Hospital-at-home programs have expanded rapidly across the U.S., but most patients have no idea this option exists when facing admission.
When my husband George was cycling through hospital stays every month for his end-stage renal disease and cancer in 2018, nobody told us there might be another way. We assumed the hospital was our only option. Month after month, we dealt with the ER waits, the uncomfortable chairs, the sleepless nights, and the parade of specialists who never seemed to talk to each other.
Things have changed since then. Hospital-at-home care has gone from experimental to mainstream. Medicare now covers it permanently. Your insurance probably covers it too.
But you have to know to ask for it.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about hospital-at-home versus traditional hospitalization, including:
a comparison of clinical outcomes
the hidden costs nobody talks about
how to decide which option makes sense for your situation
Hospital-at-home means exactly what it sounds like: you receive acute-level medical care in your own home instead of in a hospital facility. This isn’t the same as regular home healthcare or skilled nursing. We’re talking about the same intensity of care you’d get if you were admitted to a hospital bed.
What conditions qualify for hospital-at-home care?
The key word here is “acute.” You need to be sick enough to require hospitalization, but stable enough to be safely monitored at home.
What does hospital-level care actually include?
Your care team visits you at home daily, and sometimes twice a day. This includes physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and care coordinators. You’ll get IV medications if you need them. You’ll wear devices that monitor your vital signs and send data to your medical team in real-time. It’s like having a hospital room set up in your living room, but without the hospital smell and terrible food.
When George was using his Dexcom continuous glucose monitor, I got alerts on my phone whenever his blood sugar spiked or dropped dangerously low. That technology exists for heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, and more. Your care team watches these numbers from their computers and can intervene before small problems become emergencies.
Who provides the care?
A dedicated hospital-at-home team manages your case. You’ll have a primary physician who oversees your treatment plan. Nurses visit to check on you, administer medications, and assess your condition. The big difference from traditional home health? These visits happen daily, and you have 24/7 access to your care team by phone or video.
When you’re admitted to a traditional hospital, you check in through the emergency department or for a scheduled admission. A nurse takes your vitals, you change into a hospital gown, and you’re assigned to a room (if one’s available—sometimes you wait for hours).
The hospital routine
Nurses check your vitals every few hours, day and night. Yes, even at 3 a.m. Doctors round in the morning, usually between 7 and 10 AM. If you’re asleep when they come by, too bad. Meals arrive on a fixed schedule whether you’re hungry or not.
With George’s 10 different specialists, we never knew who would walk through the door or when. His nephrologist didn’t talk to his oncologist. His endocrinologist had no idea what his cardiologist prescribed. I became the central hub of information, keeping my own spreadsheet because the hospital’s electronic records didn’t seem to connect the dots.
Family involvement and visiting limitations
Even before COVID-19 restrictions, hospitals limited visiting hours. During the pandemic, many hospitals banned visitors entirely. In 2025, most facilities still have restrictions like limited hours, limited number of visitors, no children under 12.
If you want to be there when doctors round to ask questions, you’d better arrive early and stay all day.
Need to go home to shower or check on your kids? You might miss critical conversations about your loved one’s treatment plan.
That’s not surprising. People sleep better when they’re in their own beds. They get to eat their own food, and see their family members whenever they want.
The medical care is just as good, but the experience is dramatically better.
Hospital readmission rates
Getting sent back to the hospital within 30 days of discharge is a sign something went wrong.
That’s because closer monitoring catches problems earlier. Patients understand their care plan better because they’re not overwhelmed and sleep-deprived. The transition from acute care to regular life is smoother when you’re already home.
The mortality rates? Comparable. For appropriate patients, hospital-at-home is just as safe as traditional hospital care.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About
The hospital bill is just the beginning. Let’s talk about what you’ll actually pay and what costs don’t show up on an invoice.
Out-of-pocket expenses for traditional hospitalization
Even with good insurance, a three-day hospital stay can cost you $1,500 to $3,000 in co-pays and deductibles. That’s the baseline. Then come the surprise charges.
Facility fees can add hundreds of dollars:
Labs processed by an out-of-network pathologist costs extra.
And let’s not forget parking. $15 per day adds up when you’re visiting daily for weeks. Hospital cafeteria meals for family members is $10 to $15 each.
These “small” costs can easily hit $500 to $1,000 for a typical hospital stay.
Out-of-pocket expenses for hospital at home
Medicare covers hospital-at-home the same way it covers traditional hospitalization. You pay the standard hospital deductible and any applicable co-pays. Most private insurers follow Medicare’s lead, but coverage varies.
The surprise? Hospital-at-home often costs you less out-of-pocket because there’s no:
You might need to buy a few things—maybe a shower chair or grab bars if you don’t have them. But the program provides equipment like IV poles and monitoring devices.
The invisible costs for caregivers
The economic impact on caregivers is often overlooked. I burned through my vacation days and sick leave taking George to appointments and managing his care, even while working remotely. Many caregivers do the same.
Both hospital settings require serious caregiver involvement, just in different ways.
Caregiving during traditional hospitalization
You become an advocate and information manager. When doctors round at 8 a.m. and you can’t be there because you have a job, you miss critical conversations. So you take time off. You show up early. You stay late.
I kept notes from every specialist visit, cross-referenced medications, and flagged contradictions. The nutritionist told George to eat high-protein foods for his kidney disease. The renal dietitian told him to eat low-protein foods for his kidney disease. Guess who had to figure that out?
You’re also managing communication with the rest of the family. Who’s visiting when? Who needs updates? Coordinating schedules becomes a part-time job.
Caregiving with hospital at home
At home, you’re more hands-on with daily care:
You help your loved one to the bathroom.
You make sure they eat.
You learn to manage medications (when to give them, and spot side effects)
The medical team trains you. They don’t just hand you a list of tasks and disappear. They show you how to help with care, what to watch for, and when to call for help.
When I was managing George’s peritoneal dialysis at home, his nephrologist’s team trained me thoroughly. I set up the machine every night, monitored the process, troubleshot issues.
It was a big responsibility, but I wasn’t alone. I had 24/7 access to the dialysis team by phone.
The benefits of hospital-at-home care:
You have more control over the environment
You can maintain some routine
You sleep in your own bed
The stress of feeling “on call” is real, but many caregivers prefer it to feeling helpless in a hospital where they can’t be present all the time.
How to Know if Hospital at Home is Right for Your Situation
Hospital-at-home isn’t for everyone. Here’s how to figure out if it makes sense for you.
Medical eligibility criteria
Your condition needs to be serious enough to require hospitalization but stable enough to monitor at home. This includes conditions like:
Pneumonia (non-ICU level)
Heart failure exacerbations
COPD flare-ups
Cellulitis and other serious infections
Certain post-surgical recoveries
You don’t qualify if you need ICU-level care, constant monitoring, or procedures that can only be done in a hospital. You also need to live within 30 minutes of the hospital in case you need emergency transfer.
Home environment assessment
You need a space for medical equipment, like a corner where an IV pole can stand and monitoring equipment can plug in.
If you’re taking advantage of telehealth, you’ll also need reliable internet for video visits and data transmission and a phone.
Safety matters too. Can you get to the bathroom safely? Are there trip hazards that could cause falls? A nurse will assess your home before admission to make sure it’s appropriate.
Insurance coverage check
Call your insurance company and ask these specific questions:
“What’s my co-pay compared to traditional hospitalization?”
“Do I need pre-authorization?”
“Which hospitals in my area participate in your hospital-at-home network?”
Get the answers in writing. Insurance representatives make mistakes, and you don’t want surprises later.
Family readiness factors
Someone needs to be home or nearby. Not necessarily 24/7, but available. The medical team handles the clinical care, but you need a person there to help with activities of daily living and to be present during visits.
Consider your other responsibilities:
Do you have young kids?
Other family members who need care?
A job with no flexibility?
Be honest about your capacity. There’s no shame in saying traditional hospitalization is the better fit for your situation.
How to Access Hospital-at-Home Programs
Most doctors won’t automatically offer this option. You have to ask for it.
When your doctor says you need to be admitted, ask: “Am I eligible for a hospital-at-home program?” If they say they don’t know or haven’t heard of it, ask them to check. Many physicians are still learning about these programs.
Call your insurance company before admission if possible. Verify coverage and get any necessary pre-authorizations. Some programs accept patients directly from the emergency department, which can save you hours in the ER waiting room.
To find hospitals offering hospital-at-home in your area, check the Medicare website’s Hospital Compare tool or call hospitals directly and ask if they participate in hospital-at-home programs.
Questions to Ask Before You Decide
Before you commit to hospital-at-home, get clear answers to these questions.
For your medical team:
“Am I medically stable enough for hospital-at-home?”
“What happens if my condition gets worse at night or on weekends?”
“How quickly can I be transferred to the hospital if needed?”
For the program coordinator:
“How many times per day will someone visit me?”
“Will I see the same nurses and doctors, or will it change?”
“What equipment will be in my home, and who maintains it?”
For your insurance:
“What will my total out-of-pocket cost be?”
“How many days of hospital-at-home care are covered?”
“Is there a limit to how many times I can use this benefit?”
For your family:
“What will I be responsible for as a caregiver?”
“What training will I receive?”
“Who can I call when I’m overwhelmed or unsure?”
Get these answers before you decide. Understanding what you’re signing up for prevents surprises and helps you plan.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
Hospital-at-home delivers the same quality of clinical care as traditional hospitalization—sometimes better.
But the right choice depends on your medical situation, your home environment, your insurance coverage, and your family’s capacity to help with care.
If George had the option for hospital-at-home care during his treatment, would it have changed the outcome? Probably not. His conditions were too complex and unstable.
But it would have changed our experience. Fewer nights in uncomfortable hospital chairs. More time in our own home. Better sleep for both of us. For the right patient and the right family, those differences matter tremendously.
Know that you have options. Ask questions and advocate for yourself. Don’t assume the hospital is the only place to receive acute care, because it’s not.
If you’re facing hospitalization decisions for yourself or a loved one, share this information with your family. Ask your doctor about hospital-at-home before admission. You might be surprised by what’s possible.
Cryer, L., Shannon, S. B., Van Amsterdam, M., & Leff, B. (2023). Costs for Hospital at Home Patients Were 19 Percent Lower, With Equal or Better Outcomes Compared to Similar Inpatients. Health Affairs, 42(6), 861-868. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22665835/
Edgar, K., Iliffe, S., Doll, H. A., Clarke, M.J., Gonçalves-Bradley, D.C., Wong E., & Shepperd, S. (2024). Admission avoidance hospital at home. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Mar 5;3(3):CD007491. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007491.pub3. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38438116/
Federman, A. D., Soones, T., DeCherrie, L. V., Leff, B., & Siu, A. L. (2018). Association of a Bundled Hospital-at-Home and 30-Day Postacute Transitional Care Program With Clinical Outcomes and Patient Experiences. JAMA Internal Medicine. Aug 1;178(8):1033-1040. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.2562. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29946693/
HAI and Antimicrobial Use Prevalence Surveys. (2024). Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/haic-eip/antibiotic-use.html
Horwitz, L. I., Moriarty, J. P., Chen, C., et al. (2020). Quality of discharge practices and patient understanding at an academic medical center. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(8), 1125-1131. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23958851/
Levine, D. M., Ouchi, K., Blanchfield, B., et al. (2023). Hospital-Level Care at Home for Acutely Ill Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 176(11), 1455-1466. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31842232/
I went to the CES 2026’s Digital Health Summit in my new city of Las Vegas, and yes, I oohed and ahhed at the dancing robots and awesome cars and vehicles on display.
But this isn’t your usual “look at this shiny new device” content you’ll see everywhere else about CES. I’m going to share the hard truths that came directly from patients, caregivers, and the organizations who represent them.
Left to right: Jennifer Goldsack, Randall Rutta, Alice Pomponio, Jake Heller, and Yuge Xiao
Product Design Failures Nobody Talks About
Your product design isn’t neutral
Randy Rutta from The National Health Council shared a couple of stories that should make every product team pause:
A major pharma company launched inhalable insulin with all the confidence in the world. The technology was solid, and the marketing was ready, but it flopped completely because they never asked patients if they’d actually use it.
It turns out that people managing diabetes need precision. Something sprayed into your lungs doesn’t feel precise, even if the science says it is. Plus, patients hated the inhaler design itself. Simple focus groups made of their target user base would have caught both issues before millions were spent on development and launch.
Another story hit even harder for me as a Black woman. Randy said a Black woman refused to wear a health monitoring device because it was a bulky black device on her waistband that made her afraid of being stopped by police. Her solution was painfully simple: “If it came in pink, it would have changed everything for me.”
This isn’t about inclusion for inclusion’s sake. It’s about building products that don’t put users at risk. Product design is literally life-or-death for some users.
Randy also mentioned patients with eczema and psoriasis who can’t wear certain devices because they’re too sensitive to materials touching their skin. That’s a deal-breaker for entire patient populations—a product design consideration that could eliminate your addressable market if you ignore it.
Engage patients early or pay later
Alice Pomponio from American Cancer Society’s venture capital arm sees this pattern constantly. You have to think beyond product features to systemic change. She asks founders: “What is not only the short-term product development strategy, but also the longer-term healthcare systemic step change you’re planning to deliver?”
Get patient voices around your cap table. Diversify your board perspective. Even if you have a great management team with good intentions, without a board that supports patient-centered decisions, you’ll lose the opportunity to make cost-effective strategic choices upfront.
It’s cheaper to fix problems during design than during M&A negotiations when your product strategy determines your acquisition price.
Women’s Health Tech Is Broken
Left to right: Sheena Franklin and Maya Friedman
Women are done waiting for tech that works for THEM
Sheena Franklin of K’ept Health interviewed Maya Friedman from Tidepool about how healthtech uses males as the default for AI.
Maya dropped a statistic that should embarrass the entire diabetes tech industry: 70% of women with type 1 diabetes experience insulin sensitivity changes around their menstrual cycles,but there are NO clinical guidelines or algorithms designed for this. Nothing. So women have to manually adjust their diabetes management systems every single month because the technology assumes their bodies work like men’s bodies.
“We need to stop thinking about women’s health as reproductive health. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩.”
The data gap is massive
Maya Friedman
Maya referenced a project called “The Library of Missing Data Sets,” an art exhibition of hundreds of empty filing cabinets labeled with data sets that don’t exist across different industries. When you look at what’s missing, you see where biases already exist in healthcare.
As AI becomes more prevalent, these data gaps will replicate the same biases we’re trying to fix. That’s why every healthcare technology company needs infrastructure for data collection at the intersection of women’s health. Not as a “nice to have.” As a business requirement.
Tidepool partnered with Oura to build the largest longitudinal data set of diabetes device data combined with biometric data. They’re distributing Oura rings to thousands of users already on the Tidepool platform. The data will include:
Activity tracking
Sleep patterns
Menstrual cycle data
Diabetes device data from the same individuals
Health surveys for contextual data
This is what infrastructure looks like when you take women’s health seriously.
Algorithms need to be smarter
Maya’s immediate priority: building algorithms that aren’t “cycle agnostic.” She wants systems that account for 30-day hormonal patterns, not just 72-hour learning horizons.
“Women are not just tiny men. We have different needs. We need to display different data. We need algorithms that are potentially different for women versus men.” – Maya Friedman, Tidepool
And yes, that means maintaining multiple versions of products.
Yes, it’s more expensive. But it’s also addressing the actual market need instead of pretending half the population doesn’t exist.
It’s not just about menstrual cycles
Maya’s longer-term vision includes AI models that are dynamic across different reproductive milestones. What does an algorithm look like for someone in perimenopause who isn’t having regular periods? What are the learning horizons for that system?
The real moonshot? A fully closed-loop system that accounts for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), type 1 diabetes, and menstrual cycles without requiring patient interaction at all.
Women need tech that doesn’t make them choose between their health needs and their time.
Accessibility Creates Market Opportunities, Not Limitations
Left to right: Steve Ewell and Peter Kaldes
Peter Kaldes, CEO of Next50 Foundation, delivered a message that should change how every product designer thinks about their addressable market: “Guess what? You still have a point of view over 50. You still have buying power at 60. You can still use your iPhone at 70, and you need really great technology in the 80s and your 90s.”
Most product designers are under 35. Most assume older adults are technology Luddites. The data proves this assumption is completely wrong.
The buying power is enormous
The over-50 population has more buying power than younger generations. Yet, healthtech companies consistently ignore this market or, worse, design products that stigmatize older users. Peter’s frustration was that was crystal-clear:
“I’ve had conversations with some companies like, where are we going to find [older users to test with]? Well, why don’t you try, first of all, start with your company, and second of all, why don’t you start partnering with community organizations that have access to all these people. This is not hard. It’s just getting people out of their comfort zone.” – Peter Kaldes
Dual generational use is smart design
Peter loves technologies that serve multiple generations. If it’s good for older adults, it’s good for everyone. Examples he highlighted:
Hearing technology embedded in glasses to reduce stigma around hearing aids
AI tools that coordinate healthcare appointments along with transportation and nearby housing options
Financial fraud protection that helps older adults without treating them like children
Left to right: Meg Barron, Dominic King and Myechia Minter-Jordan
AARP CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan shared specific examples of products in AARP’s booth that reduce stigma:
Sneakers designed to prevent falls that look like regular athletic shoes (they appear to have laces, though velcro is involved)
Glasses with closed captions for people with hearing impairments
Glasses with hearing aids built into the stems (partnered with Sadika)
“We want to ensure tools don’t further stigmatize us but allow us to live with dignity and age well.” – Myechia Minter-Jordan
The accessibility-to-mainstream pipeline
Left to right: Natalie Zundel, Griffen Stapp, Ryan Easterly and Jack Walters
Griffen Stapp from Ability Central pointed out something product teams consistently miss: Products designed FOR the disability community often get adopted by everyone. But products made for the general population rarely get adapted later.
Examples are everywhere. Curb cuts help wheelchair users, but they also help parents with strollers, delivery workers with hand trucks, and travelers with rolling luggage. Closed captioning helps deaf users, but also people watching videos in noisy environments or practicing language skills.
Build accessibility in from day one, or you’re leaving both impact and revenue on the table.
Adaptable frameworks beat one-size-fits-all
Jack Walters, co-founder of HapWare (winner of the CTA Foundation Innovation Challenge), explained their approach: “Not everyone’s going to have similar care or similar treatments, so you need to be able to adapt to all those different types of needs and necessities in the community.”
They involve the disability community in design from the start, knowing common pain points and anticipating when certain issues might come up. That’s how you build solutions that actually solve problems instead of creating new friction.
Continuous Monitoring Changes Patient Behavior (Without Doctor Visits)
Left to right: Ami Bhatt, Tom Hale, Lucienne Ide and Jack Leach
Tom Hale, CEO of Oura, explained why continuous data matters more than episodic measurements: “Normal isn’t 98.6 degrees. Normal is what’s normal for you, and being able to see that deviation from the baseline allows us to make predictions.”
Oura’s “symptom radar” looks at temperature, heart rate, and other biometrics to predict when you might be getting sick—days before symptoms appear. That’s the intervention window where you can actually change behavior and potentially avoid getting sick entirely.
Patients change behavior when they see their own data
Jake Leach from Dexcom shared a pivotal study from the early days of continuous glucose monitoring. For years, the standard of care for diabetes was finger pricks, which are episodic, painful, and limited.
They ran a study where they put sensors on patients continuously measuring glucose, but they didn’t show patients the data for a week. They just collected baseline information. Then they turned on the display.
Within a day, people started making behavior changes based solely on their own knowledge of their disease and this information they’d never had before. No doctor intervention. No coaching. Just visibility into their own patterns.
The infrastructure problem doctors face
Source:Somebody Digital
Doctors are drowning in data with no infrastructure to process it.
Lucienne Ide from Rimidi left clinical medicine because she was disappointed by how electronic health records (EHRs) were implemented. She expected digital records with clinical decision support layered on top. Instead, she got data dumps with no insights.
As she put it: “I don’t know a single doctor who’s saying, ‘If only I had more data, I would be a better clinician.'”
What doctors need is not more data, but clinical decision support that turns data into actionable insights.
Tom from Oura said one doctor told him: “I want the Oura ring to give me information as if it was written by another doctor. Basically, a consult. Here’s what I know about this patient in clinical terms, and this is the information you need. Everything else, don’t give it to me.”
That’s the responsibility of device companies: Don’t just collect data. Provide insights that save clinicians time and help them make better decisions faster.
Prevention requires behavior change at scale
The consensus was clear: behavior change is what moves the needle on long-term health outcomes. Not medications or procedures. Sleep well, eat well, manage stress, and stay balanced.
Healthcare has failed at behavior change for 75 years because it requires data, user experience (UX), engagement, education, and reinforcement. Doctors don’t have time for that level of ongoing support. Educational content alone doesn’t work because people don’t retain or apply it without reinforcement.
But continuous monitoring combined with AI and smartphone engagement is the combination that finally makes prevention scalable.
As Ami Bhatt from the American College of Cardiology noted, “What has my attention besides my kids? My phone. And I’m looking at that, and that’s the power.”
AI That Actually Helps, Not Hypes
Source:Oxio Health
Dominic King from Microsoft AI cut through all the conference noise:
“The biggest challenge in healthcare today is the mismatch between global demand and constrained supply.” – Dominic King
AI isn’t replacing doctors. It’s closing the gap between what people need and what the healthcare system can deliver.
The future is proactive health companions
5 years ago, AI was good at classification and spotting single problems. Now we have thinking and reasoning models that can pass the same exams physicians take, often at higher rates than human test-takers.
Dominic’s vision for 5 years from now is “A health companion that you wake up and it’s sitting in the background, doing the hard work for you and being more proactive. At the moment, everything is still very reactive.”
This means:
Identifying sleep issues before they compound
Flagging medication adherence problems
Coordinating complex care across multiple providers
Helping people navigate fragmented healthcare systems
Providing specialized opinions even in rural areas
The caregiver opportunity is massive
Myechia shared that one in four Americans are caregivers right now (63 million Americans). If you’re not currently a caregiver or need care yourself, one day you will be.
AI tools can help caregivers:
Communicate with provider teams more effectively
Ensure loved ones are safe at home
Coordinate the “universe of appointments” that comes with aging
Reduce information asymmetry (where only people with medical training understand how systems work)
Dominic emphasized that co-design is critically important. Building WITH users instead of just FOR them avoids the problems we see when products hit the real world.
At Microsoft, they’re seeing 50 to 60 million health questions a day through Copilot. That’s enormous insight into what people actually need help with.
But as he noted, “A lot of founders are young. They don’t have a good idea of what it’s like to be elderly or sick.”
That’s why bringing your end users (patients, clinicians, caregivers) into the development process isn’t optional. It’s the difference between building something that works versus something that sits unused.
The Digital Equity Gap Nobody’s Solving
Left to right: Steve Ewell and Peter Kaldes
Steve Ewell, Executive Director of CTA Foundation, laid out what he calls “the three legs of the stool” for digital equity:
“You need the hardware, you need the broadband access, and then you need the support and education to go along with it. And so often that last one is left off.” – Steve Ewell
That last leg of support and education is where healthcare technology adoption actually lives or dies.
Tech alone isn’t enough
Peter Kaldes from Next50 Foundation added context that should worry anyone in healthtech: nonprofits doing the heavy lifting of digital equity training are facing unprecedented cuts to federal grants.
As Peter noted: “I love going to an Apple Store and seeing these free classes, but you have to find an Apple Store which are not in the neighborhoods that need the help the most.”
The communities that need technology training the most are the least likely to have access to it. And the organizations that bridge that gap are losing funding.
The clinical trial proof
Source: Anatomy.app
Dexcom is running large clinical trials where half the participants come from underserved communities specifically to prove the technology works equally well regardless of service level. They want hard data showing these tools aren’t just for people with resources.
Rimidi partnered with community health centers during COVID to monitor high-risk pregnancies remotely using blood pressure monitors and texting protocols. They tracked engagement by ethnicity and primary language.
There was no difference in engagement. Everyone has a smartphone in that demographic (women of childbearing age), and everyone can text.
This proves that engagement isn’t the problem. The problem is getting access to the infrastructure and training on how to use it.
Mission-aligned capital as the solution
Source: Next50 Foundation
Next50 Foundation is one of the first private foundations to invest 100% of their endowment in aging-focused companies and infrastructure. Not just grant-making, but the other 95% of their capital.
