Long-Distance Caregiving
Marian Bruin, A.C.S.W, B.C.D.
From Florida Caregivers Handbook,
Ed. by Creston Nelson~Morrill, Healthtrac Books, Tallahassee, FL, 1993
A CASE STUDY
Susan is a business executive in Michigan and is the mother of two teenage sons.
Her parents, Richard and Barbara, left Michigan ten years ago and eagerly
joined their friends in Clearwater, Florida.
Richard and Barbara purchased a Florida condominium while he was still practicing
medicine, and he and Barbara planned to reside there year-round after his retirement.
Nine months ago, Richard passed away unexpectedly. Barbara's friends visited often,
and she was able to maintain the condominium until she suffered a minor stroke and was
hospitalized.
Susan flew down to be with her mother. Barbara was eager to leave the hospital.
With the help of the hospital discharge planner, Susan was able to set up in-home
physical and speech therapy as well as home health services before she returned to
Michigan. Her mother, being a "private person," was uncomfortable with
having strangers in her home. She became suspicious and began accusing them of
stealing from her. When she refused to allow one of the home health aides to enter
her home, Susan was called and told by an agency representative that the agency
could no longer provide services. He suggested that she begin looking for a nursing
home.
Susan knows that her mother would not agree to move into a nursing home, and she also
knows that her mother would not agree to come back to Michigan and live with Susan's
family. Susan spends hours on the phone every day, trying to calm her mother and
allay her fears.
Even though her supervisors sympathize with her situation, they have expressed concern
over the numerous distractions. Every time the phone rings, Susan's heart skips a
beat. She is plagued with fear and guilt.