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The Basics of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

In general, online companion/caregiver support offers both companionship to elderly patients and support for their caregivers. In fact, both services are only non-medical. On one hand, online companion services offer mental stimulation and companionship. Through mobile apps, elderly people can access animated characters that they can have conversations with, receive reminders to take medication, see pictures uploaded by their family, etc. On the other hand, caregiver support offers a way for caregivers to relieve stress and share their story. In most cases, this service is offered as an online support group. In fact, there are online support groups for different communities like LGBTQ, Spanish-speakers, and young adult caregivers.

Traditional Companion/Caregiver Support vs Online Companion/Caregiver Support

On one hand, patients must obtain traditional companion/caregiver support in-person. Usually, the person comes to the patient’s home and provides services. On the other hand, online companion/caregiver support only requires the patient to open an app, talk to a provider, or join a group. Then the patient can receive the online companion or caregiver support that they need.

Companion Care vs Personal Care

While companion care and personal care are quite similar, there are a few differences. In fact, each type of care offers different services, with only a some overlapping. For example, companion care offers these services to the elderly:

Companionship/socialization
Laundry
Meal planning/preparation
Feeding
Transportation
Shopping/errands
Reminders about medication
Mobility assistance

Contrarily, personal care offers services like:

Feeding
Dressing
Bathing/showering
Using the restroom
Incontinence care
Oral hygiene

However, with online companion care, elderly patients mainly have access to companionship/socialization, medication reminders, meal planning/ preparation, etc.

Pros of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

Accessibility

Online companion/caregiver support offers more access to people that need these services. For example, there are many patients who live in rural areas. Or they may have medical conditions that make travelling difficult. However, these online services give them a way to still get the care they need. Plus, online care means less in-person visits, which means patients who really need face-to-face interaction with a provider have more access to these types of visits.

Time

Online companion/caregiver support is beneficial to both patients and employers. With online caregiver support, workers spend less time away from the office.

Cost

Online companion/caregiver support visits cost far less than traditional visits. In fact, less travel time, in-person visits, and staff are the reasons for the reduced costs.

Quality

Through convenient services, online companion/caregiver support means that more people will be able to get the care they need. Plus, research shows that these types of online services offer the same quality care as traditional visits.

Communication

In most cases, studies show that patients prefer modern methods of communication. To be clear, most people prefer virtual communication over face-to-face communication. In addition, they care more about access to care than in-person interactions.

Cons of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

Comfortability

There are a couple scenarios where patients may not feel comfortable using online companion/caregiver support. For example, elderly patients may not be as adaptable to new technology. So, it may take them a while to get used to it if they are able. In addition, some people are more private than others. They may not feel comfortable sharing their stories online with strangers within a caregiver support group. As a result, making these services available online can deter patients rather than draw them in.

Ultimately, online companion/caregiver support is beneficial to both the elderly and caregivers. Further, it is growing in popularity due to its many benefits like accessibility, time, cost, quality, and communication. However, lack of comfortability is its drawback. Still, online companion/caregiver support is a great tool for people that need this type of care.

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5 Signs of Work Burnout You Should Be Aware Of

