Dealing with elderly parent while on the road

We are in your shoes as well. You cannot hire enough help to satisfy the social needs of the elderly. They live in fear of being dumped in a home and no one ever coming to visit them. Family contact is what they crave. It isn't reasonable but you can never give enough. Even if it is a very nice place, they worry about running out of money or escalating costs wiping out their nest egg. Today's world is a very confusing and technical place for seniors. Even simple things like telephones or TV remotes are difficult to impossible for many. You simply can't put them somewhere and take off for 4 or 5 months. It is possible, if you find the right circumstances for your parent, that you could leave for a week or so but at this age someone needs to be checking on them daily and providing for their social needs as well. Their social needs require family, not just hired help.

We are viewing our care at this time as payback for how wonderful my In-Laws were as we raised our family. It isn't easy, it isn't fair but it will eventually make you feel better about yourself after they pass on. I know this from first hand experience. We are also taking this as a life lesson as to how we will handle our dotage when we get there. It isn't that far off.