They created an aging investment framework with JP Morgan that looks at four themes:
Health
Social connectivity (including technology)
Economic opportunity (workforce and financial vehicles for longer lives)
Built environment (mobility, housing, accessibility)
As of December, about 75% of their endowment was invested in this framework, and Peter offered a challenge to the investment community:
“What if capital actually had values? Climate investors have successfully made money and helped power cleaner energy. The same can be true for aging. How can we possibly ignore that the globe is aging?” – Peter Kaldes
They also launched a new nonprofit called Leverage focused on advancing policies in Colorado to make aging more affordable—housing, living wages, caregiving resources.
Because you can’t solve systemic problems with technology alone. You need policy change too.
Patient Voices Need to Drive Startup Decisions
Jake Heller from Citizen Health is building AI tools that help patients with rare diseases query their own medical records and advocate for themselves at doctor’s appointments.
His philosophy: “Putting patients in the driver’s seat is one of the biggest opportunities we have right now.”
The journaling and documentation problem
Sometimes when people with rare or complex diseases go to appointments and talk about their concerns, doctors don’t believe them. These patients need help translating their own experience in a way that clinicians will take seriously.
Citizen Health helps patients journal their symptoms and experiences, then presents that data in clinical terms. “Here’s a video of my daughter having this specific type of seizure. Here are the journal entries. Here’s how this has changed over time.”
That’s advocacy powered by data and AI.
The time-to-diagnosis crisis
Randy pointed out that if you have an autoimmune disease, it could be 3, 5, or even 7 years before diagnosis. For healthcare innovation, it can take 7 years just to move something through an FDA process.
Those time frames compound into suffering that’s completely preventable if we had better systems and patient input earlier in development cycles.
Patient organizations are ready to help. They’re trusted by their communities. They can broker relationships, speed recruitment, help startups get from lab to market faster with products that patients will actually use and that payers will actually reimburse.
The startup trap to avoid
Source: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Alice warned about companies that design products, then go looking for users to validate decisions they already made.
That’s backwards. Instead you should:
Find patient voices early.
Put them on advisory boards.
Include them in design sprints.
Listen to their feedback even when it’s uncomfortable or expensive to implement.
The successful companies in her portfolio think about long-term systemic change, not just short-term product development metrics.
What Healthtech Companies Need to Do Differently
The patient community isn’t a barrier to innovation. They’re the key to building products that actually work.
Stop designing in the dark
Source: Patient Better
If you’re building healthtech without continuous patient input, you’re wasting resources. You’ll miss market opportunities. You’ll build products that don’t get used or that put certain populations at risk.
Randy’s message was clear: “Come to us, and we will broker that relationship, because in the end, you’ll be more successful, and the patient community will get a better result.”
Measure what matters
Myechia challenged the AI industry on how they measure success: Don’t count the number of tools or features. Measure whether you’re closing the gap between lifespan and health span.
That gap is currently 13 years, which is the difference between how long people live and how many of those years are healthy years. If your technology doesn’t move that number, what’s the point?
Think systemically, not just tactically
Source: IQ Eye
Every speaker emphasized that technology is only one piece of a larger puzzle. You also need:
Policy changes that support adoption
Payment models that reward prevention
Training infrastructure for underserved communities
Clinical decision support that turns data into insights
Algorithms that account for biological differences across populations
If you’re only focused on your device or platform, you’re missing the bigger picture of how healthcare actually works.
The sales enablement angle
All of these insights about patient needs, accessibility requirements, women’s health gaps, digital equity challenges are the stories your prospects need to hear during long sales cycles.
B2B healthtech sales aren’t quick. You’re selling to health systems, payers, and large provider networks. The buying committees are complex. The evaluation periods stretch for months.
That’s exactly when prospects go cold or arrive at sales calls unprepared.
I create educational email courses to bridge that gap. They keep prospects engaged with the exact kind of patient-centered insights I heard at CES. They position your company as one that understands real-world healthcare challenges, not just technology features.
In 2026 and beyond, healthtech companies that want to win understand their users deeply enough to build products those users will actually want, trust, and use.
The Measurement Challenge
How do you know if you’re succeeding at patient-centered design? Myechia offered a simple test: “What do you want your life to look like at 75?”
You probably want to:
Stay in your home
Feel healthy
Stay empowered
Have information flow easily between you and loved ones
Remain connected to family and physicians
Be safe at home
Engage in daily activities with ease and without pain
Understand your medical information and chronic diseases
Control who has access to your data
Have a care plan you can execute yourself
Receive information you trust and can use readily
If your tech helps people achieve any of those goals, you’re on the right track. If it doesn’t, you need to rethink your approach.
Final Thoughts
CES 2026’s Digital Health Summit covered the hard work of actually listening to patients, caregivers, and the communities being served.
Startups who want to be successful in healthtech aren’t the ones chasing the next funding round or the flashiest AI feature. They’re the ones asking better questions:
Have we talked to patients who look different from our team?
Does our product work for women’s bodies, not just male bodies?
Can older adults use this without feeling stigmatized?
What infrastructure needs to exist beyond our technology?
Are we solving a real problem or just building something technically impressive?
Those questions lead to products that get adopted, outcomes that improve, and companies that actually make a difference. That’s the kind of healthtech worth building.
Every month, someone’s decision to donate blood gave him a little more time, and I’m grateful for that. But blood donation is NOT for everyone.
My late mother learned this the hard way. She faithfully donated with the American Red Cross every 56 days like clockwork, believing she was doing good. And she was, until her then-undiagnosed congestive heart failure (CHF) made each donation increasingly dangerous. The blood loss depleted her already-compromised system, leaving her exhausted for weeks.
Her doctors eventually told her to stop.
January is National Blood Donor Month
One pint of blood can save up to three lives. The American Red Cross says someone in the U.S. needs blood every 2 seconds, but only 3% of eligible Americans (those without contraindications) donate annually.
Source: Stanford Blood Center
Who should NOT donate blood
The FDA and American Red Cross give several contraindications, meaning that if any of the following apply, you should not donate:
Active heart disease or severe cardiovascular conditions
Uncontrolled high blood pressure (over 180/100)
Recent heart attack or stroke
Severe anemia (hemoglobin below 12.5 g/dL for women, 13.0 g/dL for men)
Active cancer or recent cancer treatment
Bleeding disorders or current anticoagulant therapy
Chronic kidney disease
Certain autoimmune conditions during flare-ups
Do you know your blood type?
Only 43% of Americans do, but knowing your blood type can be lifesaving:
In emergencies: Medical teams can administer compatible blood immediately without waiting for typing tests, which can take 45-60 minutes.
For rare blood types: If you’re O-negative (universal donor) or AB-positive (universal plasma donor), you’re critically needed. O-negative makes up only 7% of the population but can be given to anyone.
During pregnancy: Blood type incompatibility between mother and baby can cause serious complications. Knowing your type allows early intervention.
For chronic conditions: People with sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or other conditions requiring frequent transfusions need closely matched blood to prevent complications
If you need surgery: Matching blood in advance reduces transfusion reaction risks and speeds emergency response
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), patients who receive a transfusion from an incompatible blood type can experience severe reactions, including kidney failure and death.
The Stanford Blood Center reports that having blood typed and screened in advance can reduce emergency transfusion time by up to 30 minutes, which is critical in traumatic or crisis situations.
If you have cardiovascular issues or other contraindications, prioritize your own health. Other ways to help are by volunteering at blood drives, spreading awareness, and donating money to blood banks.
Regardless of whether you can donate, know your blood type, and the blood type of anyone you care for. It could save your life or help save someone else’s.
organize medical information (including blood type)
coordinate between providers
advocate effectively
References
American Red Cross. (n.d.). Requirements by Donation Type. Retrieved from https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Compliance Policy Regarding Blood and Blood Component Donation Suitability, Donor Eligibility and Source Plasma Quarantine Hold Requirements. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/compliance-policy-regarding-blood-and-blood-component-donation-suitability-donor-eligibility-and
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2025). Donate Blood. Save Lives. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/blood/donation
Stanford Blood Center. (2024). Blood Type Compatibility. Retrieved from https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-facts/blood-types/
The intersection of chronic illness management and in-home caregiving presents unique challenges in healthcare. Through a compelling blend of personal storytelling and empirical data, this article illuminates the often-overlooked daily struggles of working caregivers.
I examine how emerging technologies and care models, such as remote patient monitoring and care-at-home programs, can transform the caregiving experience, offering valuable perspectives for healthcare providers and health plans seeking to integrate effective care solutions.
I married a man just two months after we met, because if I didn’t, I knew he was going to die.
I met George on a dating site in March 2016 as “PuertoRicanPapi.” During our first phone conversation, I learned he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and only had 18 months to live. He needed to start dialysis, but his ACA health plan wouldn’t cover it.
The Global Burden of Disease ranks chronic kidney disease (CKD) among the top 20 causes of death (Ibrahim et al., 2022). CKD is regarded as a high-stress illness due to the chronicity of the disease and the long-term treatment required. ESRD is the last stage of CKD, often caused by diabetes mellitus.
That’s a heavy thing to hear from anyone. But there was something about him that wouldn’t let me leave him alone.
The Downward Spiral
The Diabetes Domino Effect
George was a 40-year-old Puerto Rican man with diabetes, neuropathy, and ESRD. The following year, he developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) and eventually sepsis. Over the course of our 2 years together, I coordinated his care among 10 doctors (primary care and various specialists).
His diabetes diagnosis is unclear, as some of his doctors mentioned Type 1 and others said it was Type 2. But from what I understand, before we met, a clinic had prescribed him insulin pills when he actually needed the insulin pens.
That’s a heavy thing to hear from anyone. But there was something about him that wouldn’t let me leave him alone.
Peritoneal Dialysis and the Hospital Revolving Door
That fall, George got surgery to implant a port into his belly, and then we started peritoneal dialysis (PD) from home. I set up the machine and ran it for him every night as I was taught by his nephrology team. But every month he went to the hospital because:
A1C was high,
His hemoglobin count was low (especially after chemotherapy) and he needed a blood transfusion, or
He was in pain.
He didn’t like being there because no one would let him rest, nutritionists came in to tell him how to eat properly for a diabetic and renal diet (and often those menus were contradictory), and other clinicians would come in and ask the same questions every time. I occasionally stayed overnight with him if my daughter was accounted for.
Weekends were the worst, because when he was having intense pain, he had to visit the ER for relief, of course waiting all day for his name to be called.
We also enrolled in a kidney transplant program at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Although I wasn’t a match to be a kidney donor for George, I was eligible to be in an exchange program with someone else, and they could provide a matching kidney for George. Unfortunately, the next setback negated these efforts.
Developing Cancer
George saw the dentist for pain in his mouth a few times in the fall of 2016 and spring of 2017. The dentist found an abnormality in his mouth that kept coming back.
During that last visit, George went to the hospital, they tested it and it was cancer–Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).
He started chemotherapy later that month. His beautiful hair started shedding on the pillowcase the next day, and mourning began.
Losing his Leg
A few months later, George fell in our bathroom upstairs while I was in New York at my grandmother’s funeral. His teenage daughter was home, but downstairs. She called me two days later to tell me that he fell, and that his foot was black.
Source: Alltech Prosthetics
Type 2 diabetes often causes complications that can lead to lower limb amputation (Costa et al., 2020), and unfortunately, this is when George’s health took a turn for the worse. We went to a specialist after I got back from New York, who confirmed his left foot was broken and would probably never heal correctly, and recommended a below-the-knee amputation. George was devastated, but went through with it.
Afterward, he could still drive with his right foot, and he decided to buy a large SUV. I assisted him with getting in and out of the truck with his new wheelchair. However, we no longer slept together, because our bedroom was upstairs. He stayed on the couch for a few months until we got a hospital bed placed in the living room.
Losing Hope
Even though he was taking several prescribed high-dose narcotics, they didn’t have much effect in pill or patch form. Only medicines administered by IV quelled his suffering.
I always felt like I had to be strong, but I was at my wits end, suffering silently beside him. The last straw was when he developed gangrene on his genitalia, and it wasn’t curable. His pain intensified, and I advocated for him tirelessly by calling doctors, and researching information, but it was impossible to get pain management from any doctor in our city, so he suffered needlessly.
Multiple calls to his nephrologist and primary care doctor were never addressed, so I believed that palliative care was the only thing that would make him comfortable. In January 2018, I admitted him to hospice care, where he died a couple months later. I didn’t receive follow-up counseling afterward, but I met with my therapist a few more times until I moved out of state and back near my family to grieve.
