Are you concerned about your elderly parent’s wellbeing? Aging can create a multitude of personal challenges. It’s natural to worry about how your loved one is navigating them—especially when you can’t be there to help out in person.
Luckily, digital technology can improve your parent’s quality of life—and put your mind at ease.
If your mom is feeling lonely, a communication app can empower her to reach out to those who care. When you’re worried about your dad’s health, the right information-sharing tool can provide real-time medical updates.
If you’re using aTouchAway, you already know that the app provides the best of both worlds. Videoconferencing makes it easier than ever to establish meaningful communication. And care-plan sharing allows you to better understand your elderly parent’s condition—and provide the right support.
These features are crucial. You’re an important part of your loved one’s support network. Through face-to-face communication and a better awareness of relevant health issues, you can make life better for your mom or dad—even from a distance.
But are you using aTouchAway to its full potential? In this post, we’ll explore some tips for getting the most from the Aetonix app.
1) Show your elderly parent how easy it is
For many older adults, social isolation is a day-to-day reality. Statistics indicate that 1.4 million Canadian seniors report feeling lonely. If you have an elderly parent, you might wonder whether she or he is included in this number.
Fortunately, you can use digital technology to ensure that your mom or dad feels cared for and supported. With the aTouchAway app, making a video call is incredibly simple. The face-to-face conversations you initiate will provide a greater sense of connection than phone calls ever did.
But what if your loved one isn’t good with technology? A lack of technical skills can be a barrier to digital communication. But it doesn’t have to be.
Using aTouchAway isn’t just straightforward for you. Users with cognitive and mobility issues—as well as those who just aren’t tech-literate— can send and receive calls without difficulty. For your elderly parent, calling a loved one or care team member is as simple as tapping an image on a tablet screen. What could be easier than touching your picture in order to call you?
Of course, those who have been frustrated by technology in the past are bound to be skeptical. By walking your parent through his or her first call, you can demonstrate just how intuitive aTouchAway is. If possible, we suggest calling a loved one. The instantaneous connection with a beloved grandson or niece will turn your mom or dad into a fan.
2) Identify all circles of care members
For those with health problems, a strong circle of care can make a huge positive difference. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, an individual’s circle of care is the group of people who have access to her health information. This group usually consists of family members, medical practitioners, and caregiving professionals.
The aTouchAway app enables circles of care to share useful information and work together. Users can find all of the members of a patient’s circle in one digital place—and reach out them easily. If you play a role in maintaining this network on the app, you’ll also appreciate the convenience of being able to add and delete members when necessary.
When a daughter is in touch with her mother’s care coordinator via videoconferencing, she’s better equipped to act with sensitivity and provide the right kind of support. In situations like this, communication across circles of care can strengthen the connection between adult child and elderly parent.
Of course, a patient also plays an important role in his own circle. For example, if you’re father has regular video check-in sessions with his nurses, he’s far more likely to engage in proper self-care activities. And when he can connect easily with all of his loved ones, he’s sure to live a far richer life than he otherwise would.
To get the most out of aTouchAway, identify those who your elderly parent trusts and relies on. Medical care team members are obvious choices. And whenever possible, building a network of caring relatives is sure to boost your mom or dad’s spirits.
3) Take advantage of mobile
For those who aren’t great with technology, touchscreen tablets make interacting with aTouchAway simple. If this sounds like your elderly parent, a tablet may offer the most intuitive way of using the app.
That said, you may have different needs. If you live a busy lifestyle—but still want to be there for your parent when he needs you—downloading the app onto your cellphone might be most convenient. You can receive and send video calls from your phone, no matter where you are.
If you’re loved one uses the discreet, lightweight Aetonix safety bracelet, you can also receive notifications if she experiences a fall or some other urgent situation. While emergency services should also be set up to receive and respond to these events, you’re sure to feel more at ease knowing you’ll be aware if your elderly parent is in trouble.
Whether you access aTouchAway on a cellphone or tablet, you’ll probably want to explore the many features it provides on the go.
4) Check health and care-plan information regularly
Armed with up-to-date health information, family members, medical practitioners, and caregiving professionals are in a better position to provide patients with the care they need.
For many adult children, the most obvious use for a videoconferencing app is connecting with an elderly parent. But digital technology also has the power to store sensitive data while ensuring that all authorized parties can access it—In real-time, from wherever they are.
If you’re using aTouchAway, you’re probably aware that practitioners can use the app to securely send, share, and access your loved one’s health information. But how often do you look at this information? Do you know the latest developments impacting your mom or dad’s health? Have you seen all of the recent changes to your parent’s care plan?
This may seem like information that only doctors and nurses need. But actually, staying in the loop can help you maintain a strong connection with your loved one. With real-time medical and care-plan information, you can tailor levels of support to ongoing events. You can provide encouragement for your elderly parent’s self care activities, provide transportation to future appointments, and keep an eye out for worsening symptoms. If you’re a substitute decision-maker, you can ensue that any decisions you make are timely and informed.
We suggest familiarizing yourself with aTouchAway’s information-sharing functions. From notes sections to relevant images to complete care plans, staying abreast of recorded changes can help you “be there” for your mom or dad in a way you otherwise couldn’t.