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When you’re burned out, you lack the motivation and enthusiasm you once had, and it shows up as reduced performance at work. You might feel bored and have trouble starting or completing projects. Burnout can show up as procrastination, too. You put off doing work-related activities because your motivation is dwindling. The more you put off projects, the more you doubt your ability to do them, and self-doubt sets in. It can turn into a vicious cycle of procrastination, frustration, and self-doubt that’s hard to break. Feelings That What You Do is Meaningless Work burnout can cause you to feel your job is meaningless. You may begin to feel disconnected from co-workers and the organization itself. You no longer want to participate in meetings, and you might isolate yourself from other employees at your business. Health Issues You may feel emotionally drained, anxious, or angry all the time if you’re experiencing burnout. Your relationships with friends and family might suffer because you don’t have the energy to nurture them anymore. But burnout can also lead to physical health issues such as high blood pressure. You might experience problems sleeping at night, feel fatigued, and start catching more colds. Stress and burnout can elevate the stress hormone cortisol, which can trigger or worsen all these symptoms. No job is worth sacrificing your health, so it’s important to take these signs seriously. Problems at Home Burnout can also affect your life at home. When you’re preoccupied with your job and experiencing negativity, you react differently to family members and friends. Sometimes family members are the first to notice that you’re experiencing burnout signs and symptoms. They may notice you’re more remote, angry, sad, or have emotional outbursts you didn’t have before. Regaining Control: Treating Work Burnout Burnout is different from depression and anxiety, but it has a similar effect on your life. It’s a feeling of emotional exhaustion, a total loss of interest in work and home life, and a sense of detachment from others. Treatment for burnout often involves taking time off from work to recover. Many people can return to their positions once their symptoms have subsided, and they’ve had a chance to rest. Treating mild burnout and preventing future burnout could include more time spent on self-care. If you’re experiencing burnout, take a closer look at your life. Are you taking on too much at work and at home? If you’re working a job and going to school simultaneously, you’re under more pressure than someone who only works a job. What other commitments are you dealing with in your life? It may be time to scale back on some of those obligations if you can. Then take a closer look at what’s happening at work. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your boss and be honest. Tell your boss how burnout is affecting your productivity — both the quantity and quality of your work. Be specific about which tasks are giving you trouble, how much time it’s taking you to complete them, and any mistakes you’ve been making. Letting your boss know how burnout affects you will help them understand why you’re struggling and whether they can do anything to help. Your boss may recommend a short break from work. Then let your family know about your struggles, so it’s out in the open. You should never struggle through burnout alone, and being honest about your struggles will help you get the help you need. If your job causes stress that can’t be fixed, it might be time to consider a new job or career. References: “16 Employee Burnout Statistics You Can’t Ignore.” 04 May. 2021, everyonesocial.com/blog/employee-burnout-statistics/. Jeung DY, Kim C, Chang SJ. Emotional Labor and Burnout: A Review of the Literature. Yonsei Med J. 2018 Mar;59(2):187-193. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2018.59.2.187. PMID: 29436185; PMCID: PMC5823819. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry. 2016 Jun;15(2):103-11. doi: 10.1002/wps.20311. PMID: 27265691; PMCID: PMC4911781. “Job burnout: How to spot it and take action – Mayo Clinic.” 05 Jun. 2021, mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642. Haffizulla FS, Newman C, Kaushal S, Williams CA, Haffizulla A, Hardigan P, Templeton K. Assessment of Burnout: A Pilot Study of International Women Physicians. Perm J. 2020 Sep; 24:1-5. doi: 10.7812/TPP/20.028. PMID: 33482938; PMCID: PMC7849283.
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4 Ways to Enhance Your Mental Health

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How to Deal with Depression During the Pandemic

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Acknowledging the things in life that you’re grateful for can help you keep a written record that you can refer to whenever you’re experiencing anxiety and depression. This type of journal can help you see that there are, in fact, positive things in your life. This realization can encourage you to seek even more positivity and keep you from dwelling on the negative aspects of your life. You can improve your outlook on life by keeping a gratitude journal, dramatically improving your depression in the process. There will always be events in life that can potentially lead to depression. However, if you take a proactive approach by implementing these tips as soon as you notice symptoms, you can nip the depression in the bud before it reaches unbearable proportions. By tackling depressing as soon it surfaces, you increase your chances of successfully defeating it and reclaiming your life.
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Telehealth coaching can solve this issue by helping employees implement behavior changes at home. Such an approach doesn’t just fight chronic diseases efficiently, it allows both employees and employers to save time and money. Getting rid of poor habits improves productivity and contributes to a healthy workplace environment. 2. Boosting Employee Satisfaction Top-notch benefits are one of the key reasons whyemployees choose to stay with their current employer (2). By exploring telehealth opportunities, you are giving your staff a highly demanded healthcare option. Virtual care is gaining popularity. It gives patients access to remote specialists regardless of their location. When it comes to chronic condition management, remote assistance is especially important. By giving your staff an opportunity to access telehealth coaches, you are raising employee satisfaction levels. This, in turn, keeps retention rates high. 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Since the majority of your workforce is likely to suffer from one or more chronic conditions, telehealth coaching isn’t just a nice perk for employees. It’s a necessity.Sources: cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/health-benefits-foster-retention.aspx healthitanalytics.com/news/using-health-coaching-to-improve-chronic-disease-management ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1070773/ fightchronicdisease.org/sites/default/files/docs/GrowingCrisisofChronicDiseaseintheUSfactsheet_81009.pdf
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The Basics of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

