Family Caregiving: The Facts

Providing care to a family member or friend can take a great toll on an individual. In a July post we examined the effects it has in the workplace. The information provided on this website takes a closer look at providing care to family members and friends from the effects on caregiver health to the economic impact. The following is just one of the facts provided on the website:

"For some adults with heavy caregiving responsibilities, the impact on their ability to work is significant. According to a major study by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, some working caregivers reported having to take a leave of absence (17 percent), shift from full-time to part-time work (10 percent), quit work entirely (6 percent), lose job benefits (5 percent), turn down a promotion (4 percent), or choose early retirement (3 percent). (Source: National Alliance for Caregiving with AARP and MetLife, 2004)."

Many of the adverse effects caregiver's face can be reduced or eliminated with the introduction of assistive technology. Visit the SimplyHome website to find out more about what technologies are currently helping people balance the caregiver role and their other responsibilities.

SimplyHome

Home Safety Ideas

Creating a safe environment is a key factor in supporting an independent living lifestyle for the elderly and developmentally disabled. Strength for Caring provides a great checklist here with information on what modifications may need to be made to make a home safer and more accessible for individuals with special needs.

Many of the items listed on the Strength for Caring checklist can be enhanced or watched over remotely using assistive technology. Visit the website below to find out how an assistive technology system can be adapted to meet your specific needs.

SimplyHome

Breaking Down Barriers

Establishing independence in the community for developmentally disabled adults is long overdue. For many the process is just beginning and for many others the idea of independence is still little more than a distant dream. When an individual succeeds, no matter how long or difficult the process may be, it is worth it. A short conversation will easily reveal how gratifying independence and success are to the developmentally disabled. As funding cuts loom and threaten to cripple the industry providing supports for these individuals, establishing independence becomes ever more important. The San Fransico Chornicle exlpored the costs associated with supporting developmentally disabled individuals in their quest for independence in this article. In the article, the cost of the supports provided is compared with the savings generated when an individual is able to succeed professionally. Likewise, these same cost savings can be seen when an individual is able to live in his or her own home with greatly reduced direct care needs. The SimplyHome system has been helping developmentally disabled adults acheive that personal independence which at one time may have seemed unattainable. Follow the link below to the SimplyHome website to learn more about how this technology is helping establish independence for the developmentally disabled across the country.

SimplyHome