ThirdAge Insider: Beth McLeod

Monitoring a Parent Who Lives Alone
One of the most common caregiving concerns is the safety of a frail parent who lives alone, especially long distance. Debbie Gagno, 46, asked me about how to monitor her mother while still allowing her a sense of independence. Here is Debbie's story:

"My mother, Annie, is 75 and lives alone. She is basically homebound. She can get around but is frail, and she doesn't want very much outside help. She says she doesn't like strange people in the house. One day, our worst nightmare came true: she fell getting out of the bathtub and couldn't get up. Fortunately, I was downstairs and could come to her rescue. Mother wasn't hurt, besides being scared, but it was tough on both of us.

"Suddenly, we realized she was getting older and either needed someone to come help from time to time, or, needed to find a way she could still live independently. If she had fractured her hip, she might have had to live in a nursing home. The doctor said she is OK, but advised me to do something to keep tabs on her.

"Are there ways to monitor my mother without hiring regular in-home help, which we really can't afford except from time to time, like when I'm on vacation from work? I can't be there all the time, though I do call every day and I see her every weekend." Next: Community Options >

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