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Keeping Caregivers Healthy
Caregiving

Keeping Caregivers Healthy

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Take Steps to Maintain Your Health Now for your Long-Term Well-being

Caregivers have demands on their physical and emotional energy, but what you don’t realize is the impact on your health. It can be easy to put your health maintenance at the bottom of your to do list since there isn’t an outside force demanding your time or energy. Keeping Caregivers Healthy
The problem is, chronic stress leads to major health problems such as headaches, heart disease, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, weight gain and memory problems. By constantly putting your needs at the bottom of your list, you run the risk of one or more of these serious conditions. Keeping Caregivers Healthy
Being a good caregiver means caring for yourself. If you let your health decline, you can’t care for others. Before you think, it can’t happen to me, I’m healthy/strong, consider these facts: Keeping Caregivers Healthy

  • Studies consistently report higher levels of depressive symptoms in caregivers than non-caregivers.
  • Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease caregivers suffer from depression and emotional stress 30-40% more frequently than non-caregivers.
  • Caregivers have less self-acceptance and feel less effective and less in control of their lives than non-caregivers.
  • Caregivers who experience chronic stress may be at greater risk for cognitive decline including loss in short-term memory, attention and verbal IQ.

So what can you do, when you have so little time? Here are simple ways to take better care of yourself to ward off health issues. While it can be difficult squeezing self-care in to your day, remember that you can’t care for someone else if you don’t first care for yourself. You can also try to work it into your care routine and include your caree.

  • Eat a balanced diet. Poor nutrition or rushing through meals can endanger your health in the long run. Eating well doesn’t have to be difficult. There are cooking shortcuts to work it into a packed schedule.
  • Get regular health check-ups by your health care providers. Caregivers are most likely to cancel their own medical appointments and not fill a prescription due to cost. The long-term effect can be damaging.
  • Avoid extra work. Prioritize your tasks and keep a list of what needs to be done each day and a “maybe someday list.” Be kind to yourself. Recognize that there are only so many hours in the day and you can’t do it all. It is OK to leave the clean laundry in the baskets or eat scrambled eggs for dinner.
  • Don’t feel guilty about setting limits for yourself. It is OK to say no. Not everything is an emergency and not everything is a need. When I am stressed out, I decide what is a need versus a want. A need is that I need to feed my family. A want is that it has to be a complicated home-cooked meal. Sometimes a rotisserie chicken and bagged salad from the grocery store is perfectly OK.
  • Take a walk, ride a bicycle, swim, stretch or even work in the garden. Just get your body moving. You don’t have to do it alone. Involve your caree in physical activities. Even if he/she is wheelchair bound, a walk around the block is great for both of you. You get exercise, he/she gets fresh air.
  • Take time for yourself to enjoy a hobby, read, or do something nice for yourself. Having things to look forward to can improve your outlook. You don’t have to take on big tasks. Try to read a few pages of a book before bed or watch a YouTube tutorial on a hobby you’d like to try.

Be kind to yourself. Being a caregiver is challenging and isolating. It can also be a thankless job. Your caree may not be able to express thanks, but know that you are doing great work.
Taking care of your well-being will not only benefit you now, but it will help your long-term health. Don’t put yourself last.

Keeping Caregivers Healthy

Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy Keeping Caregivers Healthy

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Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers
Caregiving

Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

The owners of home care agencies or franchises know how rewarding it can be to help others. When providing at-home care to seniors, it’s easy to see and feel the impact our work is making every day. Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers
But as home care business owners, it can be easy to lose sight of just how many people our services affect. While it’s rewarding to see seniors’ lives bettered by our care, those rewards are undercut if they come at a cost to the care staff in our employ. Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers

Caregivers at the Core of Our Business

These days, the business benefits to caring for caregivers are becoming more and more obvious. It’s no secret that the home care industry is struggling to keep pace with the demand for our services, a reality that’s made staffing difficult for agency owners. Simply put, it’s becoming tougher and tougher to find quality caregivers. In a market like this, keeping staff happy is essential to limiting turnover.
But even when things are going smoothly, those of us in the home care industry should be thinking about ways to make our caregivers lives easier. After all, caregivers are at the core of our business. In practical terms, keeping our care staff happy and healthy will improve the quality of service we provide. In human terms, it’s just the right thing to do to make sure our employees are cared for.
At Visiting Angels, we’ve been supporting our home care franchise owners since 1998. We know from experience that the success of any independent or franchised home care agency is inextricably tied in the quality of people who make up that agency. We think it’s important to raise awareness industry-wide about the importance of caring for caregivers.

