This month is National Family Caregivers Month. (You can see the proclamation here.)
The theme from Caregiver Action Network this year is “Supercharge Your Caregiving”. They have some great tips to offer below. Let’s take this month to power up our caregiving.
Supercharge Your Caregiving
Caregivers are superheroes. Managing medications. Getting to doctor appointments. Balancing work and home. How can family caregivers handle it all? Even superheroes need tools! Thankfully, new caregiving tools can help lighten the load.
Think Safety First
If your elderly loved one is aging at home, safety and security is your first priority. You can’t be there with them every minute of the day. But all sorts of gadgets can help keep them safe, maintain their independence, and relieve some of your worries. Wearable sensors can monitor a patient and contact family members if their loved one falls or if an emergency occurs. Smart homes and smart locks can help, too.
Unlock the Power of Medical Records
Information is power, and caregiver access to online patient medical records is getting easier and more powerful every day. With online patient portals you can get your loved one’s health and insurance information how and when you need it. Join the millions of family caregivers who have already accessed their loved one’s online medical records to improve care.
Master the Medications
One of your most important daily responsibilities is managing medications – making sure they are taken properly and on time, getting refills, and watching for side effects. Your loved one may have more than one illness and have to take several medications. Tech tools are an easy, safe way to track your loved one’s meds and make caregiving a bit less stressful.
Unleash the Power of Apps
Caregiving is overwhelming and you simply can’t do it all by yourself. Luckily, there are many apps and tools that can help caregivers do almost anything from A to Z. Check your loved one’s vital signs. Locate them with GPS if they wander off. Get healthy eating plans at the touch of a button. Or connect with caregiver support groups and online communities. Use apps to streamline your tasks so you can get a break and take a few minutes to recharge your own batteries.
Not all superheroes wear capes. You are rising to the demands and challenges of the caregiver role every day. Take advantage of tools that can help you stay on top of it all and help you restore some balance to your life.