Tech Comes Home: How Emerging Technologies Can Help Caregiving Families

January 13, 2015

New technology developments in health monitoring, tracking/alert systems, medication management and scheduling/organizing care have proven to be useful tools for families providing care at home for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, heart failure and other conditions. And FCA has long advocated for utilizing any and all tools—including the latest, digital apps—to assist family caregivers.

Of course we know that the personal touch is always front and center in care for someone who is ill or frail. But as a caregiver—even if you live with your loved one—you simply can’t be available 24/7. As our most recent guest column for PBS Newshour outlines, there are multiple ways that digital tools can benefit families, enhance personal care, and help prevent worrisome incidents or accidents.

To help you learn more about these emerging technologies that can offer support in caregiving households, we’re pleased to present two outstanding free webinars:

• January 14, 2015: New Ways to Care: How Family Caregivers Can Use New Technologies at Home. This is a practical overview of how technology can help you care for a loved one. The focus today is on making your home safer and more efficient. We’ll look at current products as well as some exciting innovations in the pipeline for development. 
• January 21, 2015: Guide to Tech Services & Products: Making the Best Match for Your Family’s Needs. If you’re not a tech wiz, how do you find and evaluate the new digital products that are available right now? In this second webinar, we’ll offer useful tips and checklists to guide your decision-making.  

We hope you’ll join us! Both programs run from noon to 1:00 p.m. (PT) online. Underwriting for these educational webinars and materials is provided by Julia Ko.

We have also launched a new service on our website called Tech4Care, which helps match new technologies with the families that can use them. Tech4Care offers product developers the opportunity to connect with visitors to the FCA website—check out the featured products on the site.

As we kick off the New Year and this next wave of FCA tech-related projects, we’re thrilled to announce that we have received funding for further initiatives as well. Projects now under development include new educational programs for family caregivers, online guided caregiver assessment with tailored education and service interventions, and enhanced information on our popular Services by State. Look for more info on these exciting projects in future blogs!

From all of us at FCA, we wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Innovative 2015!