How to Care for Your Care Staff

There are a number of ways that you can better take care of your care staff — some more obvious than others. Pay is always the biggest area of concern, and it’s an issue that almost every home care agency owner will grapple with at one time or another.
At Visiting Angels, we’ve found that many of our franchisees have found success largely because of the way they value their care staff. While home care can be a major investment, most Americans are willing to pay more for the confidence that comes with quality care. When it is clear that a higher hourly rate is tied to better care, many clients are more than happy to make the commitment.
There are other ways that you can provide support to care staff. Most caregivers deal with stressful situations, so making investments in the emotional and mental well-being of your staff can pay big benefits. One way to do this is to ensure you are always giving caregivers a manageable schedule, one that allows them to take care of themselves and live life outside of work in a way that makes sense.
Finally, there are out-of-the-box solutions to supporting care staff. Recently, one of our franchise owners has seen enormous success in caregiver retention. One of his strategies? Providing group day care* for caregivers with young children. While this might not be the right fit for your agency’s model, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take similar — if smaller — steps. Listen to your care staff’s biggest challenges, and try to think of ways you can lessen these concerns.
Visiting Angels is one of America’s largest home care franchise networks. Visit us online for information on our franchise opportunities.
Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers Caring for People Means Caring About Caregivers

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When is the Right Time for Seniors to Downsize?
Aging

When is the Right Time for Seniors to Downsize?

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Come a certain age, retirees are bound to face the question of whether or not to downsize. After all, a three- or four-bedroom home is an essential investment when you’re raising a young family, but when once the kids have graduated college, the extra space is just that — extra space. When is the Right Time for Seniors to Downsize?
There are a number of reasons to consider downsizing. For one, it makes taking care of your home much more manageable. For another, when the kids have moved out, a smaller home can feel more comfortable and cozy. When is the Right Time for Seniors to Downsize?
But one of the most compelling reasons to downsize — and downsize early — is the financial benefits that come with a move to a smaller home. When is the Right Time for Seniors to Downsize?

Making the Most of Your Nest Egg

It’s everyone’s goal to make the most of their retirement savings. But not everyone considers how much further a nest egg can go with a downsize to a smaller home, or even a rental unit or condo.
As the Wall Street Journal noted in 2014, downsizing to an apartment with a higher monthly rent than your mortgage and property taxes can, in some cases, actually save you money in the long run. That’s because the costs of owning a home are often hidden, tied up in constant maintenance projects that you’re on the hook for.
While it takes some number crunching, it’s worth looking into how much you can save by making the switch from a family-sized house to a smaller home. One striking thing you may find is how quickly the yearly savings add up, giving you plenty of bumper space for your retirement savings.

Moving While You’re Able

Another reason to move earlier rather than later in retirement is the physical demands that come with owning a home. A larger space is often tougher on your body than a smaller one, especially when it comes to cleaning and day-to-day tasks. While you can get help with these activities of daily living, services like home care or professional cleaning are an added cost that you should factor into your financial plans.
But it’s not just the way your home makes demands on your body that you need to be concerned about. As physically taxing as a large home may be, it pales in comparison to the challenge of a big move. By putting off downsizing, you risk delaying your move until a time when its far more difficult than it needs to be.
That’s why some surveys indicate that the right time for downsizing is right around retirement age, a time when many adults first report having difficulty living in a bigger space, but when they still have the physical and emotional energy to handle a move.
Visiting Angels home care assists seniors with tasks of daily living in the comfort of home — big or small. For a no cost estimate and care consultation, call your local Visiting Angels home care agency.

When is the Right Time for Seniors to Downsize?

