A Simple Way to Avoid Caregiver Stress

Nearly 42 million Americans are caring for an older relative or friend, according to AARP’s Caregiving in the U.S. report. And more than half of those surveyed say they experience moderate to high levels of emotional and caregiving stress. This is hardly surprising, since many of these unpaid caregivers are part of the “sandwich generation,” juggling family responsibilities with the needs of an aging parent.
 
When it comes to helping your parents, it’s not just caregiving itself creating tension. The shift of natural roles is difficult for everyone. You may feel awkward suggesting your loved one can’t manage on their own, and they may be resistant to accepting help. But Fellowship Connected Living Powered by Livindi can help transform a difficult transition into a rewarding solution.
 
Raising the Issue
Have you noticed your parents’ fridge is often sparsely stocked? Or maybe you’re worried Dad’s forgetfulness might lead to a mix-up with his meds. Sound familiar? If you’re concerned about a loved one’s ability to stay on top of daily tasks and health routines, the first hurdle is broaching this potentially hot-button subject. Experts advise starting the conversation early and coming up with possible solutions rather than simply raising a generalized concern. Fellowship Connected Living offers a way to navigate this challenging conversation. Introducing this innovative system to your loved one provides the perfect segue to discussions about present issues and potential future ones. It’s a natural way to frame the discussion as practical resources to make their life easier, and the ways it can help them stay independent longer.
 
Monitoring Without Meddling
Fellowship Connected Living helps you navigate the fine line between helping them and helping them stay independent through its smart-home technology. This technology helps you keep an eye on your loved one’s habits without becoming a “helicopter child” or actually being there. Three passive sensors provide a real-time snapshot of activity in the home, alerting you to anything unusual. A sensor placed on the fridge, for example, builds a profile of their eating habits, while other sensors can detect hazards such as an exterior door left ajar. The FCL package includes wearable emergency buttons, but even if your parent has forgotten to put one on, the sensors can detect lack of movement and send an alert to everyone in their care circle via the app.
 
A Stress-busting App
While it’s obvious how the smart technology benefits your loved one, it might be less obvious how it gives you peace of mind. And peace of mind helps lower your caregiving stress. Support from family and friends is crucial to avoid caregiver stress, according to guidelines from the Mayo Clinic. Not only does the simple-to-use Livindi touchscreen tablet help your parents stay in contact with you, the app makes it easy for you to share caregiving responsibilities with your siblings or care circle. Since everyone has access to all of the data, you can discuss issues and make consensual decisions. Instead of worrying whether or not Mom is taking her meds, necessitating another stop in your busy day, you can rely on the med reminders sent via the app to her tablet.
 
Reduce Caregiver Stress
For too many caregivers, the need to support and care for someone is often unexpected. Too few people have a plan in place to provide the support they’ll need as they age. While 77% of adults prefer to age in place, most have no plan to make it possible. And when you’re the person who has to be the caregiver without a support system in place, stress is inevitable. Suddenly you need to navigate a complicated healthcare system. You may need to spend hours on research and scheduling. You’ll have to juggle your responsibilities with their needs. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Imagine having access to a personal health navigator who can guide you and your loved one. Imagine having a library of resources and someone you can turn to for answers. Imagine giving your extended family a one-touch solution to help strengthen familial bonds and stay connected.
 
It’s all possible with Fellowship Connected Living powered by Livindi. Take the first step today to lower your stress levels. Call us at 908-580-3869 to learn how Fellowship Connected Living powered by Livindi can help your loved one stay independent longer.