The next best thing to your being there is your phone call.  In our case, we both called our parents a few times everyday - routine calls help everyone feel connected.  Never underestimate the power of calling just to say, “How are you today, Dad?” or “I’m thinking of you.”

Here are some steps you can take right away to improve communication: 

• Give the doctors and nurses your cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses;
• Ask the various doctors if they’d mind if you were conferenced in during your parent’s visit; it made our parents feel better to have one of us there, even just in voice, and it kept us apprised of everything that was going on;
• Set up regular times to speak with the head nurse or the main caregiver.  Establish a calling routine and know beforehand what you want to discuss so the medical people don’t feel as though you’re wasting their time;
• Check in regularly with neighbors or friends who are stopping in to visit your parents.  They can be a source of helpful information.   

We'd love to hear any other organizational ideas that you might have.  Please Share with Us.