The Power of Technology in Caregiving
Aarthi Mehra a housewife from Mumbai has often been described as a bubbly and helpful person who greets everyone she meets. But something has changed in her after her husband has suffered a stroke. The otherwise lively Aarthi now seems preoccupied with multiple tasks that involve caring for her husband, giving him his medication, taking him to the physiotherapist, cooking meals, and cleaning the house.
Friends and family have noticed that Aarthi remains irritable most of the time, overreacts to minor nuisances and she has taken a sabbatical from her job as a teacher that made her very happy. What Aarthi is facing is not new. The urge to care for our loved ones is innate and human but caregiving most often with a price tag, making the impact disastrous. The American Psychological Association has found that caregivers show a 23% higher level of stress hormones, which can lead to high blood pressure. The study has also shown that caregivers have a 15% lower level of immune response, making them more vulnerable to the flu and other infections.
What Do Caregivers Need the Most?
Caregivers need help. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes, help arrives in the form of family members, while at other times it comes as caregivers and nurses or rehabilitation and continuum care centers that offer all the services under one roof. However, help is also available in one more way that we often are oblivious to. Technology. Technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, and caregiving is no exception. Technological advancements have brought about a significant transformation in the way we provide care to our loved ones from enhancing communication and safety to improving medication management and remote monitoring. So why aren’t we leveraging it?
5 Ways in Which Advanced Technology Can Help Caregivers
1. Connectivity:
With video calls, messaging apps, and social media platforms, caregivers can stay connected with their loved ones despite the distance. The real-time communication facilitated by these tools and platforms reduces the feeling of isolation and provides a feeling of reassurance and support to the ailing loved ones.
2. Medication Management:
One of the important responsibilities of a caregiver is managing medications effectively. Technology takes away the guesswork from medication management and ensures accuracy through smart pill dispensers and medication reminder apps. These tools can send timely reminders, track medication adherence, and alert caregivers in case of missed doses.
3. Remote Monitoring:
Smart home systems equipped with motion sensors, fall detection devices, and emergency call buttons provide a layer of safety and security. Caregivers can monitor their loved ones remotely and receive alerts in case of emergencies.
4. Health Tracking:
Caregivers can now monitor vital signs, activity levels, and sleep patterns through wearable devices, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, that provide valuable insights into the health status of their ailing loved one. The data can help alert caregivers to identify patterns, track progress, and detect any changes that may require medical attention.
5. Care Coordination:
Electronic health records, telehealth platforms, and shared caregiving apps enable seamless communication and collaboration between caregivers, doctors, and healthcare professionals ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page in providing the required care to the person.
How to Choose the Right Caregiver Technology?
Ashley Delosh, senior manager of federal affairs at HIMSS (The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society-an American non-profit organisation) states on the HIMSS website that caregivers don’t need more added stress or expense due to the use of technology and advises people to ask themselves six crucial questions before opting for any new technology.
- Does this simplify my life or my loved one’s life or does this make more work for me than the act of caregiving itself?
- Is it helpful and does it meet my needs?
- Is it user-friendly or is there a lot of additional work needed for me to get the results I want?
- Is it expensive and are the costs to obtain or maintain it worth it?
- Is it safe to rely on and are the available data points accurate in making decisions about my loved one’s care?
- Does it come well recommended by healthcare professionals familiar with my loved one and their conditions?
For Aarthi installing a smart home system has been a blessing in disguise. She is now assured that her husband is safe and is taking his medication on time. She has resumed her job and has also hired a part-time caregiver while she attends to other important chores when at home. Her friends and neighbours say that after almost a year they are happy to see the happy old Aarthi back.
BY: Sukino
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