Winston-Salem Senior AdvisorHow can we check on a parent in Winston-Salem from far away?
Build a small local network: a neighbor, a church member and a friend who will look in, plus regular video calls, and make sure the doctor's office has your name on the release form so you can talk with them directly.
Use visits to look closely: the refrigerator, the mail, the medication bottles, the car, the parent's weight and mood. Keep a shared list of contacts, medications and doctors that any family member can open. In Forsyth County, Senior Services Inc.'s help line (336-724-2040) can tell you which services are available in your parent's neighborhood.
What paperwork does a long-distance caregiver need?
A durable power of attorney for finances, a health care power of attorney, HIPAA releases with each doctor, a list of accounts and insurance policies, and copies of Medicare, Medicaid and supplement cards.
Without these, a crisis can stall at the hospital or the bank while you are a day's drive away. Keep scanned copies where you can reach them from a phone. If a parent already has dementia and no power of attorney, talk with an elder law attorney about options, which may include guardianship.
How can we vet care homes around Winston-Salem without visiting?
Start with the public record: the state's license, star rating, survey documents and fines for adult care homes, and CMS ratings, inspections and staffing for nursing homes, all of which our directory shows on one page per home.
Then call with specific questions about staffing at night, Special Assistance or Medicaid acceptance and recent survey findings, and ask for a video tour. When you narrow the list to two, plan a trip and visit at an ordinary hour, such as a weekday lunch. An advisor in Winston-Salem can also tour on your behalf and report back.
Who can manage care locally if we cannot be there?
A geriatric care manager, usually a nurse or social worker paid privately, can assess your parent, arrange services and act as your eyes and ears, and a licensed home care agency can supply aides on a schedule.
For Medicaid members on CAP/DA, the program's case manager coordinates services. In Davidson and Davie counties, a PACE enrollee has a full care team at Carolina SeniorCare. Whichever you use, set a regular call time and ask for a short written update after each visit.
What should we do if there is an emergency and we are far away?
Call 911 if your parent is in danger, then the local contact who can get there fastest, then the hospital's case manager once your parent arrives; if you suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation, call the county's Adult Protective Services.
Save these numbers now: Forsyth APS 336-703-3503 (911 after hours), Davidson 336-242-2500, Davie 336-753-6250, Stokes 336-593-2861, Yadkin 336-849-7910, and DHSR's Complaint Intake Unit at 1-800-624-3004 for problems in a licensed care home. Our guide to leaving the hospital covers what comes after an admission.
What it is, and what it is not
| A long-distance plan that works has | A plan that breaks down has | |
|---|---|---|
| People | Two or three local contacts who check in | No one nearby who knows the situation |
| Papers | Powers of attorney and HIPAA releases | No authority to talk to doctors or banks |
| Information | A shared list of medications and contacts | Details in one person's head |
| Help | A care manager or agency with a schedule | Help arranged only in a crisis |
Based on N.C.G.S. Chapter 131D, 10A NCAC 13F and 13G, DHSR and NCDHHS documents, NC Medicaid, CMS, the VA, CareScout and the local agencies named above; see our editorial standards for how each is checked.
