COVID-19 pandemic has compelled millions of people to make changes in their daily routine. With the closure of schools and the necessity to work from home, people are now taking care of their seniors and kids. The workload has increased substantially. There is also the need to be continuously vigilant to safeguard the health of all family members.
You may soon feel miserable when you have to help your kid in doing homework assignments, and at the same time, you have to prepare meals or attend a client call. No wonder, people are looking for gadgets that can end their woes. If you are a caregiver, you may already know that the pandemic has brought the spotlight on the importance of caregiving gadgets.
There are a large number of such gadgets that you can find easily over online shopping platforms to squeeze out some valuable time from your busy caregiving routine. Some of these gadgets are found effective in the following areas:
- Reminding medication
- Tracking sleep
- Emergency response
- Video surveillance
- Safety assurance
Easy it may seem, but keeping a track of all the medications that your elders are supposed to take every day is challenging. A small mistake can jeopardize the health of your loved one. So, new caregivers are now increasingly relying on these caregiving gadgets, which also dispense a measured dose of medication! Some of these have passcode protection. Similarly, you may have an elderly at home who needs continuous monitoring because of an illness or mobility issues. In such a case, a video surveillance camera with motion sensors or night vision can provide much-needed relief.
You can also find a wide range of apps that you can install in your smart device to encourage social connectivity. Remember, it is important to maintain social distancing, but the same can make you feel isolated or depressed as a caregiver. Luckily, there are alternatives, such as FaceTime and Zoom calls.
It is essential to know that before choosing a caregiving gadget, you must have absolute clarity about its usefulness. You don’t have to feel guilty that you are taking the help of technology to excel in your caregiver role. Make your health a priority too, and for the same, you need time to indulge in self-care. Millions of caregivers suffer in silence. They hesitate to accept that they are overburdening themselves leading to caregiver burnout.
So, if you are one among them and you have no idea of whether any help is required or not, you are not alone! Take a short caregiver burnout quiz to evaluate yourself. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness.