No longer evoking fears of Big Brother, personalized monitoring technology has gained popularity over the past several years as consumers have begun to understand and welcome the advantages it offers. Many individuals, who historically would have been dependent on institutional supports can now use non-invasive assistive technology to live at home. Why is staying at home important? Why are we connected to a place? Home is the place that gives quality to our lives. It is where we shape our behavior and weave the fabric of who we are.
Caregiver Crisis… Who will be the caregivers?
In a time of increasing demands and diminishing resources, who will we depend on and where will we live?
v Family and Friends: Historically, family and friends have been the safety net.
o Problem: Family and friends strive to balance parenting and work with the challenges of providing appropriate care--often long distance--for loved ones.
v Case Managers: Case managers have always been the backbone of identifying proper supports.
o Problem: Decreased funding and increased case loads have limited this option to crisis management.
v Community Agencies and Providers: This provision of care has always emphasized home supports.
o Problem: The number of support requests continues to grow, while agencies and providers struggle to attract and retain qualified caregivers.
v Long-term Care Providers: Historically these have been the nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, assisted living centers and retirement campuses.
o Problem: Reimbursement pressures, staffing shortages, and consumers’ increasing resistance to long-term institutional options have decreased the use of this form of care.
