The first stop for information about options for medical alert systems where your folks live, is the local Area Agency on Aging serving the county where your parents live. These organizations know how to listen to seniors and their family members and can provide guidance and advice about resources and possible solutions that may be of great help to you and your parents and to you as a caregiver. You can call 1-800-677-1116 toll free to find out the phone number of the Area Agency on Aging office serving the your dad. When you call the Area Agency office, ask for the person who provides "Information and Assistance" or "Help for Family Caregivers." If you make this call, I am confident that you will find friendly and helpful people.

When you talk with the folks at the Area Agency on Aging about your specific question—you should also ask about other services that might be available to you as a long-distance family caregiver. Of course, ask about available in-home services that may be needed for parents now or in the future. These services are for the seniors' benefit as well as for family caregivers like your dad.

Sometimes these types of in-home services are available on a "cost share" basis and the costs of services are based on the seniors' income or assets. If your parents live in their home or apartment, are very low income and have significant needs that put them at risk of going to a nursing facility, you should ask the Area Agency on Aging folks if the state where your folks live has something called a "Medicaid waiver." If your state has a Medicaid program that covers individuals with disabilities and or frail elders, there may be funding to pay toward in-home care. State governments are coming to realize the importance of having in-home services–with the involvement and support of family caregivers–as an option in the funding of services needed by older Americans.

Finding a attorney who specializes in public benefit or family law about your parents situation might be advisable. Your parents, you and other family members will want to have "powers of attorney" and perhaps "living wills" in place and discussed before an emergency arises. Your Area Agency on Aging would know how to connect you with professionals who specialize in this–or may have boiler plate versions of documents to get conversations in this sensitive area started. If your folks are low-income, the Area Agency may know of legal services that can help deal with these kinds of legal matters. If you and your parents aren't low income, find an attorney who has a good reputation in this specialized area.

If you call the Area Agency on Aging and like the help that you receive, let the county elected officials know and tell your members of Congress. Area Agencies don't have big budgets–in fact appropriations for most services funded under the Older Americans Act have not increased significantly in 25 years! You will not be charged for the information about your questions you receive, however, any financial contribution you might make for the time and assistance devoted to your older parents' situation would be very welcomed– and would go toward helping more of your folks' older friends and neighbors and their caregivers.

I hope this helps. Thanks for a great question and for caring!Best wishes and good luck to you and your parents!