| This article regards the automated regular reminder/check-in service only. For articles regarding the automated ‘One-off reminder’ service please go here. For articles regarding the in-person service please go here. |
Challenges for Older People and Those Supporting Them
At an individual level, older adults often begin to struggle with their independence between the ages of 55 and 75. This can manifest in various ways and be accelerated by conditions such as dementia or Parkisons. Common issues include memory loss and frailty. These issues can compound other health and wellbeing challenges. Forgotten medication can exacerbate ongoing conditions, lack of hydration can impair cognitive performance and increase the risk of metabolic and renal diseases, and frailty can lead to falls at home. The risk increases when someone is living alone, as there is no consistent in-person observation and support.
Family members and professionals may face resistance when providing support at the earlier stages of care, as independence is still highly valued and older individuals may resist help, feeling their autonomy is being encroached upon. Additionally, those providing support may struggle due to their own capacities—whether due to being overworked professionals stretched too thin or family members juggling their own careers and commitments. In some cases, older individuals may not have family members nearby or may face limited access to professional help due to funding or availability constraints.
The Struggle for Solutions
While in-person care remains the most effective and comprehensive way to support older individuals, it may be limited for various reasons. Professional care can be constrained by financial limitations, both public and private, and availability is becoming increasingly restricted as described above.
Family care can be challenging for family members to sustain due to their own work and family commitments. Non-professional carers often experience significant stress, impacting their own wellbeing. In some cases, family support may be unavailable.
Many products and services may be hard to access due to cost, availability, or ease of implementation. Some solutions may have a challenging learning curve for older individuals and may ultimately be rejected. While each solution may offer significant potential for impact, no single solution can address all care problems, and personal preference often outweighs need. Additionally, care needs change over time, requiring new solutions.
Where CareCalls fits in
CareCalls can reduce pressure on older people and those supporting them by delivering reminders and check-ins throughout the day via an intuitive method that is familiar to everyone. It supports those at the earlier stages of care to maintain independence for longer and helps with memory and home safety challenges. This reduces pressure on and creates peace of mind for both family members and professionals.
While CareCalls is no designed to exclusively support certain conditions, many of our features are designed to accommodate challenges presented by a wide range of conditions, for example:
- Our intuitive methods of delivery and unlimited 24/7 availability are great for supporting short-term memory loss brought on by various forms of Dementia
- Our precisely timed and unlimited usage is ideal for conditions that require regular and consistent dosage, such as Parkinsons.
- Our proactive check-ins are ideal for supporting someone who may not be able to actively respond to an emergency due to unconsciousness following a blackout.
CareCalls is not designed to replace in-person care; rather, it enables better allocation of time and effort towards aspects requiring in-person care by assisting those who are still lucid and proactive enough to support themselves with basic tasks. It also alerts people to issues that may arise when a carer is not present, reducing the response time to these events.
CareCalls offers a low barrier to access due to its instant setup, trial period, and affordability. It is an ideal early-stage preventative tool that can be quickly assessed for suitability. CareCalls also complements other solutions, such as pill boxes or reactive systems (pendants and sensors), and can alert family members and professionals to changes and recommend further actions.
You can see more about where CareCalls fits in on our comparison chart here.
