Technology: Caring for your dad after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is both necessary and challenging.
Your dad will change in ways you may not expect. Forgetfulness is one thing, and it’s expected. The desire to escape, delusions, and anger are often unexpected. But technology may be the way to help you’re senior become more interested in other things.
Elder Care in Cranford NJ: Alzheimers
When you’re a family caregiver and don’t have a lot of support, you’ll find that electronic devices and technology become extremely helpful. You’ll be able to distract your dad, keep track of his comings and goings, and eliminate some of your daily chores. Here are the electronic devices to consider purchasing.
GPS Tracking
Look for devices that have built-in GPS tracking. You may need to pay a monthly subscription, but it’s worth it if your dad wanders. While you want to always be alert and watching for his escapes, it can be exhausting in the middle of the night.
Your dad can have the GPS tracker inserted into his jacket or shoes or worn as a watch or pendant. You’ll want to make sure he’s likely to wear it, so sewing it into his shoes may be ideal if he always gets his shoes before going outside. If he does get out and wanders away, use the app to track his location.
A Smart Speaker
Invest in a smart speaker for your and your dad’s use. When your dad is getting moody, tell the speaker to play his favorite musician or type of music and it will. You can also have a smart speaker set up to turn on lights in different rooms with a voice command. Plus, they can offer reminders for necessary appointments and medication reminders.
A Video Doorbell
Install a video doorbell at the front and back doors. Through this technology, if someone shows up, you can see who it is and unlock the door so that they can come in. These doorbells act as a video camera for security, and they also have an intercom system to make it easy to communicate with anyone at the door.
A Video Phone
Amazon’s Echo Show is one device that allows for video intercom/phone functions. Your dad wants to see his brother, but he forgets his brother lives in another state. You could get a lot done if he was busy chatting with his brother.
Purchase a tablet or laptop that’s equipped with a built-in speaker and video camera. With this technology, your dad can talk to his brother while also seeing him on the screen. He’s not right there with his brother, but he can see his brother’s facial responses. It is an excellent alternative to a phone call.
Take care of yourself by taking breaks. Instead of spending 24/7 with your dad, treat yourself to a day away. On that day, go for long walks, sleep late, and don’t worry about your dad’s care needs. You can have an elder care aide help him with his to-do list. Call an elder care agency to learn more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Elder Care in Cranford, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299.
Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside, and the surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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