Deemed "the defining disease of the Baby Boomer generation" by the Alzheimer's Association, dementia already affects one in six elderly individuals across America. The disorientation and memory loss that characterize this condition have undoubtedly had a transformative effect on the everyday challenges of elder care.
The influx of care recipients with some degree of dementia has posed significant challenges for assisted living communities in recent years, as these individuals often require more constant monitoring to ensure that essential tasks – like taking a certain medication – don't go overlooked. In fact, according to a recent report published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the costs associated with dementia care have overtaken those accrued by heart disease and cancer treatments.
The study was conducted by the RAND Corporation, a non-profit think tank, and revealed that the expenses directly related to dementia care came to $109 billion in 2010, while heart disease treatment cost an estimated $107 billion in total that year.
"The biggest cost of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia isn't drugs or other medical treatments, but the care that's needed just to get mentally impaired people through daily life," ABC News reported in its coverage of the study.
So, how can care managers provide the necessary degree of attention and care to these recipients without overextending their resources?
With Independa's technology-enabled eldercare solutions, care managers can incorporate telemonitoring services into their assisted living communities. This enables care managers to offer around-the-clock attention for those who require it without taking on more staff or overburdening current employees. Through our Caregiver Web App, these professionals can set up reminders that will appear on the LG TVs of the individuals in their care. These care recipients will then be prompted to respond to directives and other notifications with the simple click of a button.
Interested in how our eldercare solutions can help you manage the growing costs of dementia care without sacrificing the quality of your services or turning away new clientele? Reach out to Independa by email through our contact us page.
