On August 25, 2010, ten Villa Home Care Caregivers participated in an all-day intensive Alzheimer’s training, presented by the Desert Southwest Chapter of the National Alzheimer’s Association.

Topics included:

• Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• Activities for people with Alzheimer’s disease
• Effective communication strategies
• Home Safety
• Behaviors

All of the attendees identified several ideas to enhance their care of their clients.

The face of home care is changing all around us.  Senior Home care has historically been very “people-intensive”, that is caregivers were the foundation of home care.  Having a caregiver come into the home meant that Mom or Dad could successfully stay there.  However times are very different today. 

We are finding that people are living a very long time.  It is not uncommon to see people living into the 100’s.  Who planned for that when they were looking at their retirement years?

We are also seeing that when folks did put money away into retirement savings, that money has since dwindled and now cannot support them as they age. 

The final trend now is older adults are financially supporting their children, assisting with mortgage payments, groceries or other expenses.

What is the answer?

As strange as it may seem, technology may be the answer!!!  It really can be a solution for those folks who are resistant to help in their home and are fairly independent.  Villa Home Care can offer a complimentary assessment to see if there are some sensors or monitors, or medication management systems that might be appropriate for the situation.  Technology is certainly less intrusive to an older person than a caregiver “hovering” over them – and provide the peace of mind to adult children knowing that their Mom or Dad is safe.

• Did you know that there is a pad that lies on the floor next to the bed?  When Mom gets up at night and steps on the pad, the hallway and bathroom lighting go on automatically?  When Mom doesn’t return to bed in a specified time, the daughter on the west coast will get a call alerting her to the fact that Mom may be having a problem or may have fallen?
• Did you know that there is a monitor that can be placed outside the front door, sending a picture of the person ringing the bell to that daughter?   She is then able to call Dad and let him know it is OK to let the person in – or not! 
• Did you know that there a medication dispensing systems that “lock” out a person so that only the medications due at that time are dispensed?  An audible reminder is given to the person to take their medications, and, if not, an email or phone call is made so that a Care Manager or family member can follow up with a phone call to the client to see if there is a problem.

And on and on.  The technology is incredible and increasing every day.  There are so many ways now to help an older adult stay in their home.  Caregivers may be the answer, or part of the answer.  But perhaps technology can help, too.  And preserve the dignity, independence and conserve financial resources of our loved ones!

Contact Villa Home Care to find out if technology can help your situation at 602-957-9300 or to schedule your complimentary assessment.