Living some distance from elderly parent....how do you cope if their heath declines?

[mids2019]

Possibly many people in to this boat but if you live some distance from an elderly parent and have a young family of your own how do you plan to look after them if their health declines.

From my childhood families often lived in the same locality so popping in to see if dad or mam were OK and helping with basic needs e.g. shopping was part of the culture

I now live some distance from an elderly parent and it is difficult to find time to visit and importantly if there was a health decline he would be reliant on social care to an extent I think this would make me feel guilty and a little anxious.

Is anyone in a similar position and how did you manage?

Watching closely as I live abroad

@Dadscare56 thats so cheeky! But not altogether surprising, it’s one of those subjects people feel qualified to give an opinion on regardless of how much they know about the individual situation.

I also think it’s a situation where you (not you per se but any decent son/daughter) will feel guilty regardless of how much you do for your parent.