Looking Back
The single most important thing missing from my experience that would have made things easier is access to support, which I describe in the following DECAF section.
I balanced parenting and school functions with spousal caregiving, administrative duties like tracking his medications, scheduling new appointments and conferring with health insurers, transporting my husband to multiple appointments, household responsibilities, and my full-time work as a technical writer with a Fortune 50 corporation. And I didn’t receive support from providers after his death, except for a newsletter from the hospice team every few months until a year passed.
I could have used an assistant for appointment scheduling and insurance coordination. A home health aide at flexible times to help with toileting and other ADL tasks.
Effects of In-Home Caregiving by Working Adults
During the pandemic, parents of school-aged children learned what it’s like to try balancing the role of teaching them while also managing their own work and household responsibilities. In-home caregiving was similar in my experience-–I had to juggle my work duties working from home with caring for my husband, and it wasn’t easy.
A study of the estimated 8.8 million employed family caregivers found that nearly 1 in 4 (23.3%) reported either absenteeism or presenteeism over a 1-month period due to caregiving (Fayete et al., 2023). Among those affected, caregiving reduced work productivity by one-third on average—or an estimated $5,600 per employee when annualized across all employed caregivers—primarily because of reduced performance while present at work. Productivity loss was higher among caregivers of older adults with significant care needs and varied according to sociodemographic characteristics and caregiver supports.
CareYaya Health Technologies’ data shows that caregivers spend an average of 15 to 20 hours per week on caregiving tasks. “It’s super hard to draw the line between when you’re working and when you’re caregiving when you’re WFH,” says CEO Neal K. Shah.
“70% of caregivers worldwide are women, and their average age is 49,” says Cheryl Field, MSN, RN. “So if you think about the multiple roles that a 49-year-old woman is playing between their own children, their career, their parents, their partner and the biological changes that come with menopause, you can see that caregivers are in a particularly pressure-filled time of their life. Any means by which they can reduce some of these stressors is significant.”
Stress from Multitasking
Source: Position is Everything
Caregiving influences several dimensions of the caregiver’s life, such as physical (e.g., physical health deterioration), psychological (e.g., anxiety and traumatic stress), family (e.g., roles and routines) and social (e.g., leisure time and social life) (Costa et al., 2020). Caregivers under stress report high levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, high use of psychotropic drugs, low satisfaction with life, several symptoms related to psychological stress, and low subjective health.
“In-home caregiving lends itself to both more and less stress for the caregivers,” notes Dr. Caryn McAllister of High Quality Therapy. “Caregivers who work from home can juggle responsibilities needed during the day with work, and flexibility with respect to hours can allow people to contact medical professionals, organize schedules, and ensure their loved one eats, goes to the bathroom and takes medicines on time. The extra stress can come when people don’t have the ability to transition between work and home life. People often find they can leave work at work when they go home, but caregivers who work from home just don’t get that break. Ever! It takes organization and discipline to make it work.”
Wil Thomas, Editor of the Senior Bulletin, mentions a reader named John who echoes these sentiments. John has a full-time job while taking care of his elderly mother. “It’s like having two full-time jobs,” he says. “I’m constantly juggling meetings and her medical appointments, and it’s exhausting.”
Field understands this, too. As a former chief product officer who had a senior living with her in a multigenerational setting. She highlighted that the impact of providing in-home care varies over the course of the patient’s illness. “When care needs can be anticipated and scheduled, and additional resources can be utilized to put a plan in place, the impact can be smaller. When care needs are unexpected or difficult to anticipate, the impact will be greater,” she says.
“Consider that your interrupted sleep several times a week in the middle of the night over a chronic period of time begins to have an impact on your own rest and even the ability to fall asleep with anticipated anxiety of what’s to come through the night,” Fields continues. As care needs become more demanding on working adults, often you’ll see a rise in absenteeism for scheduled and unscheduled medical needs, and a decrease in resiliency on behalf of the employee. Chronic fatigue, fear, stress and anxiety all compound and can have an impact on the health of the working adult.”
Unfortunately, these stories aren’t unique. For adults who are caring for a loved one and also continuing to work in their career, taking on these responsibilities can be stressful and lead to burnout, Field says. 60% of caregivers are also employed, and many feel the job-related stress piling up. But working from home does make a big difference, providing flexibility that in-home caregivers need.
Impact of Diabetes on Patients and Chronic Care
50% to 75% of people with diabetes have a caregiver involved in their healthcare (Fields et al., 2022). These caregivers are often partners, spouses, adult children, or siblings.
Like many chronic conditions, diabetes requires complex medical management that often requires following regimented eating plans, monitoring sugar levels, organizing daily medications, and coordinating medical care. The sicker George became, the more of these responsibilities fell on me.
Source: eClinicalWorks
The chronic care model is a multidimensional solution to the complex problem of providing care to patients with chronic health problems. The theory of this model says that a significant part of chronic care takes place outside of formal healthcare facilities (Katsarou et al., 2023).
It also states that six elements are central to initiatives to improve chronic care: community resources, healthcare system, patient self-management, decision support, service delivery system redesign, and clinical information systems. Interventions that include at least one of these elements are associated with improved outcomes for people with asthma, diabetes, heart failure, and depression. However, only patients with heart failure and depression had improved quality of life (Katsarou et al., 2023).
Flexible scheduling
Caregiving would have been impossible if I couldn’t work from home. George had 10 doctors, and that translated to roughly 3 days a week with at least one appointment. At that point, I had worked for my company for almost 20 years, which gave me unlimited sick time and lots of vacation time. I took my work laptop with me to doctor appointments, rearranged meetings, and still made time for my daughter’s activities.
Working from home gave me flexibility in managing caregiving tasks and professional responsibilities, including the ability to respond to his needs promptly, compared to me working in an office setting, or George being in a facility where staff are spread across multiple patients.
Another of Thomas’ readers, Jane, works remotely and looks after her father, who has Alzheimer’s. “Working from home has been a lifesaver,” she says. “I can attend to my dad’s needs throughout the day without compromising my work. It’s still challenging, but having that flexibility makes a huge difference.”
While working from home offers more flexibility to manage caregiving tasks, it can also blur the lines between work and caregiving responsibilities. “Many caregivers report feeling constantly “on-call,” which can lead to burnout, and that burnout affects over 33% of family caregivers who are working from home, compared to 20% who work in the office,” Shah reports.
Indeed, flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting, job-sharing, and flexible hours can help caregivers manage their time more effectively. However, since the pandemic ended, return-to-office mandates have flourished with employers who want to manage employees in person and/or fill their empty office spaces. 90% of companies plan to implement return-to-office policies by the end of 2024, according to a report from Resume Builder. Nearly 30% say their company will threaten to fire employees who don’t comply with in-office requirements.
Source: SuperStaff
But for employees who can work remotely, several caregiver pressures can be relieved. Removing the commute and a strict start or end time of an office job gives the remote employee flexibility. Fields gives some of examples:
“On mornings where there’s been a difficult night, an extra hour of sleep can make a world of difference on how the employee feels and functions that day. Being able to work from home may also make it possible to leverage telehealth appointments instead of having to physically travel to doctor’s appointments. Caregivers also have the ability to provide distant supervision and mealtime support for a loved one while working from home and don’t need to have as many outside resources coming into the home to provide that supervision or ensure meals are delivered and consumed. These small benefits relieve a lot of microstress.”
Caregiver Needs Analyzed with DECAF
A study at the University of West Attica in Greece investigated the needs of caregivers of patients suffering from CKD, stroke, cancer, dementia and multiple sclerosis (Katsarou et al., 2023). 89% of these caregivers were relatives, 50% were between 20 and 50 years old, and 19% were spouses. Researchers found themes among caregiver needs:
Caregiver training
Help with nursing home care and physical therapy
Help with financial burden from health services
Lack of reliable transport
Psychological support, including delivery via digital media and mobile devices
Social support groups
Navigating complex medical insurance
I agree with all of these points. To break it down a bit more, I’m using the DECAF framework (Fields et al., 2022), which was developed to raise awareness about caregiver responsibilities in care planning and execution during the hospital-to-home transition. Here’s how DECAF played out in my caregiving experience.
Direct Care Provision
Direct Care Provision refers to hands-on support with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as getting dressed, food preparation, toileting and physical activities, and taking the patient to healthcare appointments. It also includes nursing tasks like wound care and medication management. I was a certified nursing assistant in the 90s, and a home health aide in the 2000’s, both of which prepared me for my experience with George.
Emotional Support
Emotional Support is the empathy and compassion for the patient and caregiver.
I had no close friends nearby, and George’s family was local, but most of them were more hands-off. So as his condition took more and more of a toll on my mental health, I sought out family members, a therapist, and church groups for support and stress relief.
Social support can diminish the impact of the emotional burden and stress of care by providing solutions to problems, distractions from issues or facilitating the required healthy behaviors (Ibrahim et al., 2022). Caregivers who seek social support from family and friends experience a lesser burden of care than caregivers without solid support networks.
Seeking social support is the dominant coping mechanism for caregivers of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (Ibrahim et al., 2022). Caregivers of chronic patients are four times more likely to be diagnosed with depression and three times more likely to seek help for anxiety issues than individuals who are not caregivers.
Being an in-home caregiver is lonely, and I lacked self-care. I’ve been working from home since 2005 so I was used to being alone, but caregiving for your spouse is a different kind of loneliness. I was losing my husband slowly as his condition got worse, and I needed social support. I mostly relied on my family (long-distance phone calls) and a local church group. In less than a year, I shifted from being a newlywed with an independent husband to a caregiver. My marital needs were not met, as George lost sexual function early on. This also caused strain on our relationship.
I’m not alone. A study on psychological health from Savitribai Phule Pune University in India confirms that dysfunctions caused by chronic illnesses aren’t limited to the patient, but affect the partner, and the couple’s dynamic, making a considerable impact on the satisfaction levels in the relationship (Umrigar and Mhaske, 2022). Behavioral and personality changes in the patient can overpower emotional bonds between the caregiver and the patient as well. The greater the negative effect, the greater the frequency of depression, anxiety, and somatization in the caregiver.
This study polled women caregivers about their male spouses with chronic conditions of cancer, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. They found clinically significant marital and sexual dissatisfaction. Since marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction are closely linked, a decrease in one tends to have a serious impact on the other, and consequently, on the overall quality of life.
Care Coordination
Care Coordination involves initiating, managing and maintaining healthcare services and support. Managing diabetes successfully requires significant care organization and coordination of multiple types of interactions with the healthcare system. Participants in a study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fields et al., 2022) frequently recognized caregiver roles in care organization, such as helping with tracking and scheduling appointments, taking notes before and during healthcare visits, and making lists of current medications.
I can concur. I took George to his appointments, acting as an administrative assistant and advocate. It was up to me to take notes, ask for what he needed, and verify or dispel inconsistent information (test results, guidance, data, etc.) between different doctors. I had a spreadsheet that the nurses loved, because it listed all the pertinent information about his medication names, amounts, prescribing doctor, reasons for taking them, etc.
Patient Advocacy
Advocacy is about empowering individuals to obtain resources. In the same Wisconsin study, several participants described experiences where the caregiver advocated on behalf of the patient when experiencing serious health complications linked to diabetes.
I was no different. As the months went on, George’s depression intensified into hopelessness and an “I don’t care anymore” attitude. So in addition to caregiving, I was also a fierce advocate for his mental health, trying to find resources to alleviate his chronic pain and help him feel more comfortable.
Financial Support
Financial support refers to help with planning and using financial resources. With rising home and institutional care costs and formal caregiver shortages, 66% of caregivers use their retirement and savings funds to pay for care (Genworth).
Source: Grants for Medical
Applying for Social Security disability payments was a huge challenge. One of the questions that caused a denial related to his unemployment status. He explained that his medications made him fall asleep intermittently and randomly, so he couldn’t work. They blamed his medication and denied his application two more times before he was finally approved. He then started receiving payments of about $700 per month.
George had no life insurance, and I didn’t receive any direct financial support until his last week of life. I wrote Facebook posts about his status while he was in hospice care, and many of my friends sent funds via PayPal and Cashapp to help me pay for the funeral.
Navigating Healthcare Systems and Insurance Complexities
Caregiving at home often leads to substantial financial strain due to the cost of medical supplies, home health aides, and necessary modifications to the home. Not to mention the daunting task of navigating health insurance complexities, from finding in-network healthcare providers, care coordination, and working with billing offices regarding Medicare and Medicaid.