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Setting Rates When Starting a Home Care Business
Housing Tips

Setting Rates When Starting a Home Care Business

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

One of the biggest questions you’ll face when starting a home care business is what rates you should charge for your services. Many first-time home care business owners struggle with this question, whether they are opening a franchise home care business or starting an independent agency. Setting Rates When Starting a Home Care Business
Ultimately, the answer depends on your market, your business model, and the kind of care you want to deliver. But in our nearly 20 years in the home care industry, we’ve noticed that many agency owners sell themselves short when it comes to pricing their care. Setting Rates When Starting a Home Care Business
In our experience, too many entrepreneurs who start home care businesses look to their price point as their key point of differentiation. While this can seem like a surefire way to gain clients, often this strategy leads to sub-optimal results.
Here’s why: Setting Rates When Starting a Home Care Business

Price Point is Often Secondary in Home Care

When family members start searching for home care for their loved ones, price point is often a second-level or third-level consideration. That makes home care distinct from a number of other services where a low price point can set your business apart from the competition in a positive way.
In home care, a low price point can be a negative point of differentiation. While most families can’t afford the most expensive level of care services, they also don’t want to compromise when it comes to the care, well-being, and security of their loved ones. Setting your market’s lowest price point can scare clients away from your business if they think that your low costs come at the price of compromised care.

Low Rates Lead to High Turnover

Hiring and retaining caregivers is the number one challenge for the modern home care business. With such rapidly expanding demand for home care services, there simply aren’t enough quality caregivers on the job market. This challenge will affect anyone starting a home care business, but it’s compounded for agencies with lower rates.
Low rates almost always lead to low wages for care staff. This makes it hard to retain your best caregivers and even harder to hire quality caregivers in a competitive hiring market. This can lead to bleeding revenue as you scramble to maintain a steady staff. It also almost always leads to lower quality care, as it becomes harder and harder to keep your best staff members around.

A Successful Home Care Business Starts with Care Itself

If you’re starting a home care business, put yourself in a prospective client’s shoes. Think, “If it were my dad, or my grandmother, what kind of agency would I want in charge of my loved one’s care? What would set that agency apart? What would be the first thing I’d look for in their service model?”
You might surprise yourself with how far down price point falls on the list you come up with. Instead, you may find yourself thinking of qualities like quality of care, scheduling flexibility, and experience of care staff.
At Visiting Angels, our success is driven by placing care at the forefront of our mission and our approach. We believe that when starting a home care business, the biggest point of differentiation you can stake your reputation on is the way you treat those in your care. That doesn’t mean charging the highest rates for home care in your area — but it rarely means charging the lowest.
If you’re interested in starting a home care business, we hope you’ll reach out to our team at Visiting Angels. Visit us online to request information on our available home care franchises.

Setting Rates When Starting a Home Care Business

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Respite Care for Family Caregivers
Caregiving

Respite Care for Family Caregivers

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

When Is Respite Care Needed for Family Caregivers?

America is filled with unrecognized heroes. One group whose selflessness is consistently overlooked is family caregivers. Over 15 million Americans support family members through at-home care and assistance, providing over 17 billion combined hours of unpaid care each year. But even if that care is unpaid, it still comes at a cost, as any caregiver who’s suffered from caregiver stress syndrome can tell you. Respite Care for Family Caregivers
Too often, family caregivers find themselves overtaxed, over-stressed, and overwhelmed. This puts caregivers at risk of burnout and can lead to high levels of mental and physical strain. One solution is respite care by family members, home health care professionals, or non-medical home care agencies.
Respite care gives family caregivers a way to make time for self-care, even while remaining their loved one’s primary caregiver. If you think you might benefit from respite care, consider the following…

Are You at Risk of Caregiver Stress & Burnout?

Family caregivers tend to go above and beyond when caring for their loved ones, but this can often result in caregivers stretching themselves thin — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Many family caregivers spend more time on care than they would at a full-time job, and it can sometimes feel like your loved one’s care has taken over your life. Respite Care for Family Caregivers
This results in what is called caregiver stress or, in the most extreme cases, caregiver burnout. Some of the signs of caregiver burnout include:

  • Anxiety, anger, and depression
  • Exhaustion and lack of sleep
  • Sudden changes in eating habits
  • Fluctuations in weight and physical fitness
  • Over-reliance on medications, alcohol, or other drugs
  • Feelings of resentment toward the care recipient

While steps such as meditation, therapy, or a healthier lifestyle can relieve caregiver stress, sometimes these changes aren’t enough. When this is the case, you may need another person who can help share the load and give you the time you need to take care of yourself.

