One of the challenges caregivers face as their loved one’s needs grow is how to stay connected with their emotional support system. Feeling isolated and alone can lead to caregiver depression. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, between 40% and 70% of caregivers have clinically significant symptoms for depression. Of those, 25% meet the criteria for a major clinical depression. As a caregiver, what can you do to stay connected? Technology has made it easier to find a solution. Here are four inexpensive avenues to explore:
1. Use Skype or another video chat service to talk with family and friends.
Video chat services aren’t just to keep in touch with long distance loved ones. For isolated caregivers, a service like Skype can be a way to get the emotional support you need from a loved one in the midst of a difficult day. You can easily access the service using your iPad or other tablet device.
2. Invest in a Smart Phone.
As a caregiver, it will make your life easier. When you are feeling isolated or lonely but are too busy for a phone conversation, you can send a quick text message to someone you know is sympathetic to your situation. Even a quick chat on Face Time using your smart phone can help you feel less alone.
3. Social media channels like Facebook.
If you haven’t joined Facebook, it might be time. You can set up the app on your smart phone and easily keep in touch with friends and loved ones throughout the day.
4. Online Caregiver Support Groups.
As the number of caregivers continues to climb, online caregiver support groups are easier to find. They give caregivers an opportunity to connect with others who share their struggles without leaving the house. They can also be accessed day or night whenever it is convenient. This article we shared with readers last fall might help you find an online support group to join.
Do you care for a friend or family member at home? Have you found ways to use technology to stay connected? We’d love to hear them!
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Author: Ann Jamison
Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.
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