Finding In-Network Medical Providers
Another huge barrier for caregivers and patients alike is finding healthcare providers within their insurance network—especially specialists like those George needed. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 29% of people struggle to find new providers within their network. Providers change the insurers they participate with frequently, and the onus is on the caregiver or patient to figure out how much of their bill will be covered in any given scenario.
Source: New York Bone & Joint Specialists
I’ve had to seek therapy before I met George, not just during his illness. No matter what, it’s difficult to find an available, local provider. Once I found a therapist, we started off going to see her together, but eventually he stopped.
Thomas recommends using online directories, insurance company tools and telehealth services to find these providers. And Dr. McAllister mentions an advanced step I’d never heard of before: “If you can’t find an in-network provider for your loved one, you can obtain a single case agreement, where your company will recognize the out-of-network provider as if they were in-network.”
Decoding the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Payer Insurance
One recurring source of frustration for me was dealing with multiple billing departments about George’s insurance. The health insurance from my employer was primary, and Medicare was secondary. I made this clear for each medical provider (remember, he had 10 doctors). However, each billing department would call me to confirm multiple times based on how his claims were processed.
Source: Drive Safe Insure
The coordination of benefits between private insurance and Medicare/Medicaid is something Shawn Plummer, CEO of The Annuity Expert educates his customers about. For example, he explains that determining the primary and secondary payers can help maximize coverage and minimize out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, exploring supplemental insurance options can fill gaps not covered by primary insurance plans.
Healthcare providers have their struggles working with health insurance companies as well. Take for example Dr. McAllister’s practice, which is in-network with Medicare and out-of-network with all private insurance companies.
“As a provider, it’s so difficult to deal with insurance, although Medicare is very straightforward and easy to work with if you abide by their rules,” she says. “If you understand that private insurance companies try to maximize profit by denying coverage, and go into the process knowing how to advocate, you won’t feel as frustrated.
Source:: Geeks for Geeks
“To add to the confusion, when people have Managed Medicare, the medicare rules apply but the private insurance manages Medicare. “I often suggest sticking to straight Medicare, not Managed Medicare, because standard Medicare tends to treat providers more fairly. Many providers won’t accept Managed Medicare because of the low reimbursement rates and bureaucracy associated with private insurance companies.”
Bert Hofhuis of Sovereign Boss in the UK says that many insurance plans, including Medicare and private insurance, have limitations on what they cover for in-home care. “For example, Medicare may cover some home health services but often does not cover custodial care.”
Dr. McAllister, Hofhuis, and Plummer shared more tips to navigate complex insurance issues:
Source: Investors
Understand the specifics of health insurance policies: Ask questions about things you don’t understand, and “seek plans that cover in-home care services, medical supplies, and home modifications to be prepared,” says Hofhuis. “It’s essential to review policy details and consider supplemental insurance to cover gaps.”
Take notes: “When dealing with insurance representatives on the phone, always write down the name of the person you speak with, information regarding the call and a reference for the call. Write everything down and email as much as possible so you have proof of everything,” Dr. Allister says.
Use HSAs and FSAs: When available, Plummer and Hofhuis recommend usingHSAs and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs), which can provide tax-advantaged funds that can be used for medical expenses, including caregiving costs.
Plan for long-term care: Consider purchasing long-term care insurance early to cover potential future caregiving needs.
Keep records for tax purposes: Keep detailed records of caregiving expenses, as some may be tax-deductible, potentially easing your financial burden, Plummer and Hofhuis concur.
Denise M. Brown, is Founder and CEO of The Caregiving Years Training Academy, a family caregiving agency that coordinates care across multiple systems. She shares that Medicare Part B reimburses for Caregiver Training, Community Health Integration Services and Principal Navigation Services. Family caregivers can receive these services on behalf of a Medicare beneficiary if that beneficiary cannot participate in care planning because of their illness.
“The interplay between private insurance and Medicare/Medicaid is a common source of confusion,” Shah says. “More educational resources are desperately needed to help caregivers understand these complexities, including decision trees to determine primary and secondary payers.”
Effective Care Coordination Between Health Systems
Getting Access to Supplies and Services
The healthcare system is disconnected and siloed. The complications that come with coordinating care getting medical supplies can be a hassle for caregivers. It requires time, energy, patience and diligence. I remember having to take note of each and every resource to get various supplies, whether it was for dialysis, a wheelchair, or even gauze strips.
According to AARP, nearly 75% of caregivers manage medications and medical tasks. Thomas’ reader Sarah went through a nightmare trying to get the right wheelchair for her husband. “We had to go through so much paperwork and phone calls with the insurance company,” she said.
Shah understands these frustrations. “Partnerships between tech and medical supply companies to streamline this process for caregivers would be super helpful,” he says.
Brown was also a caregiver, and shares her perspective as a provider: “We do our scheduling based on the provider’s schedule, which means working around our own work schedule. We may need to be with our patients when the nurse or home health aide comes. Because of staffing shortages, we often take the schedule that’s given even when the schedule completely derails our day.”
Improving Systems and Patient Satisfaction
Brown says that healthcare professionals can help caregivers and agencies alike by obtaining doctor orders and making effective referrals. “It’s frustrating to have to repeatedly call the doctor’s office to get an order for home health services and durable medical equipment,.” she says.
Source: Printablee
“It’s also important that the healthcare professionals know which providers have staff available. For instance, my dad received home health services with a visiting nurse. When I also asked for a home health aide, the nurse was upfront that there just wasn’t the staff available for home health aide to visit. We could work around that because my sister and I provided my dad’s personal care. Others may not have the luxury, so it’s important to know the reality of what we can expect.
Another thing to consider is the emotional effect on the patient when a provider or aide is no longer available.
For example, there was a week when neither Brown nor her sister would be available on a Friday to care for their dad. “I was waiting to hear if my dad’s home health provider could continue providing services for my dad. I waited to reconfigure my work day on Friday if I needed to provide care. I later heard back from the home health agency that benefits would continue. My dad was worried about benefits ending in part because he had formed a wonderful friendship with his nurse, and he loves her. But the system doesn’t take into account the emotional impact when services end. We miss the care, and we often also miss the care provider.”
Source: EDUCBA
Naama Stauber Breckler, Co-founder of Better Health, is trying to improve accessibility and convenience for people with chronic conditions and dependent on different medical devices and supplies. “Patients need the ability to easily discover and order medical supplies online and get an easy explanation of their insurance benefits, how to maximize them, and how to find the best products,” she says.
Dr. McAllister recommends contacting the insurance company to see what exactly is allowed (HHA, PT, OT, SLP and RN services). “Companies may try to give you less than your family needs, but your insurance company will help you understand what your rights are. Many home health companies are short-staffed, but if you know what you can get for your family member, you will be able to advocate for the best,” she says.
Addressing Caregiver Challenges with Care at Home
Some of the ways to address in-home caregiver challenges include care-at-home and Hospital-at Home programs, using RPM, employer-provided benefits and flexible work arrangements, and better health plan coverage.
The Rise of Hospital-at-Home Programs
Source: Rainbow Health
Care-at-home programs are integrated clinical programs created to deliver healthcare services that have either been traditionally provided within healthcare facilities or represent new care models for chronic disease management.
These programs typically combine remote insight into biometric data or symptoms via connected devices for remote patient monitoring (RPM) and communication with clinicians through telehealth modalities. Many care-at-home programs include in-home services such as durable medical equipment (DME), meal delivery, technical support, and therapeutics.
66% of hospitals and health systems currently offer patients a care-at-home service. Early care-at-home programs were primarily targeted at ad hoc or episodic care, often only relying on a telehealth visit. But the growing maturity of these models and the confidence of the clinical and operational leaders make it increasingly viable to treat chronically and acutely ill patients at home. The differences between these program types include the amount and type of RPM, the in-home services included, and the staffing required to operate the program.
Providing remote care at home can reduce the need for hospital admissions/early discharge, freeing up valuable hospital resources and beds and leaving patients and their families feeling supported in their own homes.
Remote Monitoring for Patients with Chronic Conditions
George’s endocrinologist recommended that he use a Dexcom device to track his blood sugar. This remote monitoring device was great for me because no matter where I was or what time it was, the Dexcom app sent my phone a notification whenever his sugar was too high or too low. It was especially helpful when I attended a conference 6 hours from home, but got his alerts throughout the day and night. His family stayed with him when I was gone, but I got the alerts.
“Remote monitoring technologies have been game-changers for caregivers managing chronic conditions,” Shah says. “… allowing caregivers and clinicians to monitor vital signs and symptoms remotely, providing peace of mind and enabling more proactive care.”
The Current Health platform helps hospitals and clinics provide healthcare services to patients in their homes. Patients can use this platform for various health conditions, including COVID-19, heart problems, pregnancy care, and cancer.
Survey respondents were confident that remote monitoring helps clinicians better understand the patient’s daily health.
Technology is essential to care-at-home programs, but the industry must embrace technology for these programs to be successful. According to another survey by Current Health and Sage Growth Partners, 51% of health system leaders cited patient engagement and adherence as a top challenge, with the most critical support service needs of clinical monitoring (54%), logistics (53%), and technical support (48%). In addition, interoperability between your care-at-home platform and the patient’s employee health record (EHR) is critical for reducing duplicative work for providers and ensuring you have a holistic view of the patient during and after their care-at-home experience.
RPM makes healthcare more accessible, as patients are monitored in their homes. Facing challenges such as high care costs, reduced revenue, and limited capacity, care at home is a cost-effective site of care that can provide better patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Employer Support
Employers can help by providing flexible work arrangements, paid leave, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that offer counseling, legal help, financial advice, and referrals to eldercare services.
Source: Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR)
In-home caregiving can significantly impact an employee’s ability to manage their work responsibilities. Logan Mallory, VP of Marketing at Motivosity offers flexible work arrangements, like reduced or flexible work hours, to help alleviate the stress of balancing caregiving and work duties. This flexibility allows employees to be present for their loved ones while still fulfilling their work commitments.
Motivosity also offers their employees unlimited paid time off (PTO), health savings accounts (HSAs), and comprehensive health insurance to support our caregiving employees, each of which benefits the employees who are also caregivers in specific ways:
Unlimited PTO ensures that employees can take the necessary time off without worrying about exhausting their leave.
HSAs help cover the costs of medical supplies and services, providing financial relief.
Health insurance plans that cover a wide range of services, including in-home care, which helps employees manage caregiving expenses more effectively. They also provide access to counseling services, stress management resources, mental health apps and gym access.
“While we can only do so much, employers should strive to provide as much support as possible to caregiving employees,” Mallory says. “By offering flexible solutions and understanding their unique challenges, we can help them manage their responsibilities more effectively.”
Health Plan Changes Needed
Insurance Coverage Gaps
Source: Jackson Insurance Brokers
In the U.S., patients and their caregivers could benefit from closing the following health insurance coverage gaps in their health plans:
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS): According to theHHS, 70% of people over 65 will require some type of LTSS, which is not covered under Medicare or most private health insurance plans.
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS): There’s currently limited coverage for services that help with ADLs and care at home.
Caregiver Support Services: Lack of comprehensive coverage for services that directly support family caregivers, such as respite care, training, and counseling in some states.
Non-Expansion States: In states that have not expanded Medicaid, many low-income adults fall into a coverage gap, being ineligible for both Medicaid and Marketplace subsidies (Drake, et al., 2024).
10 Ways Health Plan Changes Can Support Caregivers
Source: Ramsey Solutions
Expand Medicaid Coverage: Adopting Medicaid expansion in all states could provide coverage to approximately 2.9 million uninsured adults, including many caregivers (Drake et al., 2024).
Integrate Caregiver Support: Incorporate caregiver support services into existing health care delivery models and value-based care programs.
Enhance LTSS and HCBS Coverage: Expand coverage for these services under Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans to reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
Improve Remote Care Options: Expand coverage and availability of remote patient monitoring and telehealth services to support both patients and caregivers. Hospital-at-Home programs should be a mainstay in health plan coverage. These programs are customer-centric, result in lower hospital readmission rates, increase hospital capacity, and reduce issues with resource allocation among clinical staff.
Develop Caregiver-Specific Insurance Products: Create insurance plans or supplemental coverage options designed to meet the unique needs of caregivers.
