How Social Media Improve the Quality of Family Care Management
The advent of the internet marks the Age of Information Technology. As the world transitions to a digitized age, technology brings forth various changes to the way people share and exchange information. The rise of social media like Facebook and Twitter has been instrumental in bringing communication to an entirely new level.
Embracing new technologies (such as the use of social media) makes a smarter home care solution with a human touch. Despite their old age, many seniors find emotional support and meaningful companionship with the use of social media. Social media sites help them to constantly stay in touch with their families. The family, being the basic unit of society, plays a significant role in a healthy collaboration with home care agencies and other service providers involved in administering a personalized patient care to the elderly. To keep that collaboration working, communication between and among them is important. Communication is not solely confined to the use of telephone. This is where social media or social networking sites become highly relevant in family care management.
Home care service shouldn’t be boring to those who are at the receiving end of the patient care. The elderly also deserve a vibrant life filled with worthwhile and joyful activities. Most families would want to see their old folks enjoying a fulfilled retirement in their twilight years. In recent years, there has been a steady stream of seniors who are making use of social media sites to communicate with their loved ones. Social networking sites have also become a perfect cyberspace hub for the elderly to interact with friends and fellow enthusiasts whom they share similar interests and hobbies with. An eMarketer study revealed that the boomers have become increasingly familiar with the online environment. An online community of boomers like the Eons makes it possible for this segment of the population to actively participate in virtual discussions and realize their passions.
The use of social media has a huge potential in creating a desirable environment for the vulnerable seniors. They all want to preserve their own sense of pride, dignity, and independence. Social media can enhance the quality of family care by keeping seniors away from feeling a deep sense of isolation from the rest of the world. A 2009 study from AARP suggested that social media can be a source of supportive companions whom they can interact with through various online means like group discussions, polls, and forums. Seniors are quite participative because they tend to be very vocal of what they think and feel. They can also be very passionate about certain topics that match their interests.
Many home care agencies realize the role of social media in elevating the quality of senior care they provide. As mentioned earlier, communication is an important key in an effective family care management. While some elderly people prefer personal conversations over the phone, many are hearing-impaired which can make communication quite a challenge. Social networking sites can provide a visual alternative to audio communication by keeping the seniors posted on the latest happenings in their families through online messaging, video and picture sharing and lot more. It allows them to be interactively connected with their home care providers as well. The web can also be a source of other forms of support for their complex needs such as health challenges.
ClearCare, a leading home care software tools provider, takes full advantage of the benefits that social media bring. Consistent with its goal to provide an excellent family care management experience, ClearCare also endeavors to enhance its software’s internet-based connectivity to provide real-time transparency. Families will have an oversight of how patient care is being administered to their loved ones by providing complete online visibility of all data relevant to their seniors’ care.
ClearCare sees family care management from an entirely new perspective. Employing the latest information technology innovation in its home care software allows home care agencies to fulfill their mission effectively and accurately.
ClearCare , care software – Web-based application to manage homecare for the elderly. Get comprehensive home care management software for your agency with home care scheduling, telephony & other homecare solutions.