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Long-distance caregiving

The long-distance caregiver's checklist for South Florida

Plenty of South Florida parents have children in other states. You can do a lot from far away if you set things up before the next emergency.

Written by the A Move for Mom editorial team · Last reviewed October 30, 2026 Expert reviewer: placeholder · Editorial standards

Get the paperwork ready

  • Health care surrogate and durable power of attorney (talk with a Florida elder law attorney)
  • Medical privacy (HIPAA) releases naming you, at each doctor's office
  • A current list of medications, doctors, pharmacy, and insurance cards (photos are fine)
  • Where the important documents are, and copies in the cloud

Build a local team

  • A neighbor or friend who can check in and has a key
  • Mom's doctors' office contacts
  • The county aging helpline:

Local helplines are generally staffed weekday business hours. Check each agency's site for current hours.

Have a hurricane plan

Decide now whether Mom evacuates, to where, and who drives. Know her building's or community's plan. If she's in assisted living, ask about backup power. Questions to ask.

Tour by video

Your A Move for Mom advisor can walk communities with you on a live video call and ask your questions on the spot. Save your flight for the final choice or move-in. How video tours work.

Talk it through with a local advisor

One person who knows South Florida's communities, at no cost to your family.

Find a local advisor

Keep reading

Sources

  1. Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Elder Helpline. aaapbtc.org/helpline.
  2. Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County, Helpline. adrcbroward.org.
  3. Alliance for Aging (Miami-Dade and Monroe), Elder Helpline. allianceforaging.org.
  4. Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Elder Helpline 1-800-96-ELDER. elderaffairs.org.

General information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. A Move for Mom is not a licensed health care provider.