Enhance Workplace Policies: Encourage employers to offer flexible work arrangements and maintain health insurance coverage for employees who are caregivers (Tingey et al., 2020).
Improve Caregiver Identification and Assessment: Implement systematic processes in healthcare settings to identify, assess, and support caregivers.
9. Include Caregiver Metrics in Quality Measures: Incorporate caregiver experiences and outcomes into healthcare quality measurements to incentivize better support.
Prepare Healthcare Professionals: Enhance training for healthcare providers on person- and family-centered care to better support caregivers. Psychoeducational information (e.g., treatment, lifestyle, etc.) and healthcare (e.g., emotional support, practical services, etc.) were the most common unmet need domains across health conditions (Thomas et al, 2023). Addressing unmet informational or healthcare needs may help optimize outcomes and care for children and families living with common chronic health conditions.
By addressing these gaps and implementing these improvements, the U.S. healthcare system could significantly enhance support for both caregivers and patients by reducing the financial and emotional burden on families while improving overall care outcomes.
Supporting Caregivers and Their Families
Source: Caryfi
As we’ve explored throughout this article, home care programs and RPM offer transformative benefits for both patients and caregivers. These solutions provide enhanced flexibility, improved care coordination, crucial support for managing chronic conditions and reducing caregiver burden. Expanding health plan coverage for these programs is not just beneficial, but necessary.
Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programs, in particular, represent a cost-effective, patient-centered approach that deserves widespread adoption. Every health institution could likely benefit from such a program to increase the capacity of their facility, enhance customer-centricity and patient satisfaction, and promote better patient outcomes. It’s the way of the future, and the way patients want to receive care. So we call on healthcare providers and health plans to prioritize the inclusion of care-at-home programs in their coverage.
By supporting caregivers and improving patient outcomes, we can create a more efficient, compassionate healthcare system. This requires a collaborative effort from healthcare providers, insurers, policymakers, and technology innovators to truly enhance the caregiving experience and, ultimately, the quality of life for both patients and their dedicated caregivers.
References
Carter, K., Blakely, C., Zuk, J., Brittan, M., & Foster,C. Employing Family Caregivers: An Innovative Health Care Model. Pediatrics. 2022; 149(6), 1-4. doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-054273
“Compensation For Caregiving.” Colorado Respite Coalition, https://coloradorespitecoalition.org/family-caregivers/compensation-for-caregiving.php. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Costa, S., Ferreira, J., Leite, Â., & Pereira, M. G. (2021). Traumatic stress as a mediator of quality of life and burden in informal caregivers of amputees due to diabetic foot: a longitudinal study. Health Psychology Report, 9(4), 339, 345. https://doi.org/10.5114/hpr.2020.101495
Drake, P., Tolbert, J., Rudowitz, R, & Damico, A. “How Many Uninsured Are in the Coverage Gap and How Many Could be Eligible if All States Adopted the Medicaid Expansion?” KFF, 26 Feb. 2024, https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/how-many-uninsured-are-in-the-coverage-gap-and-how-many-could-be-eligible-if-all-states-adopted-the-medicaid-expansion. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Fakeye, M.B.K., Samuel, L.J., Drabo, E.F., Bandeen-Roche, K., & Wolff, J.L. Caregiving-Related Work Productivity Loss Among Employed Family and Other Unpaid Caregivers of Older Adults. Value in Health. 2023;26(5):712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2022.06.014
Favreault, M., Dey, J., Anderson, L., Lamont, H., & Marton, W. “Future Change in Caregiving Networks: How Family Caregivers and Direct Care Workers Support Older Adults Now and in the Future.” Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2 Aug, 2023, https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/a449863a8c93838d37f78ccf29e9231f/future-change-caregiving-networks.pdf. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Fields B., Makaroun L., Rodriguez K.L., Robinson C., Forman J., & Rosland A-M. Caregiver role development in chronic disease: A qualitative study of informal caregiving for veterans with diabetes. Chronic Illness. 2022;18(1):193, 196. doi:10.1177/1742395320949633
“How Caregiving Impacts Families, Communities and Society.” Genworth, 27 Oct. 2021, https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/682801BRO.pdf. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Ibrahim N., Chu S., Siau C., Amit N., Ismail R., Halim A., & Gafor, A. The effects of psychosocial and economic factors on the quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease and their caregivers in Klang Valley, Malaysia: protocol for a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open. 2022;12(6):1-2. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059305
Katsarou, A., Intas, G., & Pierrakos, G. Investigating the Needs of Caregivers of Patients Suffering from Chronic Diseases: A Mixed-Method Study. Indian Journal of Palliative Care. 2023; 29(3), 285-286. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJPC_179_2022
Khurana, Sanjay. “Caregiver Support | Gaps, Opportunities and Emerging Models in Healthcare.” Linkedin, 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/caregiver-support-gaps-opportunities-emerging-models-sanjay-khurana. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Smith, Morgan. “90% of companies say they’ll return to the office by the end of 2024—but the 5-day commute is ‘dead,’ experts say.” CNBC, 11 Sept. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/11/90percent-of-companies-say-theyll-return-to-the-office-by-the-end-of-2024.html. Accessed 26 June 2024.
Thomas S., Ryan N.P., Byrne L.K., Hendrieckx C., White V. Unmet supportive care needs of families of children with chronic illness: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2023; 32(19-20): 7101. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16806
Tingey, J.L., Lum, J. Morean, W., Franklin, R., & Bentley, J.A. Healthcare Coverage and Utilization Among Caregivers in the United States: Findings From the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Rehabilitation Psychology. 2020; 65(1), 63-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rep0000307
Umrigar D, Mhaske R. Psychological Health of Wives’ of Patients with Chronic Illnesses. Journal of Psychological Research. 2022;4(1):1-2. doi:10.30564/jpr.v4i1.3879
Imagine Sarah, who works full-time while caring for her aging mother. Every moment not spent caregiving feels like a personal failure. Every compromise, every exhausted sigh, triggers a wave of guilt that threatens to overwhelm her sense of self-worth. Her story is not unique – it’s a shared experience for countless caregivers struggling to balance compassion with personal limitations, resulting in caregiver guilt.
Caregiver guilt is a silent burden that weighs heavily on millions who support family members through illness, aging, and/or disability. Many caregivers experience significant emotional distress, with guilt emerging as a particularly challenging emotion. These emotions are common, but they don’t have to define your caregiving journey.
Caregiver guilt is an emotional response that many caregivers experience when they feel they’re not doing enough for their loved ones or when they prioritize their own needs. It’s a complex emotion that can stem from various sources and manifest in different ways. According to a 2023 survey by AARP, 50% of caregivers reported that caregiving increased their level of emotional stress.
Caregiver guilt can be both productive and destructive. Productive guilt can motivate you to provide better care, while destructive guilt can lead to burnout and negatively impact your mental health.
Common triggers for caregiver guilt include:
Taking time for yourself
Feeling frustrated or angry with your care recipient
Considering professional care options
Not being able to do everything perfectly
Psychological roots of caregiver emotions
The emotions caregivers experience, including guilt, are deeply rooted in personal and family dynamics. Your upbringing, cultural background and individual values all shape your emotional responses to caregiving.
For instance, in some cultures, there’s a strong expectation that adult children will care for their aging parents. This societal pressure can intensify feelings of guilt when caregivers struggle to meet these expectations.
The emotional toll of guilt
Caregiver guilt can have significant mental health implications. Chronic guilt can lead to:
Depression and anxiety
Increased stress levels
Lowered self-esteem
Difficulty in decision-making
The physical manifestations of this emotional burden can include:
Sleep disturbances
Weakened immune system
Chronic fatigue
Headaches and muscle tension
How to Manage Caregiver Guilt
Managing guilt isn’t just about quick fixes—it’s about creating a lasting, healthy approach to caregiving.
Change your perspective
Caregiving is a choice. Reframe your thinking to see it as a privilege, not a burden to endure.
Self-compassion and emotional healing
Practicing self-compassion is crucial in managing caregiver guilt. Here are some strategies to cultivate self-compassion:
Develop mindfulness techniques: Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Try setting aside 5-10 minutes each day for mindfulness meditation.
Learn positive self-talk strategies: Replace self-critical thoughts with more supportive ones. For example, instead of “I’m not doing enough,” try “I’m doing the best I can with the resources I have.”
Create personalized emotional support systems: Identify people you can turn to when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This could be friends, family members, or a support group for caregivers.
Practice forgiveness and self-understanding: Recognize that making mistakes is part of being human. Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a friend in a similar situation.
Set realistic boundaries
Setting boundaries is essential to take care of your well-being and to continue providing care without burnout. Here’s how you can establish healthy caregiving limits:
Identify your limits: Be honest about what you can and cannot do.
Communicate clearly: Express your boundaries to family members and your care recipient.
Learn to say no: It’s okay to decline additional responsibilities when you’re already at capacity.
Prioritize self-care: Schedule time for activities that recharge you.
Instead of letting guilt weigh you down, channel it into positive actions:
Develop gratitude practices: Start a gratitude journal where you write down three things you’re thankful for each day. This can help shift your focus from what you’re not doing to your blessings, progress and accomplishments.
Recognize personal achievements: Celebrate small victories in your caregiving journey. Did you manage to get your loved one to eat a full meal? That’s worth acknowledging.
Research at Baylor University found that caregivers who practiced gratitude tend to have more emotional strength. They’re better at understanding others’ feelings and can handle the tough parts of caregiving more easily. Being grateful helps them cope with the challenges that come with taking care of someone.
Create a balanced life
Source: Styled Stock Society
Maintaining balance is key to sustainable caregiving. Here are some tips to help you create a more balanced life:
Design personal care routines: Establish a daily routine that includes time for self-care activities like exercise, reading, or hobbies.
Develop time management skills: Use tools like calendars or apps to organize your caregiving tasks and personal activities.
Integrate self-care into daily responsibilities: Find ways to incorporate self-care into your caregiving duties. For example, listen to an audiobook while preparing meals.
Maintain personal relationships and interests: Don’t let caregiving isolate you. Stay connected with friends and continue pursuing your interests.
Professional support and resources
Don’t hesitate to seek professional help when dealing with caregiver guilt. Here are some options to consider:
Counseling:Individual therapy can provide personalized strategies for managing guilt and stress.
Your well-being matters just as much as the person you’re caring for. By taking care of yourself, you’re ensuring that you can provide the best possible care for your loved one. So, take a deep breath, give yourself some credit, and know that you’re doing (and have done) important and valuable work.
Reach out to a support group, speak with a counselor, or simply acknowledge your incredible contribution to your loved one’s life.
Sundown syndrome, or “sundowning,” affects many elderly individuals, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. This challenging condition causes behavioral changes as daylight fades into evening. Up to 20% of people with Alzheimer’s experience sundowning symptoms. For family caregivers, managing sundown syndrome every day can be exhausting. Let’s look at some practical, evidence-based approaches to recognize, minimize and manage the effects of sundown syndrome.
Sundown syndrome, also known as sundowning, is a set of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as confusion, anxiety, agitation, pacing, and wandering that intensify as daylight fades. These behaviors can persist well into the night, disrupting sleep patterns and causing distress.
The exact causes of sundowning are not fully understood, but several factors play a role:
Disruptions in circadian rhythm
Fatigue and exhaustion from daily activities
Changes in lighting and increased shadows
Hormonal imbalances such as decreased melatonin production
Sundowning primarily affects individuals with dementia, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease. However, it can also occur in elderly people without dementia, especially those in care facilities or hospitals.
Identifying the early signs of a sundowning episode can help you as a caregiver to intervene quickly and potentially prevent or minimize symptoms. Some behaviors to watch for are:
Increased restlessness or agitation as the day progresses
Mood changes, such as becoming more anxious or suspicious
Difficulty concentrating on tasks
Pacing or wandering more frequently
Shadowing caregivers or becoming more clingy
It’s essential to distinguish sundowning from other health issues. Unlike conditions such as delirium, sundowning symptoms typically follow a predictable pattern, worsening in the late afternoon or evening and often improving by morning.
Potential triggers (noise, visitors, certain activities, and foods)
Effectiveness of interventions
This information can help identify patterns and develop targeted strategies to minimize symptoms.
Practical Management Strategies
When sundowning symptoms occur, having a toolkit to reduce symptoms can help you respond effectively and with compassion. Here are some practical approaches.
