Senior Caregiving Takeaways from 2021
We can all agree that caregiving in 2021 has been a year unlike any other. We may have thought 2021 would bring some respite for care providers but this just wasn’t the case. We have found that even while the world continues to open, the impact of the last year and half is still showing the over 65 community prefers to remain home if possible to age. Caregiving spans many ages, and the number of unpaid family caregivers has increased by nearly 10 million people in the last 5 years alone. This means more than 1 in 5 people are acting as a caregiver to a loved one.
One silver lining from this last year is that with the healthcare industry in the spotlight more than ever before, more people – paid and unpaid caregivers, lawmakers, home health agencies, and more – are aware of the challenges and opportunities in the industry.
Here are some key takeaways from the past year in the caregiving industry:
Communication between ALL care providers is an essential part of caregiving! Bring ease to caregiving strategies through the use of comprehensive team notification options. This will help to provide increased access to preventative and follow-up care, decreased healthcare costs, and increased timeliness of caregiving delivery.
Technology – from fall prevention devices and virtual physician visits to caregiving coordination systems - is a must have across the caregiving industry. As pioneers of this tech-driven movement, Source of Life Technologies is excited to be part of the growth and continued innovation and lead a path towards peace of mind in caregiving.
Caregiver stress and fatigue are real. Paid or unpaid as a caregiver, ensure you are defining your boundaries and creating a whole sense of self through implementing strategies that fall in line with your needs and that of your loved one. Engage in-person or online with like-minded individuals to ensure you have the support you need.
One thing caregivers will never get back – time. What are you doing to streamline your caregiving process? Optimize your caregiving experience by building efficient processes and methods of support. There are resources available; so talk to local home health agencies or Area Agencies on Aging for assistance.
We are looking forward to continuing this year’s upward movements and drive new positive outcomes and stories of success!
What are you looking forward to in 2022? If you or your loved one is looking to start 2022 off with peace of mind in caregiving by using innovative, state of the art technology, you can see how Source of Life Technologies can help you achieve your new goals here.
From online engagement, mobile app opportunities, and to senior care fall strategies, healthcare shouldn’t be reactive - it should be proactive. Doors have been opened to on-demand healthcare and it turns out the overwhelming majority of patients, physicians, families and therapists want to continue down that path. The decision to modernize your senior care strategies is a big one and doesn’t happen overnight. Talk to the Source of Life Technologies team for the guidance and direction you need to make the change in your organization or home.
