For families out of state

Finding out what is really going on.

From four states away you are working off a weekly phone call, and the person on the other end has strong reasons to tell you everything is fine.

Regular reportingEyes on the groundOne local contactFast escalation

How do I manage a parent's care from another state?

The core problem is information, not logistics. A caregiver visiting regularly becomes your eyes: you get told what was eaten, what medication was taken or refused, how the week went and what looked different, rather than relying on a parent's summary. Arrange a single local point of contact, agree what triggers a phone call to you, and use the free assessment to establish a baseline you can measure against.

The gap you are actually trying to close

It is not that you cannot arrange things from a distance. Care can be booked, bills can be paid, appointments can be made from anywhere. The gap is that you do not know what is true.

Parents minimise. Not to deceive you — to avoid worrying you, to avoid the conversation about moving, and because from inside a slow decline nothing feels like a change. So the fall does not get mentioned, and the empty fridge is described as “I have not been that hungry”.

Somebody physically in the house on a schedule fixes that. And because a caregiver has no stake in reassuring you, what you hear is what is actually happening.

Set this up on day one

Agree it before care starts, not after something happens:

One named person in the family who is the point of contact, so nothing gets lost between siblings
What you get told routinely — meals, medication, mood, mobility, anything new
What triggers an immediate call rather than waiting for the weekly update
Who is called first in an emergency, and who is second if you do not pick up
Whether the caregiver can take your parent to appointments and report what was said
How money for errands is handled, in writing, with receipts
A written note of the medication list so a change gets noticed
A realistic baseline from the assessment, so “worse than last month” means something

Personal Touch Home Care provides non-medical in-home care. Our caregivers assist with daily living, safety and companionship. They do not provide nursing, wound care, injections, physical therapy or any service requiring a licensed clinician. If that is what is needed, it is a home health agency, and we will tell you so.

Common questions

Can you send me updates if I live out of state?

Yes, and for long-distance families this is frequently the most valuable part of the service. Agree at the start what you want told and how often.

Can a caregiver take my mother to appointments and tell me what the doctor said?

Yes. That is one of our services and it is particularly useful at a distance — instructions get lost between the exam room and the car even for people who were in the room.

What if something happens and I cannot get there?

We follow the plan agreed with your family, call emergency services where needed, and contact you immediately. Agreeing the escalation order up front is worth doing.

Should I fly out for the assessment?

If you can, it helps — you hear the same conversation your parent hears. If you cannot, we can talk to you by phone before and after.

Talk to someone about your situation.

Call and describe what is happening at home. We will tell you what we can do, what we cannot, and what it would take.

☎ (575) 639-3341 Request care →