Distraction and redirection techniques
To help redirect and calm your loved one:
Engage the person in a favorite activity or hobby
Use calming objects like stress balls or fidget toys
Your tone of voice influences how people with Alzheimer’s respond and react, so be sure to:
Speak in a soft, reassuring tone
Use simple, clear language
Avoid arguing or correcting; instead, validate feelings and redirect
Gentle exercise options
Walking has been shown to reduce the symptoms of sundowning and improve sleep quality. Some ways to engage in gentle exercise with a person exhibiting sundowning include:
Ensure the environment is safe and remove potential hazards
Use calming techniques like deep breathing or gentle touch
If necessary, contact healthcare providers for additional support
Remember, the effectiveness of these strategies may vary. Be patient and willing to try different approaches to find what works best for your loved one.
Create a soothing environment
Environmental factors play a significant role in relieving sundowning behaviors or making them worse. Making thoughtful adjustments to the living space can create a calming atmosphere that may reduce symptoms.
Optimal lighting arrangements
Increase indoor lighting in the late afternoon to minimize shadows
Use nightlights to reduce confusion during nighttime wakings
Consider light therapy boxes to help regulate circadian rhythms
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Relaxing activities (soft music, gentle massage, or a short walk)
8:30 PM: Begin bedtime routine
9:30 PM: Lights out
Remember to remain flexible. Adjust the schedule as needed based on individual preferences and symptoms.
Medical Interventions and Therapies for Sundowning Symptoms
Interventions without medicine are typically the first line of treatment for sundowning, but medication is necessary in some cases. Always consult with healthcare providers before starting a new medicine.
Music therapy: Listening to familiar, calming music can reduce anxiety and agitation
Aromatherapy: Certain scents like lavender may promote relaxation
Supplements and natural remedies
Herbal teas (chamomile, valerian root)
Essential oils for aromatherapy
Magnesium supplements (under medical supervision)
Discuss any supplements or natural remedies with a healthcare provider to ensure safety and avoid potential interactions with medications.
Addressing underlying health issues
Treating underlying conditions that may contribute to sundowning is crucial. These may include:
Pain or discomfort
Urinary tract infections
Sleep apnea
Depression or anxiety
When to consult a healthcare provider
Contact your loved one’s healthcare provider if:
Their symptoms significantly impact quality of life or safety
Non-pharmacological approaches have been ineffective
You have concerns about their underlying health issues
Be sure your loved one gets regular health check-ups, and have open communication with healthcare providers to help identify and address these issues promptly.
Caregiver Support
Caring for someone with sundown syndrome can be physically and emotionally demanding. Recognizing the importance of caregiver well-being is essential for sustainable, quality care.
Caregiver burnout warning signs
Feeling constantly exhausted or overwhelmed
Neglecting personal health or relationships
Experiencing mood swings or irritability
Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
Learn how to prevent burnout before it affects your caregiving.
You’re not alone in this journey. Connecting with other caregivers can help you de-stress and learn strategies to maintain your energy and mental health:
Managing sundown syndrome requires patience, consistency, and compassionate understanding. Each person’s experience is unique, so finding the right combination of strategies may take time. With the right approach, people experiencing sundown syndrome and their caregivers can enjoy more peaceful evenings and improved quality of life.
Canevelli, M., Valletta, M., Trebbastoni, A., Sarli, G., Tariciotti, L., & Bruno, G. (2016). Sundowning in Dementia: Clinical Relevance, Pathophysiological Determinants, and Therapeutic Approaches. Frontiers in Medicine, 3, 73. doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2016.00073
Cardinali, D. P., Furio, A. M., & Brusco, L. I. (2010). Clinical Aspects of Melatonin Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease Progression. Current Neuropharmacology, 8(3), 218-227. doi.org/10.2174/1570159107922462096
Khachiyants, N., Trinkle, D., Son, S. J., & Kim, K. Y. (2011). Sundown Syndrome in Persons with Dementia: An Update. Psychiatry Investigation, 8(4), 275. doi.org/10.4306/pi.2011.8.4.275
Shih, Y.H., Pai, M.C., Huang, Y.C., & Wang, J.J. (2017). Sundown Syndrome, Sleep Quality, and Walking Among Community-Dwelling People With Alzheimer Disease. Journal of American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA), 18(5):396-401. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2016.10.016
Zarit, S. H., Kim, K., Femia, E. E., Almeida, D. M., & Klein, L. C. (2014). The Effects of Adult Day Services on Family Caregivers’ Daily Stress, Affect, and Health: Outcomes From the Daily Stress and Health (DaSH) Study. The Gerontologist, 54(4), 570-579. doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnt045
As women enter their midlife years, they often find themselves caught in the “sandwich generation,” caring for aging parents or family members while experiencing menopause. Over 60% of women experiencing menopause are also primary caregivers for a family member. The dual burden of caregiving during menopause can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, it’s possible to navigate both journeys successfully.
The Challenges of Going Through Menopause While Caregiving
Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. During this time, the body undergoes significant hormonal changes that can affect various aspects of health and well-being. For women who are also caregivers, these changes can present additional challenges.
Hormonal changes affect energy and emotional resilience
The fluctuation and eventual decline of estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause can have a profound impact on energy levels and emotional stability. Many women report feeling more fatigued and less able to cope with stress during this time. This can be particularly challenging for caregivers, who often need to maintain high levels of energy and emotional resilience to meet the demands of their role.
The impact of caregiving during menopause
Menopausal symptoms can significantly affect a woman’s ability to provide care. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can occur when caregivers don’t get the help they need or try to do more than they’re able. During menopause, the risk of burnout may be even higher due to the added physical and emotional challenges women face.
Risks with caregiver burnout
Caregiver burnout is characterized by feelings of overwhelming exhaustion, detachment from the caregiving role, and a sense of hopelessness. During menopause, hormonal changes can amplify stress responses, making women more susceptible to burnout. The combination of caregiving duties and menopausal symptoms can create a perfect storm for physical and emotional depletion.
Warning signs specific to menopausal caregivers
While burnout can manifest in various ways, menopausal caregivers may experience some unique warning signs:
Extreme fatigue that isn’t relieved by rest
Increased irritability or mood swings
Withdrawal from social activities and relationships
Physical symptoms like headaches or digestive issues
During menopause, fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels can affect the body’s stress response system. This can lead to an exaggerated reaction to stressors, making it harder for women to cope with the demands of caregiving. Additionally, the decline in estrogen can impact the production of stress-regulating neurotransmitters, potentially leading to increased anxiety and depression.
Importance of validating experiences and seeking support
Your experiences as a menopausal caregiver are valid and that seeking support is not a sign of weakness. Share their experiences with trusted friends, family members, or support groups specifically for menopausal caregivers.
Essential Self-Care Strategies for Menopausal Caregivers
Self-care is not a luxury for menopausal caregivers—it’s a necessity. Implement effective self-care strategies to help manage both your menopause symptoms and caregiver stress.
Hormone-balancing nutrition
A balanced diet can help alleviate some menopausal symptoms and provide the energy needed for caregiving. Consider the following nutritional strategies:
Increase intake of phytoestrogens found in soy products, flaxseeds, and legumes
Don’t hesitate to delegate tasks to other family members or professional caregivers. Create a list of tasks that can be shared and assign them based on individual strengths and availability. A study in The Gerontologist found that caregivers who shared responsibilities reported lower levels of stress and better mental health.
Building support networks and respite care options
A study in the journal Work & Stress found that flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are associated with reduced work-family conflict and improved well-being for caregivers.
Finding harmony between the personal journey of menopause and the demands of caregiving requires intention, support, and compassion—especially for yourself. By implementing the strategies discussed in this guide, you can better manage your menopausal symptoms while continuing to provide quality care for your loved ones.
Taking care of your own health isn’t selfish—it’s essential for sustainable caregiving. Reach out to healthcare providers, support groups, and community resources to create a network that supports both your caregiving role and your personal well-being during this significant life transition.
References
Botek, A. Caregiving and Menopause: How to Handle the Double-Whammy. AgingCare. Retrieved from https://www.agingcare.com/Articles/handle-menopause-while-caregiving-153320.htm
Braun, N. (2024). Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others. Versalie. Retrieved from https://www.versalie.com/blogs/learn/caring-for-yourself-caring-for-others
Brown, R. M. (2024). There’s an App for That: Reducing Stress in Peri- And Post-Menopausal Women. Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts. 285. doi.org/10.22371/07.2024.020
Li, Q. (2024). Sandwich caregiving and midlife women’s health: An examination of racial disparities. Family Relations, 73(5), 3291-3308. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.13083
Shakeel, W. (2024). Menopause Self Care: A Comprehensive Guide. Revive Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.reviveresearch.org/blog/menopause-self-care
Shifrin, N. V., & Michel, J. S. (2021). Flexible work arrangements and employee health: A meta-analytic review. Work & Stress, 36(1), 60–85. doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2021.1936287
Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers. (2023). National Institute on Aging. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/taking-care-yourself-tips-caregivers
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for elderly relatives, yet many aren’t aware of their rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). For family caregivers juggling work and caregiving responsibilities, FMLA provides crucial job protection and benefits.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about FMLA as a family caregiver.
FMLA and its specific provisions for family caregivers
FMLA is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons. For caregivers, FMLA provides the opportunity to take time off work to care for a family member with a serious health condition without risking job loss.
FMLA offers flexibility in how you take your leave:
Continuous leave: Taking all 12 weeks at once
Intermittent leave: Taking leave in separate blocks of time for a single qualifying reason
Reduced schedule: Temporarily reducing your work hours
For example, if you’re caring for a parent with cancer, you might take intermittent leave for their chemotherapy appointments instead of taking all 12 weeks at once.
Determining Your FMLA Eligibility
Eligibility requirements for employees
To be eligible for FMLA, you must meet the following criteria:
Worked for your employer for at least 12 months
Logged at least 1,250 hours of work in the past 12 months
Look into employee assistance programs that may offer financial counseling
Consider setting up a flexible spending account (FSA) for dependent care expenses
Taking advantage of FMLA benefits can make a significant difference in your ability to care for family members while protecting your career. By knowing your rights and following proper procedures, you can confidently use this federal protection to support your caregiving journey. Remember to maintain open communication with your employer and keep detailed records throughout the process. For specific guidance about your situation, consult with your HR department or an employment law professional.
Would you like to become a full-time caregiver, or considering switching to full-time caregiving?
Whether you’re considering caring for an aging parent, a child with special needs, or a spouse with a chronic illness, this article will help you explore the important steps and considerations of full-time caregiving, from understanding your responsibilities to managing your well-being.
Transitioning from Part-Time to Full-Time Caregiving
If you’re currently balancing part-time caregiving with other responsibilities, you may be considering a shift to full-time caregiving. This transition can be both rewarding and challenging.
Assessing the need for full-time care
Before making the switch, carefully evaluate:
The care recipient’s increasing needs and medical requirements
The availability and cost of professional care alternatives
Communicate openly with your employer about your situation
Gradually increase your caregiving hours if possible
Set up a support network of family, friends, and respite care options
Develop a care plan that includes time for your own self-care
A study by the National Alliance for Caregiving found that caregivers who create structured care plans report lower stress levels and better overall well-being.
Your Role as a Full-Time Caregiver
Stepping into the shoes of a full-time caregiver can be both rewarding and challenging. Let’s break down the scope of caregiving roles and responsibilities.
Define the scope of caregiving responsibilities and daily tasks
As a full-time caregiver, your responsibilities may include:
Assess the care recipient’s specific needs and medical requirements
Every care situation is unique. You’ll need to:
Consult with healthcare providers to understand specific medical needs
Evaluate the level of assistance required for daily activities
Consider any cognitive impairments or special needs
Assess the home environment for necessary modifications
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology found that tailoring care to individual needs significantly improved outcomes for both caregivers and care recipients.
Emotional and physical demands of full-time caregiving
Caregiving can be emotionally and physically taxing. Be prepared for:
Long hours and potential sleep disruptions
Emotional stress and potential feelings of isolation
Physical strain from lifting or assisting with mobility
The need for constant vigilance and decision-making
Create an emergency plan and keep important numbers handy
Know how to use medical equipment like oxygen tanks or mobility aids
Understand when to call for professional medical help
The American Red Cross offers caregiver-specific first aid courses that can increase your confidence in handling emergencies.
