How to Care for Your Parents in India as an NRI
As an NRI, leaving aging parents behind in India can be worrisome. With limited time for visits, providing attentive NRI parental care in India from thousands of miles away requires thoughtfulness and commitment. However, by utilizing all resources available and making practical arrangements, NRIs can ensure their parents are safe, comfortable and supported.
Maintain Regular Communication
Frequent communication nurtures relationships with parents despite physical distance. Set up weekly video call dates to connect face-to-face and have meaningful conversation. Exchange texts, emails, photos or social media messages between calls to stay involved in their daily lives.
Discuss health updates but also share laughs, stories and quality time together. Consider scheduling short daily video calls as a check-in habit. Create a family chat group to share everything big and small. Hearing their child’s voice provides comfort and joy.
Get Organized
Since you are abroad, being organized enables smooth care from afar. Maintain a detailed document with all important contacts – doctors, specialists, neighbors, friends, hired caregivers, service providers.
This network can watch over and assist parents as needed. Collect health records, prescriptions, insurance paperwork in one place for easy reference when required. Share online banking passwords and walk parents through any digital services they need help navigating.
Keep digital and paper copies of keys, legal documents and medical records to simplify handling pressing matters remotely.
Involve Family and Friends
Don’t try to remotely manage all NRI parental care in India alone. Reach out to family members, friends or neighbors who live closer to your parents. Clearly discuss your expectations and limitations and delegate specific tasks.
Even if they can’t provide full time care, having a community check in periodically provides comfort when you are far away. ask siblings to accompany parents to doctor visits. Request close friends to help with household repairs or meals occasionally. See if a neighbor can assist with gardening or a quick emergency. Manage their health together.
Also Read: The Top 5 Benefits of Social Activities for Elder Care
Leverage Technology
Technology can greatly assist NRI parental care in India from afar. Install smart home medical alert systems, motion sensors, video cameras to monitor daily activity and health. Arrange for telehealth video consultations with doctors.
Sign parents up for medication management apps that dispense and track dosages. While not a substitute for in-person care, technology enables crucial daily support and supervision remotely.
Arrange Professional Caregivers
Hiring professional caregivers is essential for attentive daily NRI parental care in India. Research reputed care agencies to arrange skilled in-home nurses, attendants or aides if parents need assistance. Be very clear on scope of care expected – companionship, nursing procedures, medication help or just household help.
Prepare an appropriate weekly schedule and budget. Make sure parents are comfortable with hired caregivers who will enter their home. Professional caregiving fills gaps when family cannot be present physically.
Set Up Reliable Finances
To enable smooth NRI parental care in India, establish a reliable system for managing finances and expenses. Set up automatic bank transfers to cover regular costs – bills, medical expenses, caregiver fees.
Maintain a clear monthly budget accounting for healthcare, household help, maintenance. Link Indian and foreign accounts for easy money transfers as required. Check in frequently to monitor all accounts and discuss any large pending payments. Proper financial management prevents disruptions in care when you are overseas.
Travel to India
Despite technology, in-person interaction is essential. Visit parents as frequently as possible, at least annually. Short trips allow you to directly assess their health, household situation, discuss concerns and handle pressing matters.
Longer visits mean you can take on a more active caregiving role. Communicate your travel plans so parents eagerly anticipate quality time with you. If parents can travel, consider bringing them to visit you to simplify caregiving temporarily.
Evaluate Evolving Needs
As parents age, reassess their care plan. Do they need more specialized assistance? Can care be managed at home still or is a senior living facility more appropriate?
Consider relocating parents closer to your foreign residence. Consult doctors on specific requirements. Make important decisions together, focused on parents’ quality of life. Research alternative care options to prepare for transitions in future health needs.
Adapt support strategies as needs evolve.
Provide Emotional Support
In NRI parental care in India, prioritize emotional support. Your reassuring voice when parents face health issues or major life changes is invaluable. Provide advice during difficult times but also actively listen and validate their feelings.
Express how much they mean to you. Share positive memories that uplift them. Convey your deep care and concern even from thousands of miles away. Seniors need sincere emotional connection along with physical care.
Must Read: Choosing the Right Nursing Care for Your Family Members
Explore Healthcare Options
Learn about quality healthcare facilities near your parents for both routine care and emergencies. Look into insurance options that allow cashless hospitalization nearby. Screen and connect your parents with trusted doctors who can liaise with you on health matters. Arrange for labs or pharmacies to collect samples or deliver medicines at home if required.
Manage medications closely through reminders and dispensers. Stay vigilant regarding health needs despite the distance.
Be Proactive
Don’t just react in times of crisis – be proactive. Keep a close eye on overall health through check-ins about diet, physical activity and mood. Monitor health indicators like blood sugar remotely if feasible.
Stay alert to risks like falls and take precautions. Ensure parents take preventative tests and screening exams. Make alternative plans for rainy days when regular caregivers can’t come. Plan for eventualities so you aren’t caught off guard.
Conclusion
NRI parental care in India has unique challenges but with commitment and planning an NRI can ensure their parents are safe, healthy and happy. Don’t hesitate to enlist help from family, friends and professionals to create a full care ecosystem. With creativity, wisdom and dedication, you can provide attentive parental care thousands of miles away. Remember, showing you care matters more than the miles between you.
For assistance managing NRI elder care, consider Emoha Elder Care’s customized services like Engage, Empower and Enhance. With trained attendants focused on your parents’ wellbeing, Emoha provides trusted home caregiving allowing NRIs peace of mind.
Contact Emoha today to learn more about tailored elderly support in India for NRI families.
