Surveys conducted by Oregon-based Cambia Health Solutions reveals that nearly two-thirds of the nation’s caregivers are using at least one mHealth or telehealth software to manage their caregiving responsibilities. Roughly 40 percent are looking for more digital health solutions to improve care management.
“Wired for Care: The New Face of Caregiving in America” identifies a population where the average caregiver is now just 42 years of age, almost evenly split between men and women. They are not trained or fully prepared to deal with the challenge of caring for a loved one at home.
The report mentions that roughly half of the nation’s caregivers are balancing between full time work and their caregiving duties. Half of them are taking care of someone with a health concern like mental health concern, chronic or long-term condition. But they are compromising on their own life balance, emotional health, hobby time, work, finances and vacation.
Despite this fact the report says that today’s caregivers find satisfaction in that challenge. Today’s caregiver might find an unexpected ally: his or her boss.
Cambia found that three out of every four employers are also caregivers. More than 60 percent are interested in offering digital health tools that would help these caregivers. The employers understand that those tools are likely to increase worker satisfaction.
Nearly 2 in 5 employed caregivers believe that having access to a tool that helps to monitor health records remotely or connects them with a health and wellness professional to answer questions and support caregiving activities would improve their workplace satisfaction.
The report says that providing solutions that are backed by support and personalization can help to improve employees’ work-life balance and overall job satisfaction.