Personal care and hygiene assistance techniques
Helping with personal care requires skill and sensitivity. Focus on:
Proper bathing and grooming techniques
Safe toileting assistance
Skincare and pressure sore prevention
Maintaining dignity and privacy during care
A 2022 guide from the National Institute on Aging emphasizes the importance of maintaining a care recipient’s independence in personal care tasks whenever possible.
Communication with healthcare providers
Effective communication with medical professionals is vital. Practice:
Asking clear, concise questions
Taking detailed notes during appointments
Advocating for your loved one’s needs
Understanding medical terminology and treatment plans
Research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in 2021 showed that improved caregiver-provider communication led to better health outcomes for care recipients.
Proper lifting and transfer techniques
To prevent injury to yourself and your loved one, learn:
Safe body mechanics for lifting and transferring
How to use assistive devices like transfer boards or hoists
Creating a well-structured caregiving schedule is crucial for maintaining organization and ensuring all needs are met. Let’s explore how to develop an effective routine.
Create daily and weekly care routines
Establishing a consistent routine can provide stability for both you and your care recipient:
Include social activities or outings when possible
A 2023 study in the Gerontologist found that structured routines in caregiving led to reduced stress levels for both caregivers and care recipients.
Make a flexible schedule
While routines are important, flexibility is key:
Allow for unexpected medical appointments or emergencies
Be prepared to adjust plans based on your loved one’s changing needs
Include buffer time between tasks to reduce stress
Consider using digital tools or apps to manage and adjust schedules easily
The National Institute on Aging recommends using a combination of routine and flexibility to create a balanced caregiving schedule.
Manage medical appointments and treatments
Coordinating healthcare can be complex:
Keep a centralized calendar of all appointments
Plan transportation in advance
Prepare questions for healthcare providers before visits
Maintain a system for organizing medical records and test results
A 2022 survey by the Family Caregiver Alliance found that caregivers spend an average of 6 hours per week coordinating care and attending medical appointments.
Plan for respite care and backup support
Taking breaks is essential for your well-being:
Identify family members or friends who can provide relief
Coordinate with other family members or healthcare providers
Effective communication is key to coordinated care:
Hold regular family meetings to discuss care plans
Use shared calendars or care coordination apps
Clearly define roles and responsibilities for each person involved
Maintain open lines of communication with healthcare providers
Self-Care and Support Systems
Caring for yourself is just as important as caring for your loved one. Let’s explore strategies to maintain your well-being and build a strong support network.
Navigating the legal aspects of caregiving is crucial for protecting both you and your loved one. Let’s explore the key legal and administrative considerations.
Planning for the future is an important part of caregiving:
Assist in creating or updating wills and trusts
Understand the implications of gifting and asset transfers
Consider long-term care insurance options
Explore Medicaid planning strategies if applicable
Transitioning to full-time caregiving is a big decision that requires you to carefully consider your personal, financial, and career circumstances. While it can be incredibly rewarding, it’s essential to approach the transition with a clear understanding of the challenges and a solid plan for managing them.
Becoming a full-time caregiver is a journey that requires dedication, preparation, and ongoing support. While the path may seem overwhelming at first, take it step by step so you can give the best care for your loved one while maintaining your own well-being.
You’re not alone in this journey. Don’t hesitate to seek support and resources whenever you need them. Take the first step and reach out to local caregiver support organizations and healthcare providers about your specific situation.
Caregivers often experience high levels of stress, emotional burnout, and physical exhaustion. According to a 2024 report by SeniorLiving.org, 43% of family caregivers report sleeping difficulties, and 36% report feelings of depression.
Have you ever wondered how to show support for the caregivers in your life? Or perhaps you’re a caregiver yourself, looking for ways to practice self-care amidst your demanding responsibilities?
Subscription boxes can address these issues by providing tools for relaxation, stress relief, and self-care. These thoughtfully curated boxes can help prevent burnout, promote mental health, and provide much-needed resources for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
Caregiver subscription boxes are curated packages designed specifically to address the unique needs and challenges faced by those who dedicate their time to caring for others. These boxes typically contain a mix of practical items, self-care products, and resources tailored to support caregivers in their daily lives.
These boxes offer more than just products; they provide a tangible form of support and recognition for caregivers. For example, TheraBox includes therapeutic items like aromatherapy oils, which have been associated with reduced anxiety levels in caregivers.
Many subscription services also offer online communities where subscribers can connect with other caregivers. This can help combat feelings of isolation, which are common among caregivers. According to the SeniorLiving.org report, 65% of caregivers haven’t participated in support groups, but those who have preferred online forums and Facebook groups.
Different types of subscription boxes
Source:Styled Stock Society
There’s a wide variety of caregiver subscription boxes available:
Self-care boxes with relaxation and pampering items (TheraBox, Bath Bevy)
Educational boxes with resources and information
Mental health-focused boxes with stress-relief tools (Calm Box, HopeBox)
Specialized boxes for specific caregiving situations (e.g., dementia care, such as Caregiver Candle Co.)
By delivering these items regularly, subscription boxes ensure caregivers have ongoing access to resources that can help them manage their stress and maintain their well-being.
Pricing and value comparisons of different boxes
Prices for caregiver subscription boxes can vary widely. Here’s a comparison of some popular options.
Subscription Box
Price (Monthly)
Number of Items
Focus
TheraBox
$34.99
6 to 8
Self-care and happiness
Bath Bevy
$43.21
5 to 7
Bath and body products
TakeCareTime Respite Box
$45.00 (bi-monthly)
Varies
Caregiver respite
The value of these boxes extends beyond their monetary worth. They provide convenience, emotional support, and a regular reminder for caregivers to prioritize their well-being.
Psychological benefits of caregiver subscription boxes
Subscription boxes offer more than just physical products; they can have significant psychological benefits for caregivers.
Receiving a subscription box can create a sense of anticipation and excitement, providing a bright spot in what can often be a challenging routine. This element of surprise can trigger the release of dopamine, (a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward) potentially improving mood and reducing stress.
Unboxing a subscription package can become a ritual of self-care and a moment of personal indulgence. It’s a time when caregivers can focus on themselves, even if just for a few minutes.
The Best Subscription Boxes for Caregiver Wellness
Here are some of the best subscription boxes designed to support caregivers in their journey.
1. TheraBox
TheraBox is a self-care subscription box curated by therapists that promotes happiness and reduces stress through neuroscience and positive psychology research. It’s perfect for caregivers to prioritize their mental health and well-being.
Source: TheraBox
Monthly box filled with 6 to 8 full-size wellness products
Includes one happiness-boosting activity
Products focus on aromatherapy, natural/organic skincare, and mindful living
Pros
Cons
Therapist-curated items
Higher price point
Full-size products
May not suit all personal preferences
Emphasis on mental health
Use cases
A caregiver dealing with high-stress levels can use aromatherapy products for relaxation.
The included mindfulness activities can help a caregiver develop a regular self-care routine.
HopeBox Classic is a seasonal subscription box curated to provide comfort and encouragement to caregivers and those facing challenging times. Each box contains a thoughtfully selected assortment of high-quality items designed to promote self-care and emotional well-being, reduce anxiety and inspire hope.
Source: Cratejoy.com
10+ quality treasures in every seasonal shipment
Includes books, aromatherapy, jewelry, candles, organic soaks, scrubs, and masks
Personal message of hope in every box
New seasonal boxes released 5 times a year
Pros
Cons
Diverse range of self-care products
Higher price point
Seasonal themes for timely support
Limited customization options
Full-sized products
Quarterly shipments may not be frequent enough for some
Use cases
A family caregiver can use the items for regular self-care rituals to prevent burnout.
Inspirational items can provide emotional support for someone going through a difficult time.
The Calm Box is designed to promote relaxation and stress relief, making it an excellent choice for caregivers dealing with high levels of anxiety or burnout.
Source: Calm Box
Bi-monthly subscription box focused on relaxation and mindfulness
Includes items like aromatherapy products, teas, and mindfulness tools
Curated by mental health professionals
Pros
Cons
Focuses on stress relief
Bi-monthly delivery may not be frequent enough for some
Professional curation
May overlap with other self-care boxes
Variety of relaxation techniques
Use cases
A caregiver experiencing burnout can use the box contents to create a calming bedtime routine.
The mindfulness tools can help a caregiver practice stress management throughout their day.
The TakeCareTime Respite Box offers a monthly dose of self-care and relaxation, designed to give caregivers a much-needed break from their responsibilities.
Source: TakeCareTime
Monthly subscription box focused on caregiver relaxation
Includes spa-like products, stress-relief items, and self-care activities
Option to add personalized notes or affirmations
Pros
Cons
Encourages regular self-care
May be seen as a luxury by some caregivers
High-quality relaxation products
Doesn’t address practical caregiving needs
Personalization options available
Use cases
A caregiver can use the box contents to create a weekly “me-time” ritual.
The stress-relief items can be used during short breaks throughout the day.
Perfect for caregivers who find solace in a relaxing bath, this subscription sends 5-7 bath and body products monthly.
Source: Cratejoy.com
Bath Bevy’s Tubless subscription is a monthly box designed for those who prefer shower-based self-care. It delivers a curated selection of handmade bath and body products that don’t require a bathtub, making it perfect for caregivers with limited time or access to a bath.
5 to 7 handcrafted bath and body items per month
Products include shower steamers, body scrubs, lotions, and more
Themed boxes with seasonal variations
Made in the USA by small-batch indie brands
Pros
Cons
Suitable for those without bathtubs
May have less variety than bath-focused boxes
High-quality, artisanal products
Monthly subscription might be too frequent for some
Supports small businesses
Use cases
A busy healthcare worker can use the shower steamers for quick aromatherapy sessions between shifts.
A caregiver can incorporate the body care products into a nightly self-care routine to unwind after a long day.
Selecting the Perfect Subscription Box for Your Caregiving Journey
Source: Styled Stock Society
Choosing the right subscription box can make a significant difference in your caregiving experience.
When choosing a subscription box, consider the specific needs and preferences of the caregiver. Some may benefit more from practical supplies, while others might need a regular reminder to prioritize self-care. Many of these subscriptions offer customization options or the ability to change or cancel the subscription, allowing for flexibility as needs change over time.
Here’s how to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Assessing personal needs and preferences
Start by asking yourself:
What aspects of caregiving do I find most challenging?
What types of self-care activities do I enjoy?
Do I need more practical supplies or emotional support?
Your answers will guide you towards the most suitable subscription box.
Factors to consider when choosing a subscription box
Content: Look for boxes that align with your specific caregiving situation and personal interests.
Frequency: Consider whether you prefer monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly deliveries.
Customization options: Some services allow you to tailor the box contents to your needs.
Additional resources: Check if the subscription includes access to online communities or educational materials.
Budget-friendly options
If cost is a concern, consider these strategies:
Look for boxes that offer discounts for longer subscription commitments.
Explore less frequent delivery options (bi-monthly or quarterly).
Consider sharing a subscription with another caregiver to split costs.
Customization and flexibility
Many subscription services understand that caregiving needs can change over time. This flexibility allows you to adjust your subscription as your caregiving journey evolves.
Reading reviews and recommendations from other caregivers
Before committing to a subscription, take time to read reviews from other caregivers. Their experiences can provide valuable insights into the quality and usefulness of different boxes. Look for reviews on the company’s website, social media platforms, and independent review sites.
Beyond the Box: Additional Resources for Caregivers
While subscription boxes can provide valuable support, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Here are some other resources caregivers should consider:
Maximize the emotional benefits of subscription boxes
To get the most out of your subscription box:
Set aside dedicated time to unbox and explore the contents.
Use the items mindfully, focusing on the sensory experience.
Share your experience with other caregivers or loved ones.
Incorporate the box’s items or activities into a regular self-care routine.
Conclusion
Caregivers are the unsung heroes of our communities, providing compassionate support often without recognition. Subscription boxes offer a small but meaningful way to acknowledge their incredible work. By investing in these carefully curated packages, caregivers can find moments of relief, joy, and personal connection, and we acknowledge their hard work, dedication, and the critical role they play in healthcare and family support systems.
Ultimately, these subscription boxes serve as more than just a collection of products. They’re a lifeline of support, a regular reminder that someone cares, and a practical way to address the often-overlooked needs of caregivers. Whether you’re a caregiver yourself or looking to support one in your life, consider how these subscription boxes might provide the ongoing care and appreciation that caregivers so richly deserve.