Options for Respite Care

There are a few different types of respite care available to family caregivers, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. Respite Care for Family Caregivers
Before turning to professional respite care providers, see if family members can assist with care. While family members won’t have the experience or training of a professional caregiver, they will have a pre-existing relationship with your loved one. That relationship is often invaluable when caring for an elderly person.
Other options include medical and non-medical respite care. Which kind of care you choose will depend on your loved one’s specific care needs. If your loved one relies on you for help with taking medications, for instance, then medical home care will be your best choice. On the other hand, if your loved one does not need medical assistance, then non-medical home care is often the more affordable option.
If you’re looking for non-medical respite care, you may wish to consider your local Visiting Angels home care agency. Visiting Angels caregivers offer flexible care plans, including respite care, to help share the load with family caregivers.

Respite Care for Family Caregivers

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Local Non-Profits Providing Senior Care Help
Caregiving

Local Non-Profits Providing Senior Care Help

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

When a person needs help it’s surprising that few know of the local relief and services to call. There are many non-profits designed to help seniors in need and their family caregivers. However, when asked, “Do you know who to call for help when in a crunch for a ride or for food?” In my experience, I find consumers at a loss and challenged to locate local help. Local Non-Profits Providing Senior Care Help
Since November is National Caregiver Month, it’s important to acknowledge the work that families give. I was a caregiver for my parents, so, I have experienced the challenges. To alleviate some of the burden, here is a list of places to go or call if needed. Typically, the most wanted services deals with issues like,

  • Housing
  • Personal care with daily living
  • Case Management
  • Transportation
  • Meals
  • Social Isolation
  • Legal support
  • Day care
  • Emergencies
  • Support
  • Financial assistance

The Aging Council at Seniorcare.com offered several “go-to” sources when in need of care. The thought leaders say, “When a senior or family caregiver struggles with a crises or medical event, or has another issue they can’t figure out on their own, usually, there are two or three local resources that adults can turn to for a resolution.” Here are several the experts recommend:
Anthony Cirillo, The Aging Experience, “In Charlotte we have a great resource called Just One Call, a one-stop source of information and assistance for seniors and adults with disabilities. Feeding America can point you to food banks to address food insecurity. And the Salvation Army has an arm devoted to elderly services.”
Donna Schempp, “Family Caregiver Alliance provides links or a specialist to talk to who can give people information on services anywhere in the United States. All communities have a local Area Agency on Aging and should be the first place to call when needing help. Faith communities are also a good source of support and referrals for needed services.”
Michelle Jeong, LifeAssist, “Two organizations come to mine, www.sfvillage.org = great on and offline resource based in San Francisco, CA and Meals on Wheels.”
Violet Swenson, LTC Global Agency, “Three significant local resources in Florida to consider are: Florida Highway Patrol (disaster assistance for natural calamities), WebMD (for diseases & treatment), and NCOA (public policy & action services). Seniors need to prioritize their safety, make sure that they are properly diagnosed and are receiving the right medication, and have a voice in their community.”
David Inns, GreatCall, Inc., “The Family Caregiver Alliance (Caregiver.org) has an interactive map where you can click your state, and it will guide you to local resources. The Eldercare Locator (Eldercare.gov) is a service that allows users to search for resources and information. The Family Caregiver Council (FamilyCaregiverCouncil.com) is a great place to start as it has links for all aspects of family caregiving.”
Scot Cheben, CaregivingAnswers.com, “Churches, Meals on Wheels and other local support groups have their limitations. The internet doesn’t have borders. Most states have a Department of Elder Affairs or something similar available online. The internet will give you access to a wider variety if information that might be available. CaregivingAnswers.com gives you the opportunity to have your questions answered by a professional.”
Connie Chow, Daily Caring, “During a crisis, if you need immediate help, reach out to people who understand the system and know how to get fast, effective results. I recommend an in-home care company or on-demand caregiving service for in-person help, a geriatric care manager for complex situations, and the county’s Area Agency on Aging to get connected to helpful local resources and services.”

