Benefits of Mobile Apps for Caregivers
Mobile apps have quickly become essential tools for caregivers looking to better manage their loved ones’ care — and to take care of themselves.
With a smartphone or tablet, you have help right at your fingertips to quickly access useful information, make better decisions, and avoid overwhelming and high levels of stress.
In the past, the benefits of mobile apps for caregivers were just assumed. But now, there’s research to back up the claims that they can make you more efficient and effective in your role. They will improve health outcomes and quality of life for your loved one and for you.
Types of Mobile Apps for Caregivers
Many apps provide a specific function, so you might often find that you have to download several of them to meet all your needs as a family caregiver. However, newer apps are answering the call for fewer limitations and provide a variety of functions.
Also, the next-gen of caregiving mobile apps are focusing on self-care for caregivers, not just for patients. This is in direct response to growing awareness of the burden family caregivers bear, including consequences for their health.
Here are key functions of caregiving apps:
- Patient-care tips
- Resources
- Appointment scheduling
- Activity scheduling and tracking
- Communication with care partners
- Feedback for loved ones
- Patient monitoring or tracking
- Medication management
- Transportation scheduling
- Stress-reduction strategies and emotional support
Benefits of Mobile Apps for Caregivers, Study
While there has been a surge in caregiver apps, research on their effectiveness has been lacking. However, a study published in the Journal of Internet Medical Research sheds some light on their benefits.
Researchers conducted two surveys to analyze the effects of mobile app use for unpaid, employed caregivers. They focused on three areas: time use and perceived productivity, the caregivers’ support system, and their perceptions of their health and well-being.
They found that caregivers who used mobile apps were significantly less likely to do most of their caregiving tasks alone. App use also boosted the likelihood that at least one person would help the primary caregiver.
Using apps also lowered the odds that a caregiver would spend 30 hours or more each week on caregiving.
And if all that wasn’t impressive enough, apps helped to reduce the amount of time off caregivers took from work. They reduced the chances of caregivers reporting they felt overwhelmed by 12.5% and reporting negative impacts on their health by 6.8%.
Overall, they found that mobile apps benefited caregivers in seven out of 11 outcomes across the three main focus areas.
Furthermore, the surveys revealed that caregivers benefited from mobile app use even during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been linked to greater caregiving stress.
5 Caregiving Apps to Try
1. Be Well
Simplify managing your loved one’s medications with the Be Well app from Rexall. You can create patient profiles and submit or refill prescriptions and get notified when they’re ready.
You can also access prescription history up to three years prior and brush up on information about different medications.
Up to three caregivers can be tied to your loved one’s profile. So, a caregiver you have hired to help you can also assist with medication needs.
Be Well is available for Android or iOS.
2. BetterUp for Caregivers
Discover customized tools as well as coaching and a supportive community to help you overcome the daily rigours of caregiving. This platform and app is available at a special price of $99 for Walmart customers.
It takes virtual support for caregivers to the next level, offering live group coaching and live online classes, guidance from certified coaches, interactive exercises, well-being monitoring, and 24-7 access to resources and tools.
BetterUp is available for iOS only.
3. Symple
While not just for family caregivers, this journaling and personal care app has been one of the favourite apps for patients in the App Store. Symple is a suitable choice if your goal is to monitor your loved one’s symptoms over time and track their feelings through journaling.
You’ll be able to monitor their nutrition, how diet affects their symptoms, how well they sleep and their medications.
Knowing what to ask during regular visits with health professionals can be challenging. Another really valuable function of the Symple app is being able to create a list of questions to ensure your loved one is getting the best care possible.
Get Symple for free in the App Store.
4. Dementia Caregiving Solutions (DCS)
This app was founded by an aging specialist with more than 25 years of experience and a dementia consultant and educator. DCS provides much-needed, practical strategies and solutions for caregivers who look after a loved one with dementia.
The founders say the app has proven to be “highly effective” at helping family and professional caregivers cope with very stressful situations and behaviors.
When you download the app, you can also join one of their two Facebook support groups.
DCS is available for iOS on the App Store.
5. Team CarePal
Of course, we have to throw our own app into the mix. A multi-function app, Team CarePal helps you throughout the caregiving journey, including palliative and end-of-life care.
You can create a family group and discuss patient care and organize condolence messages and end-of-life wishes. And you can record conversations with health professionals, manage your loved one’s medications, and communicate with your own caregiving team about errands, meal preparation, housekeeping and scheduling visits.
We will be linking coaches across Canada for caregivers. A caregiver coach will be available to talk to you one-on-one, be a listening ear, providing you with support and help you navigate the system.
There are also valuable resources on a variety of topics you can access so you can make the most informed decisions as a family.
Team CarePal will be available for android and iOS in 2022.
The benefits of these mobile apps for caregivers and others show that reducing the demand and stress of caregiving doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Just take a couple of minutes to download them today and use them to their full capabilities.
Sources
Journal of Medical Internet Research:
Statista:
