There are 53 million unpaid US adults who care for a spouse, elderly parent, relative, or special-needs child. Most family caregivers also have a part-time or full-time job and may have their own children. According to AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving’s 2020 report, more than a third of family caregivers want respite services. but only 14 percent of caregivers receive respite. The need for respite is higher among caregivers who have more responsibilities and caregivers who have cared for a recipient for at least five years.
Respite care is primarily used to provide temporary relief for family caregivers, allowing them to rest, attend to personal matters, or take a break from their caregiving responsibilities. It is an essential service that helps prevent caregiver burnout and ensures that the primary caregivers can maintain their own health and well-being.
In many cases, elders are unable to function independently and may require in-person respite care to help them with everyday duties such as meal preparation, dressing, medical care, physical therapy, medication management, and so on. However, family caregivers also use respite care for peace of mind, even if seniors are generally capable of being at home alone. This is particularly important in the following scenarios:
Safety Concerns: Even if seniors are mostly independent, caregivers might worry about potential accidents or emergencies that could occur when they are not around.
Health Monitoring: For seniors with conditions like mild dementia, diabetes, or mobility issues, having someone check in can ensure they adhere to their medication schedules and health routines.
Companionship: Loneliness and social isolation can impact senior’s well-being. Respite care provides valuable social interaction that can keep their spirits high.
Using respite care in these situations helps caregivers feel confident that their loved ones are safe and well-cared for, allowing them to manage other responsibilities without constant worry. However, the shortage of respite care has significant impacts on both family caregivers and care recipients, especially when dealing with multiple providers. Family caregivers often experience increased stress because of the ongoing need of coordinating with multiple respite care providers, or they may feel guilty about the quality of care their loved ones are receiving when switching providers. Furthermore, primary caregivers must consistently explain their expectations and care plan to each provider, which may generate additional stress and anxiety. On the other hand, care recipients may experience disruptions in their routines and a sense of stability, which can be especially difficult for people with cognitive impairments or dementia.
SimpliTend smartphone apps can offer multiple benefits to the family caregivers when it comes to respite care:
1. Reduce the need for in-person respite care: The SimpliTend mobile apps could eliminate or reduce the need for in-person respite services for care recipients who are able to stay at home alone. Please see our blog on “Four scenarios to care with SimpliTend.”
SimpliTend's safety and routine management features can help seniors stick to their care plan even when they are home alone. In addition, GPS tracking features allow seniors to be more independent while remaining safe. The main SimpliTend mobile app features are:
Medication reminder
Routines management such as exercise, favorite TV shows, Dr. appointments,
Meal reminder
Location tracking provides real-time location, walking directions to their home, and informs caregivers if seniors walk too far from home.
Block unwanted calls.
And more
Using the SimpliTend mobile solution, seniors can stay in their own homes, which is a good option for the seniors if their caregiver is regularly away for work or other out-of-the-home commitments. Seniors feel safe and at ease in their home because:
They are familiar with their surroundings and have easy access to everything.
They may have their own cable TV with favored programs.
Contain age-in-place features, such as grab bars in the bathroom.
Removes the possibility of a stranger visiting, which can generate anxiety for seniors.
In addition, SimpliTend mobile applications are available 24/7 and 365 days a year as opposed to care services, which must be booked ahead of time and may not be available when needed.
2. SimpliTend can serve as an assistant to the respite care providers: SimpliTend offers two smartphone apps, one for seniors and one for family caregivers, which are linked to each other, allowing the family caregivers to monitor and update the seniors’ care plan. Having the care plan already loaded on the senior's smartphone reduces the need to explain the care plan to the respite care providers. Essentially, the SimpliTend senior app can be used to guide the respite providers to follow the same routines and care plan as the primary caregivers. This eliminates any misunderstanding between the primary caregivers and respite care providers.
In addition to the medication and routine management, the SimpliTend mobile solution provides the following safety features:
SimpliTend’s GPS tracking and direction features allow the senior to go for a walk with the respite care provider without fear of getting lost.
SimpliTend medical information informs respite care providers about senior’s diets and allergies.
Meanwhile, the family caregivers can always monitor and update the care plan remotely.
3. Sharing caregiving with family or friends: We have recently added a new feature that allows family caregivers to share caring responsibility with a family member or friend. Please see our video on how to set up the “temporary caregiver” feature.
In many cases, family caregivers may need a break from caring to attend to their personal obligations, such as work commitments, medical appointments, rest, or care for their own children. The “temporary caregiver” feature on SimpliTend allows the primary caregiver to designate a family member or friend as a temporary caregiver. Once a temporary caregiver is identified, the family member can simply log into the SimpliTend app on their smartphone and view the same care plan as the primary caregiver. Additionally, all medication and activity notifications are forwarded to the temporary caregiver. This feature eliminates the need for the primary caregiver to explain the care plans to the friends or family members who are assisting. When the primary caregiver returns, they may disable this feature and resume getting notifications normally.
Caring for an aging family member is a full-time job that may be both physically and mentally demanding. SimpliTend uses technology to assist caregivers to balance their career, mental health, and relationships while caring for aging loved ones.
Please try our app for free; use promocode: ONEMONTH