Local Non-Profits Providing Senior Care Help

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Make a Difference by Starting a Senior Care
Caregiving

Make a Difference by Starting a Senior Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Everybody wants to make a difference. That’s doesn’t necessarily mean changing the world — but it means contributing where you can. But too often in today’s world, it feels like our careers don’t really have a positive impact. We fiddle with spreadsheets, track down leads, compile reports. And at the end of the day, we wonder what impact we’ve really, truly made. Make a Difference by Starting a Senior Care
But there are businesses and careers where it’s still possible to feel like you’ve made a difference. For instance: starting a senior care business. In-home senior care isn’t just one of the fastest growing industries out there, it’s also one of the most impactful. Make a Difference by Starting a Senior Care
That was made clear by a recent study released by Johns Hopkins University. In the study, seniors who struggled with regular day-to-day tasks were provided with in-home assistance and senior-friendly home repairs. At the start of the study, participants struggled with roughly four “activities of daily living” on average. But by the end of the study, the number of activities the average participant struggled with had fallen by half. Make a Different by Starting a Senior Care

Putting the “Care” in Senior Care

At Visiting Angels, one of the top reasons we hear from entrepreneurs for starting a senior care business is wanting to make a difference. Our franchise owners are people who are driven to do meaningful work. They get a boost out of seeing their clients’ lives improve thanks to care, and it means the world to them that their success as a business owner comes with a positive legacy.
Of course, starting a senior care business doesn’t just improve the lives of seniors. There’s a ripple effect of positive change that comes with helping the elderly live more happily, comfortably, and healthily at home. Senior care agencies provide relief and respite for unpaid family caregivers. They give seniors the support they need to get re-involved in the community. And they help seniors stay healthy, creating a positive impact on an already overburdened health care system.

Keys to Starting a Senior Care Business

Does starting a senior care business seem like something you’d be interested in? If so, there are some key issues you’ll need to address:

  • Independent or Franchise? You can start a senior care business on your own, or you can build your business using a pre-set franchise model. Starting your own business allows you to build an independent brand, while a senior care franchise will offer support and guidance as you build your business.
  • Training & Licensing. Unless you’re already a trained and licensed senior care provider, you’ll need to find a program for home care training and apply for your license. If starting a franchise, you may receive substantial support in this area.
  • Choosing Your Market. Starting a successful senior care business can largely depend on choosing the right market. Consider openly available data — like demographic info portal org — to do research in this area. Make a Different by Starting a Senior Care

If you’re thinking of starting a senior care business, get in touch with Visiting Angels. Our franchise system has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs launch their very own home care agencies. For more information on starting a senior care business with us, call 1-800-365-4189 or visit us online today.

Make a Difference by Starting a Senior Care

 

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Combat the Isolation of Caregiving
Caregiving

Backlash of Caregiving

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Being a senior caregiver is one of the most difficult things you will do in your life. Do not let anyone tell you that it is easy. On the best days, you’ll feel so good about what you’re doing for your loved one. However, on the bad days, you’ll feel miserable and you may experience the backlash of caregiving. Backlash of Caregiving
Getting through the bad days is an accomplishment and you should see it as something that will strengthen you. You are a strong person already, and caregiving makes you stronger.
In this post, I want to talk to you about something that weighs heavily on my heart as well as those of some caregivers. It’s about criticism.
When caring for seniors who are ill, you may hear a lot of criticism. You may even feel as though you are being verbally abused! It is abuse, but often times, the senior doesn’t mean what he/she says.
If you’re a woman who has had children, try to think back to when you had your children. It’s a painful process and you may have said a few words that you’re not proud of. This is exactly what the senior you’re caring for is experiencing. You may not feel as though he/she is in as much pain as you were, but it is a similar situation.
The senior you’re caring for isn’t only dealing with physical pain, but also mental and emotional pain. Think of the person in his/her prime because that’s what he/she is thinking about, and the condition he/she is in now. How frustrated would you be if you were in his/her shoes?
Getting older can be so heartbreaking for some people. It can take away everything good that they think about. Some will internalize it, which causes them to isolate. While others will lash out at people and the world around them. They become angry and point fingers because they don’t know what to do.

