When Your Kids Live Across the Country: Planning for Aging at Home from Afar

More families than ever are navigating aging from a distance—nearly 1 in 5 caregivers live over an hour away from the loved one they support. Distance doesn’t mean lack of care or involvement, but it does require more intentional planning starting in your 50s and 60s. It’s never too early to start planning and thinking about your “aging plan” especially if your family is not geographically close by. There are many factors to consider but below are a few key questions to start with:

• Who is your local point person in an urgent situation? Do you have a trusted professional team or a team of “aging experts”?
• How will care needs be coordinated day-to-day from afar, if you are planning on relying on your family as your care team?
• Are communication plans clear between you, your family, and providers? Are expectations clear? Often adult children are not aware of the time, intensity, and expertise it takes to help a parent successfully age.

Avenues by Brio Living Services especially appealed to Lynette, an Avenues member since 2025, due to her relatives and loved ones not living close. She states, “I joined Avenues to give me peace of mind and to feel like I belonged to a group of nice people, some, like me without family nearby. Joining Avenues has brought me peace of mind and a feeling of belonging.”

Avenues helps bridge the gap for long-distance families, providing a trusted, local support system so aging at home remains safe, connected, and well-coordinated—no matter how many miles are in between. Learn about your personal Member Navigator and other care coordination services with Avenues by attending an event near you!