There can be little doubt that family centered care giving is
becoming now a consuming activity for three generations. The Boomer retirement
generation is now caring for their parents. The ‘sandwich generation’ will need
soon to care for the Boomers. No need to re-visit the facts of the rapidly
escalating numbers that are impacting all generations. I am sure you are well
versed in these numbers at the top level. It’s a big deal. But the issues and
challenges we are facing are broadening beyond the numbers with each passing
day. Experience brings further discovery.
What needs to be kept in mind is that care giving is a one to
one relationship. Child to parent for example. While the ‘big numbers’ matter,
in the end, the real issues get reduced to ‘my family’ to ‘my parents’. Does it
really help knowing that millions of others face similar issues? The choices,
the decisions and the options all need to be ultimately decided one family at a
time.
The stress and burden of being a daily care giver is only
further exacerbated with the ever present challenge of knowing what is actually
happening, where to start next and when to start doing what. Each day sits on
the precipice of bringing a totally unanticipated and expected care giving event.
As time wears on, so does the stress, weighing ever more heavily on the care
giver. Most of us were never schooled or trained for this role in life. One day
it just fell to us.
Being dedicated to embracing care givers with technology
solutions that they can use to embrace the ones they care for has become a life
mission for me – more than a business vision. I have carefully chosen the word
embrace for use here and in my other writings because in no way is technology
going to replace human to human care. But technology used to embrace the
circumstance can help to manage, control and expedite care. Technology can
lessen the burden. It can reduce the likelihood of hospitalizations. It can improve
quality of life. And, yes, it surely can make care giving just a bit more manageable
and bearable.
What we have learned is that for the technology to be correctly
helpful, it needs to be defined - one family at time. It needs to be able to
work for that family – and for that care giver.
So, just like any medicine, technology has its place and
proper use. Just like the care giver’s oath to “do no harm” technology needs to
help. It can be a cure for the debilitating effects of isolation. Properly
dispensed it can aid in recoveries. And, it most certainly can help improve the
quality of life for all involved.
In the world that lies ahead for all too many,
the ‘first patient’ to be considered is the care giver and for them technology
can be a powerful medicine.
Mike radice is Chairman
of the Technology Advisories of www.chartacares.com and www.GenerationCares.com and his blog can be read at www.chatraplace.blogspot.com
