My friend has been a caregiver for her mother for sixteen years in my friend's home, including years of raising a young family. Today she wrote that her mother, at 91, struggled halfway through writing a birthday note to her other daughter who lives a gazillion miles away and was confused with layers of clothing. Though my friend has chosen not to share her journey with the world others take advantage of new technology whether by choice or by prescription. I remember having to convince my public policy professor to accept a research paper on telemedicine in the mid-90s. Today one can readily access Telemedicine and e-Health as a 10-issue journal and its bi-weekly sister newsletter. http://www.liebertpub.com/products/product.aspx?pid=54 According to its website, "Telemedicine and e-Health covers all aspects of clinical telemedicine practice, technical advances, medical connectivity, enabling technologies, education, health policy and regulation and biomedical and health services research dealing with clinical effectiveness, efficacy and safety of telemedicine and its effects on quality, cost and accessibility of care, medical records and transmission of same."
Elders, caregivers, physicians, staff , and vendors are comfortably assured when virtually assessing, treating and monitoring chronic illness. A video of an elder's home shared with an Aging in Place specialist can institute low cost modifications (compared to annual cost of assisted living). Social networks where families can establish virtual support keeps long-distance caregivers informed and aids in decision making.
http://www.igi-global.com/bookstore/chapter.aspx?TitleId=42678
Tell us about your caregiving experience incorporating gerotechnology devices, telemedicine, and/or social networking.
