I know, I know…you aren’t a “caregiver.” A caregiver is someone you hire. You are family and are just “helping” your Mom or Dad as any good child would do. You are also in denial.

You ARE a caregiver—albeit a family caregiver—and you DO need help so that you don’t experience declining health, or worse, because of the strain of caregiving. Help is available from a large number of companies, many of whom got started because their founders were just like you: family caregivers who struggled with keeping it together and they thought, “There has to be a better way.” Here are some examples of products and services that eased the burden of caregiving while providing a better quality of life for Mom and Dad.

GrandCare Systems (www.grandcare.com) - an integrated system that allows an elder loved one to stay in their own home safely while being connected digitally to the extended family. It does this through a number of sensors and other devices connected to a computer with simplified and specialized touchscreen interface. Mom or Dad can stay in touch to the extended family without needing to learn anything about a computer while you can monitor their activities of daily living to ensure they aren't declining in health or activity level.

ClearSounds Communications (www.clearsounds.com) — a company that has dedicated itself to providing a better quality of life for those with hearing impairments. They have dozens of high-quality specially designed products from amplified telephones and TV listening systems to alarm clocks that will wake even the soundest sleeper. Compensating for hearing impairment can do a lot for an elder’s quality of life, and ClearSounds products are a great place to start.

Flipper Remote (www.flipperremote.com) — I know you’re tired of trying to explain the “all on” button on Mom’s Comcast remote control, or how to tell her how to get the TV input mode back to where it should be. The Flipper Remote is one of those low-cost lifesavers that removes the confusion through its craftily simple design. A must-have gift for every family caregiver.

And finally, my company Presto (www.presto.com) — a low-cost communications tool for family members who make decisions about the support and care of their aging parents and who need a simple, convenient, and cost-effective way to communicate with them. Consisting of a specially designed printer and online service, Presto seamlessly bridges the technology gap and redefines the way families can share their lives, conversations, and information, while still allowing them to use the methods of communication they prefer.

All of these companies and about 60 more, are members of the Aging Technology Alliance (www.agetek.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the awareness, benefits and value of products and services for our aging society. AgeTek.org is a great place to see new products and services and information from organizations that are geared to help family caregivers like you. Be sure to subscribe to the AgeTek blog (www.agetek.wordpress.com) to stay informed about the latest goings on in Aging Technology.

A final important note: unlike many organizations that have “technology” in their name, AgeTek actually isn’t about bits, bytes, circuits and gadgets. It’s about people. I would venture to say that the majority of people in the companies who make products and services to help family caregivers got there because of their own experience caring for a loved one. They focused on this career because they wanted to make a difference. Take a look at the solutions provided by AgeTek member companies, and you’ll see lots of passion and care that went into their development.

Sincerely,

Peter Radsliff
CEO, Presto Services Inc.
Founder & Chairman, Aging Technology Alliance