The Future of Senior Care: High Tech Meets High Touch

This post is sponsored and contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

When you think of home care for older adults, “innovation” and “technology” may not be the first words that come to mind. But maybe they should. At Home Instead Senior Care, we provide services that enable seniors to maintain their independence while relieving some of the stress on family caregivers. New innovations have allowed Home Instead to deliver the highest level of home care with the help of more connectivity in the home, supporting our mission to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families,

Recently, we began using a tablet-based solution that enriches the care experience for clients. This groundbreaking tool gives family members hands-on involvement with their loved ones’ care, even from afar. It also puts information and resources at the fingertips of Home Instead CAREGivers℠, to elevate the way they care for clients.

Today, too many seniors are lonely or isolated. Nearly three in 10 adults over the age of 40 feel socially isolated, according to AARP, with the percentage of seniors feeling that way likely even higher. Incorporating technology into home care, along with a professional caregiver, can help reduce the risk of isolation. With our tablet, family members can check in on loved ones through Connected Link Care, a new feature that provides an easy way for families to connect with loved ones when they can’t be there in person. Video calls can give even the most distant relatives the ability to feel as if they are right there in the room with their loved one.

And while many seniors shy away from technology, the simplicity of this tablet can be an easy way to introduce older adults and families to new tools. For seniors using the device, family members, friends and Home Instead CAREGivers are just one button away – a feature that gives families peace of mind.

Balancing high-tech solutions with the human touch of a CAREGiver is key to advancing the future of care. And technology is an integral tool for professional caregivers. Monthly in-home assessments can be conducted through a tablet and care plans can be created and customized for each client. These can then be shared with family members to open new lines of collaboration and communication among older adults, families and professional caregivers.

When paired with a professional caregiver, the potential for technology to transform care is limitless. Family members have access to a real-time window into their loved one’s daily lives, Home Instead CAREGivers gain a resource for creating connections and seniors are enriched by the social, emotional and physical benefits of being connected with those who mean the most to them.

As the population of older adults continues to rapidly grow, technology will offer critical solutions to the growing need for care among aging adults. While innovation might not be synonymous with home care today, high-tech plus high-touch is the future of care.

This is a sponsored post contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local sponsor. To learn more, click here.