accessibility. The extra time will help you to explore local options more carefully.

Step 2: Take Stock of Your Local Resources

Every area is a little bit different in the resources that they provide to people seeking elder care. Some states may have sponsored subsidies that make care more affordable. Even if yours does not, it may still have resources that you will want to take advantage of.

For example, there may not be many full-time elderly care nurses in your area, but perhaps there is a church group that collectively works to check in on elderly community members and bring them food. Or perhaps there are people within your social network, friends, neighbors, etc. who are willing to lend a hand in providing care for your aging loved one.

Caring for an aging family member can feel like extremely isolating work. And while the struggles are most certainly real, you don’t have to suffer through them silently. Reach out for support and you will often find people all too eager to give it to you.

Step 3: Decide What You Can Do

Depending on your loved one’s condition, it may be possible for you to play a significant part in their long-term care. This is a very challenging decision that people experience. On the one hand, you understand that you owe your parents a great deal.

On the other hand, caring for high-need elderly people is a literal full-time job. People get degrees for it. And you have other responsibilities. A full-time job of your own, and kids to take care of.

Weigh the decision carefully and keep in mind as you do that there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone has their limitations and it is ok if you don’t feel like this is a burden that you can handle on your own.

Step 4: Speak with Your Family Member

It’s important to give your aging family member as much autonomy as possible during this difficult time. Keep in mind that as hard as this is for you, it is much more challenging for them. They are losing their freedom. In many cases, the experience can challenge their very notion of personal identity.

That’s a major transition and sacrifice, but allowing them to have a little bit of power over the situation can make an enormous difference in their eventual experience.

It may not be possible for all of their wishes to be met. However, it is still worthwhile to sit down with them and find out what they want out of this arrangement.

Step 5: Try to Come to a Collective Decision

Long-term healthcare choices are always uncomfortable, particularly when you are making them for someone else. When it comes to selecting care for your aging parents you might be the person who gets to make the final choice.

However, it’s still good to get everyone on the same page. Once you and your parents have spoken about the situation, bring in everyone else who will be involved as well. Let voices be heard, allow concerns to be raised.

Not only does this help you to crowdsource answers to difficult questions, but it also gives everyone the chance to feel the weight of this difficult situation. People want that. They won’t like it if, two years ago, they find themselves thinking, “Man, I wish brought BLANK up when I had the chance.”

The conversation may become tense. That’s ok. This is a time to let all the feelings out.

Conclusion

The truth is that where you live only matters so much when it comes to securing long-term care for an aging relative. No matter what, the process will always be difficult, emotionally and logistically. While rural life does present its own challenges, the core elements of this troublesome decision are felt all over the world. You aren’t alone.

The steps provided in this article are designed to make the process easier. Unfortunately, that’s not to say that it will make it easy. Be strong. The effort is worth it.