In general, online companion/caregiver support offers both companionship to elderly patients and support for their caregivers. In fact, both services are only non-medical. On one hand, online companion services offer mental stimulation and companionship. Through mobile apps, elderly people can access animated characters that they can have conversations with, receive reminders to take medication, see pictures uploaded by their family, etc. On the other hand, caregiver support offers a way for caregivers to relieve stress and share their story. In most cases, this service is offered as an online support group. In fact, there are online support groups for different communities like LGBTQ, Spanish-speakers, and young adult caregivers. Traditional Companion/Caregiver Support vs Online Companion/Caregiver Support On one hand, patients must obtain traditional companion/caregiver support in-person. Usually, the person comes to the patient’s home and provides services. On the other hand, online companion/caregiver support only requires the patient to open an app, talk to a provider, or join a group. Then the patient can receive the online companion or caregiver support that they need. Companion Care vs Personal Care While companion care and personal care are quite similar, there are a few differences. In fact, each type of care offers different services, with only a some overlapping. For example, companion care offers these services to the elderly: Companionship/socialization Laundry Meal planning/preparation Feeding Transportation Shopping/errands Reminders about medication Mobility assistance Contrarily, personal care offers services like: Feeding Dressing Bathing/showering Using the restroom Incontinence care Oral hygiene However, with online companion care, elderly patients mainly have access to companionship/socialization, medication reminders, meal planning/ preparation, etc. Pros of Online Companion/Caregiver Support Accessibility Online companion/caregiver support offers more access to people that need these services. For example, there are many patients who live in rural areas. Or they may have medical conditions that make travelling difficult. However, these online services give them a way to still get the care they need. Plus, online care means less in-person visits, which means patients who really need face-to-face interaction with a provider have more access to these types of visits. Time Online companion/caregiver support is beneficial to both patients and employers. With online caregiver support, workers spend less time away from the office. Cost Online companion/caregiver support visits cost far less than traditional visits. In fact, less travel time, in-person visits, and staff are the reasons for the reduced costs. Quality Through convenient services, online companion/caregiver support means that more people will be able to get the care they need. Plus, research shows that these types of online services offer the same quality care as traditional visits. Communication In most cases, studies show that patients prefer modern methods of communication. To be clear, most people prefer virtual communication over face-to-face communication. In addition, they care more about access to care than in-person interactions. Cons of Online Companion/Caregiver Support Comfortability There are a couple scenarios where patients may not feel comfortable using online companion/caregiver support. For example, elderly patients may not be as adaptable to new technology. So, it may take them a while to get used to it if they are able. In addition, some people are more private than others. They may not feel comfortable sharing their stories online with strangers within a caregiver support group. As a result, making these services available online can deter patients rather than draw them in. Ultimately, online companion/caregiver support is beneficial to both the elderly and caregivers. Further, it is growing in popularity due to its many benefits like accessibility, time, cost, quality, and communication. However, lack of comfortability is its drawback. Still, online companion/caregiver support is a great tool for people that need this type of care.
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The Basics of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

Traditional Companion/Caregiver Support vs Online Companion/Caregiver Support

Companion Care vs Personal Care

Pros of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

Cons of Online Companion/Caregiver Support

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