In a time when many people live far away from their aging parents and other close relatives, deciding how to best care for loved ones at a distance can be difficult, said Ginger Quarles, Director of the Harvard Council on Aging.

“Many people are living at a distance from their older relatives,” she said, “but they still want to be helpful and supportive. It’s difficult to know how to do that when you’re not nearby.”

In an effort to offer solutions, the Council on Aging is offering a presentation on long-distance caregiving by Miranda Heibel, program manager for the family caregiver support program at Minuteman Senior Services, Wednesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. at the Hildreth House.

The program will give practical suggestions on how to provide care for older relatives who live a long way away, Quarles said, including information on finding and arranging services in an unfamiliar area; overcoming guilt at not being physically present; and other thorny issues. Heibel’s presentation will also address ways caregivers can plan ahead, identify potential problems, and find helpful resources.

For more information on this program, contact Ginger Quarles at 978-456-4120 or coa@harvard.ma.us.