When you’re the designated caregiver
The U.S. has the highest percentage of Americans over the age of 65 than any other time in history, 71 million in 2019 compared to 41 million in 2011 [1]. In 2029, the last of the baby boomer generation will reach retirement age, resulting in a 73% increase in Americans 65 years of age and older. As the average lifespan increases, the strain on nursing resources intensifies.
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With the complexity of care increasing, the demands of family caregiving are becoming unsustainable for people to manage alone. Caregivers, an outright extension of healthcare, provide an estimated 34 billion hours of care, worth $470 billion, to their parents, spouses, partners, and friends [2].
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In the United States, 19.2% percent of the population are unpaid caregivers, having provided care to an adult with special needs at some time in the past 12 months. This amounts to 48 million Americans providing care to a family member or friend age 18 or older. These numbers are significant increases to the last Caregiving in the U.S. report completed in 2015, owing to any of the following reasons:
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Increase in aging population
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Nursing staff shortage
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Shift to home-based care
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Indeed, caregivers report that care recipients have greater health and functional needs than was reported in 2015; with 69% and 26% of those age 65 or older suffer from a long-term or short-term physical condition respectively. On average, caregivers spend 23.7 hours per week providing care at numerous levels for example, 41% assist recipients in getting in and out of beds and chairs. However, the role of caregivers goes beyond performing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). 71% of caregivers monitor the severity of recipients’ conditions and take the responsibility of communicating and interacting with providers, agencies, and professionals on the recipient’s behalf in order to coordinate the care provided [3].
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Medical advances, shorter hospital stays, limited discharge planning, and expansion of home care have increased obligations for families who are being asked to assume greater responsibilities for longer periods of time [4]. Time off work for caregivers and health risks can hinder their ability to provide care, lead to higher health care costs and affect the quality of life of both the caregiver and recipients.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently 7 potential family caregivers per adult. By 2030, there will be only 4 potential family caregivers per adult [5]. It is a health, economic and social imperative to ensure better recognition and support for caregivers.
With remote patient monitoring technology rising at a rapid pace, caregivers should be able to seamlessly communicate with health professionals. Caregivers should be in a position to monitor their loved ones with a minimum of stress accurately, safely, and reliably.
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Neteera provides a stressless experience for both the recipient and the caregiver. Our service-based platform on one single device requires no maintenance, no device manipulation. The recipient does not need to remove clothing or to be handled by the caregiver. Through continuous monitoring, the clinician can view the recipient’s vitals in real-time, or view data history through Neteera’s cloud-based platform.
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References
1. Haddad, L.M. et al. (2016) StatPearls [internet]. 46, 605.
2. The American Association of Retired Persons.
3. The National Alliance for Caregiving.
5. Family Caregiver Alliance. (2006). Caregiver Assessment: Principles, Guidelines and Strategies for Change. Report from a National Consensus Development Conference (Vol. I). San Francisco: Author
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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