Did you notice how quickly things changed? One day it was business as usual, and the next day we were wearing masks and hunkering down at home. One day seniors were being cared for by teams of caregivers, participating in group activities, going to family gatherings, and suddenly they were isolated at home. If you knew then what you know now, would you have done anything differently? Maybe stock up on toilet paper and disinfectant wipes?
As they say, “hindsight is 20/20”. We have talked to many caregivers who were considering installing technology to help them monitor and communicate with seniors for whom they care that wished they had done it earlier. We often don’t feel the urgency for things we see as beneficial until circumstances change. Because now we know how quickly things can change, it is a good time to get ready for the “second wave” if it comes. ConnectedLiving CEO and co-founder Sarah Hoit recently said “Now that separation and isolation [is essential to fighting Covid-19], the need to connect residents with their families went from ‘nice to have’ to ‘an absolute must-have.’ It’s a sad consequence, but there is no other way [to communicate]”.
We typically recommend and deploy technologies like GrandCare Systems for family caregivers as well as senior communities. Just a few of the benefits, especially during a pandemic, include:
- Video calls and photo sharing with family and caregivers
- HIPAA compliant telehealth visits with physicians and medical providers
- Activity monitoring through the use of motion sensors in key locations
- Medication reminders and compliance alerts
- Chronic condition monitoring…like blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, glucose levels, weight and more can be tracked and monitored remotely.
Having seen now how quickly the rules can change for senior caregivers, we are encouraging senior communities and family caregivers to act quickly to put these easy-to-use solutions in place now. Technology can help you protect seniors and caregivers, and differentiate your offerings from others who wish they had done it sooner. Give us a call for a free quote or online demonstration.