This article was contributed by Shannon Flynn of rehack.com
It is estimated that around 7% of carers and unpaid and informal, meaning they likely care for relatives who can’t take care of themselves. Caretakers usually have jobs and personal lives on top of the care they provide. As such, apps for monitoring elderly loved ones and patients can help take the stress off of caretakers who desperately need a break. These apps are a sure-fire way to keep all of your notes organised about your favourite patient.
Apps to Stay Organized
With all the documentation that comes with frequent doctor visits, you may feel overwhelmed with organization. These apps are designed to take some of the pressure off of a caretaker.
1. Medisafe
A medication reminder app at heart, Medisafe can send you notifications to remind you when to refill medication and will alert you if you a dose is missed. It’s a great way to keep track of your loved one’s medications and gently remind them when they need to take medicine or get a refill. You can also share this information with their healthcare provider.
2. Caring Village
If you need an app to store important information in one space, Caring Village is the one for you. You can curate a care team for your loved one, which can be a massive help if you need a break from being a solo caretaker. You can work with others to coordinate visits, grocery trips, transportation to medical appointments, and more. You can exchange messages right in the app.
3. eCare21
This app requires a monthly subscription, but it allows you to keep track of your loved one’s heart rate, sleep schedule, and more. Knowing a baseline of a patient’s vital signs can help you understand if something is wrong. It can link to smartwatches and other smart devices, so you can always know how your loved one feels.
Apps to Expand Your Knowledge
When dealing with a condition you may be unfamiliar with, you may need to turn somewhere you know you can receive good advice. These apps are great for learning the basics of helping your loved ones with anything they may need.
1. First Aid: The Red Cross
The official Red Cross app can give you step-by-step advice for treating any injury or issue. It also features quizzes designed to improve your first aid knowledge.
2. Alz & Dementia Daily Companion
This app is specially designed for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It offers tips and advice for any challenges you may encounter. It’s also easy to navigate, so people of any age will have no issue finding the resources in it.
Apps for Monitoring Elderly Loved Ones
Keeping an eye on your loved one or patient can be challenging, especially if you aren’t with them 24 hours a day. These apps for monitoring elderly loved ones can help you understand where your loved one is or how they’re feeling daily. That way, you can be a better advocate for them at medical appointments.
1. PainScale
This app organizes a diary based on your loved one’s pain. Using several filters and answering multiple questions can help you understand the pain your loved one could be going through, which can help you care for them better. It’s a free app that allows you to share data with health providers.
2. AngelSense
This app and GPS tracker combination can help you keep an eye on elderly loved ones or family members with special needs. It’s an app for monitoring elderly folks who may begin to wander off because of forgetfulness or another condition. AngelSense allows you to talk directly to the person in your care.
Apps to Care for Yourself
It’s extraordinarily easy to feel burned out when spending your time caring for someone else. If you work outside the home, it might be difficult to keep an eye on your loved ones in need of care — and it might stress you out more.
Luckily, in the future, work may happen virtually — allowing people to work wherever they want to. This change could help caregivers provide their talents in a remote setting while attending to a loved one. Most talent searches will expand online, with many employers already considering the entire globe their talent pool. Still, you should download a few apps to help take care of yourself, too.
1. Headspace
The Headspace app is a great way to make time for your own self-care. It helps you meditate, whether you’ve never had a session or are a seasoned meditator. You can choose any range of meditation, whether it’s five minutes, 10 minutes, or more.
2. Habitica
Caregiving can be overwhelming, so sometimes it’s nice to have a reminder of the things you need to do and the goals you plan to work toward. Habitica rewards you like a game, so it can keep you accountable for the things you should do. Gamification, or making a game out of accomplishing tasks, can make you more eager to accomplish everyday tasks. A little extra motivation can be great for people who can’t see themselves participating in self-care.
3. Finch: Self Care Widget Pet
By completing small tasks, you can take care of the little bird in this app. This unique app encourages you to journal about your feelings and set small goals, which can help keep your personal life on track. At the same time, you support a cute virtual pet that provides motivation.
Take Care of Yourself So You Can Take Care of Others
Taking care of your loved ones is essential, but you need to care for yourself, too. Caring for yourself and caring for someone else can take a significant toll on your energy levels and stamina — so don’t try to manage it all yourself. These apps for monitoring elderly loved ones and organizing all of their medical information can help you keep track of all you need to know, enabling you to be the best caretaker you can be.
Personal Alarms from LifeConnect24
Whilst you cannot always be present to support your loved ones, LifeConnect24 is. Our personal alarm service provides 24/7 support, 365 days a year. A simple press of a button puts you in touch with our Response Team. They can then alert emergency contacts and, where necessary, the emergency services.
To find out more about our service, check out our helpful guide. Alternatively, you can give our friendly team a call on 0800 999 0400.
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