What to Do When You’re Hit

It can be hard to take it when a senior lashes out to you verbally. It may make you sad or mad. Either way, try not to attack back. Remember, the senior doesn’t mean to be mean.
The best thing to do is ignore it. If you can’t do that, excuse yourself from him/her and take a break. Take a walk, speak to yourself in a loving way, and when you’ve calmed down, go ahead and head back in there. Usually, the situation will be much different. Your loved one may not even remember saying it, and you feel good because you didn’t react back.
Sometimes, it can hard to come back from some of the things your senior will tell you. It can cut deep and the scars don’t heal quickly. This may have caused you to have some resentment or feel less strong than you should. Feeling this way is not fair to you or the person you are caring for, so contact Kendall Van Blarcom. Kendall is a personal consultant who can help you feel better about being a caregiver. He can help you through some of the turmoil you face each day. He can help you move forward from some of the words you’ve heard and felt. He can help you find peace.
Sessions can be scheduled when it’s convenient for you. We have a special right now, so visit this personal consulting page now for more information.
Kendall Van Blarcom
www.KvanB.com

Backlash of Caregiving

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Survey Finds Seniors Avoid Digital Elder Care Tools
Caregiving

Survey Finds Seniors Avoid Digital Elder Care Tools

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Over the past decade, the world has seen major advancements in the digital arena. A number of these advancements have been in the elder care field, helping seniors live healthier and more comfortably — or so the teams behind these advancements claim. But these new elder care apps and digital devices can’t help seniors who refuse to use them. Unfortunately, that seems to be exactly what’s happening. Survey Finds Seniors Avoid Digital Elder Care Tools
American seniors simply aren’t eager to use digital elder care tools, according to a new national survey by the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). With these findings, elder care professionals and families with elderly individuals will need to re-evaluate the way they approach elder care.

Seniors Resistant to Digital Health Technologies

The findings of the study have surprised many. While seniors are known for their reluctance to adapt to new technology, over the past few years, more and more seniors have been adapting to digital tools. These trends were reflected in the survey, which found that 76% of seniors used cellphones, 64% used computers, and 43% used the internet.
This has largely been thanks to the increased user-friendliness of modern smartphones, tablets, and web design. By making technology more intuitive, tablet and smartphone makers have broken down the barriers to seniors accessing new technology. Many have assumed that the increased user-friendliness of elder care-related tools would similarly mean that a high percentage of seniors would be attracted to those tools.
But while senior use of smartphones and tablets is up, seniors are still reluctant to use new technology for health-specific purposes. In fact, only 16% of seniors accessed health information online, and fewer than 10% of seniors used digital tools that helped fill prescriptions, contact clinicians, or handle insurance.
Perhaps more worrying is the slow growth of these technologies. While use of smartphones and digital technologies exploded in other areas over the period covered by the survey, researchers found only a modest increase in the number of seniors using digital elder care tools.
“Digital health is not reaching most seniors,” say the study’s authors. “Our findings suggest that present-day digital health may not be the best approach to improving the health of seniors and reducing the costs associated with caring for this population.”

What This Means for Elder Care

The study’s findings have broad implications for families and elder care professionals — such as those at companies like Visiting Angels. If seniors continue to avoid digital health technologies, those responsible for elder care will need to rely on more traditional approaches.
“The findings of the NHATS study, while disappointing, are a positive step,” says Visiting Angels President and CEO, Larry Meigs. “With this information, we now have a stronger sense of what works best — and what doesn’t — when caring for today’s seniors.”
Meigs says that with seniors’ reluctance to use digital devices for health purposes, family caregivers and professional care workers will need to fall back on more traditional care strategies. Meigs encourages caregivers to adopt an in-person approach to elder care. He says this approach offers the emotional and conversational benefits of face-to-face contact along with the ability to spot care shortcomings earlier.
Meigs, and others in the elder care industry, hold out hope that continuing advances in digital technologies will soon catch up with seniors’ attitudes and lifestyles. This hope, it seems, is shared by the NHATS study authors, who write, “Future innovations should focus on usability, adherence and scalability to improve the reach and effectiveness of digital health for seniors.”
If your loved one is having trouble with age-related health difficulties at home and other elder care strategies, such as digital tools, aren’t working, you might want to look at in-home elder care. To connect with an elder care provider in your area, contact Visiting Angels.

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