To Grandmother’s (and Mom’s) house we go this weekend all across the country to visit our dear moms and grandmas.  If you are a long-distance caregiver, this trip offers an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and take stock of how well they are doing on their own.  

Some of the things you may want to check on while in the house:

• Is there a good variety of food in the refrigerator?
  
• That are the expiration dates on the perishables?
  
• Are the medications being utilized and up to date?
  
• Is there an emergency medical kit in easy reach of the occupants?
  
• Are there any safety hazards in the bathroom (are rails needed, are mats slippery?)
  
• Are bills being paid or are they piled up unpaid in a corner?
  
• If they have a pet, is there plenty of fresh water and food available? (You may want to contact Meals on Wheels and inquire about the “We All Love Our Pets" program or WALOP; www.mowaa.org)

As we discussed last week at the Fort Lauderdale Fearless Caregiver Conference, for caregivers, sometimes “Sneaky is good.”

Again, our congratulations to the 2010 Caregiver Friendly Award winners.

See you on the road.

Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com