For many family caregivers, one of the most difficult challenges can be simply getting their loved one to see their doctor. Sometimes scheduling visits conflicts with work or other responsibilities. Some caregivers live in remote or rural areas, making a trip to the doctor a time-consuming errand. Of course, sometimes aging parents simply don’t want to go to the doctor, adding another level of frustration for everyone involved.
Fortunately, telehealth has become more common and accessible, significantly easing the burden on caregivers and their loved ones.
You may already have telehealth access
Many health insurance plans have telehealth included as part of their coverage. For some plans, the telehealth visit itself is completely free, with users only paying for any medications or treatments that come out of the consultations.
Check your loved one’s current health insurance plan to see if telehealth is included, and if it is, go ahead and start the signup process. The first time you use a telehealth service there are often additional forms that need to be filled out, delaying your time in seeing a doctor. Take care of these as soon as possible so you aren’t stuck doing paperwork when you really need to use the service.
What can caregivers use telehealth for?
You can make a telehealth appointment for your loved one for a wide range of ailments that don’t necessarily require an in-person appointment:
- Arthritic Pain
- Asthma
- Cold and Flu
- Diarrhea
- Infection
- Insect Bites
- Rashes
- Skin Inflammation
- Sore Throat
- Sprains & Strains
- Vomiting
- And many others
It’s invaluable for caregivers and their loved ones to be able to minimize their trips to the doctor and do as much as possible within the comfort of their own home.
Telehealth benefits those with dementia
Telehealth has had a very positive impact on those caring for loved ones with dementia. According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Aging, with 780 pairs of caregivers and people with dementia, the telehealth-based Care Ecosystem resulted in measurable differences.
Results of the study showed that participants saw significant improvements compared to study volunteers with usual care:
Over the course of a year, those utilizing telehealth:
- Improved dementia patient well-being, including physical health, energy level, mood, living situation, memory, relationships, and finances
- Decreased levels of caregiver depression
- Reduced caregiver burden
- Decreased number of emergency department visits
Every caregiving situation is different, but if you’re a family caregiver you owe it to yourself and your loved one to try incorporating telehealth into the resources you depend on. By combining telehealth with a connected health and safety monitoring system like Connected Caregiver, you’ll be equipping yourself and your loved one to have the most stress-free and effective experience.