What can I do to help Mom and Dad when I live so far away?

Like many of my friends, I live 3 hours away from my 84 year old parents with health and aging issues. I am lucky to have my children grown and on their own, though you are always a parent.

One of the ways I have been able to contribute to my parents care is by using a product that is available at SouthPoint and other financial institutions. Online banking has been so useful. Mom has taken over the finances for the last 5 years, but is having difficulty balancing her checkbook and paying bills. I have my name on my folk's checking account with them and am able to access all of the information and I will do bill pay for them when it becomes necessary.

It is convenient for me; I call Mom on the phone, open up the checking account online and go through the checks she has written. I then give her the correct balance on the account and transfer funds from the money market savings account to the checking account.

Other tips on caring from a distance can be found at the link below from Aid Association of Retired Persons, also known as AARP.

http://assets.aarp.org/external_sites/caregiving/planAhead/long_distance_issues.html

Iris Runck, Loan Service Representative Supervisor