What Changes in Your Ageing Parents' Lives ?
When you live abroad, you start looking forward to your trips back to India months in advance. You already know what you want to eat when you get home, which friends you want to meet, and how much time you want to spend with your parents. But every time you visit, you notice something different.
What Happens to Your Ageing Parents in India Between Visits?
When you're living abroad with parents in India, phone calls become a big part of how you stay connected.
You call after work, exchange pictures, and catch up on whatever is happening back home.
And for the most part, that feels enough.
But think about how much of your own life you don't mention during those calls. The appointments you make, the little problems you deal with, or the changes in your daily routine.
Your parents have those moments too.
Maybe your dad has been dealing with knee pain. Maybe your mom had a routine health checkup. Or perhaps they've started finding certain household tasks more difficult.
They might not mention these things because they don't think they're important. Sometimes, they simply don't want you to worry.
And you only find out when you're sitting across from them at home.
How Can You Support Your Parents From Abroad Without Interfering?
Your parents have spent their entire lives looking after themselves and everyone around them.
Of course, they still want to make their own decisions.
You understand that. But as they get older, you also want to be more involved.
You want to know when they have a doctor's appointment. You want to be there if they need help making a decision. And you want them to feel comfortable telling you when something is bothering them.
Supporting your ageing parents from abroad means finding a way to stay involved that works for both of you.
Calling more often might help, but you can't expect every conversation to cover everything happening in their lives.
Staying Connected With Your Parents While Living Abroad
At SEVA, we've been thinking a lot about what it means to stay close to your parents when you don't live in the same country.
Because there's so much more to their lives than what you hear during a phone call.
We're building SEVA to make it easier for families to share everyday updates, stay informed about important health matters, and support each other when needed.
And we want parents to feel just as independent as they've always been.
You might only get to visit India once or twice a year. But you should still have a way to be part of your parents' everyday lives in between.
Living abroad while your parents are in India? Join the SEVA Pilot and help us build a better way for families to stay connected.