More Americans are faced with caring for older relatives, and frequently this involves long-distance care.

It can be difficult to manage the care of a loved one from afar. But with proper planning, time-management and dedication, a long-distance caregiver can be as effective as one who lives nearby.

The National Institute on Aging offers these suggestions to make long-distance caregiving more manageable:

• Be informed. Know what you need to know about the health of your loved one. Read about the loved one’s condition and learn as much as you can.
• Plan your visits and allow for enough time to accomplish everything.
• Spend time actually visiting with your family member. Don’t make the trip only about the illness.
• Get in touch with all relevant doctors whenever you visit to make sure you are well-informed about the health of your loved one.
• Help the person stay in contact with you by providing a dedicated landline or cell phone.
• Take a course on caregiving.
• Gather a list of resources near the loved one, so you can best help that person.

Source: HealthDay