Caregiver Assistance and the Importance of Social Media for Elders In August 2010, the Pew Research Center published a report showing that social media use had doubled among seniors from the previous year and was up to 42 percent. Three years later, in August of 2013, an updated study showed that "Nearly two-thirds of 50-64-year-olds and 43 percent of those aged 65+ are now on Facebook." In hard numbers, there were over 50 million American seniors on Facebook several years ago, and the number is growing every year. Of course, social media is more than just Facebook, it includes such apps as Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and even Skype. As seniors age, many feel increasingly lonely and disconnected. A lack of mobility can severely hamper …show more content…
Thomas Morton, a senior researcher at the University of Exeter’s psychology department, noted, “Human beings are social animals, and it’s no surprise that we tend to do better when we have the capacity to connect with others. But what can be surprising is just how important social connections are to cognitive and physical health." If your senior loved one is not currently engaged on social media, a caregiver can help make that magic happen. Many seniors are afraid of social media technology due to a fear of computers. With the advent of tablets and "smart" devices, the social media world does not have to be quite as scary, and a caregiver can show your senior loved ones just how easy it is to get up and started. Not only can a caregiver help your senior loved one see the benefits of social media and assist them with access, but they can help them navigate this new, exciting, yet potentially dangerous, …show more content…
A caregiver can show your loved one how to use social media applications to research products, health issues, gift ideas, etc. Social media is also a great way to increase entertainment opportunities. From interactive games like Words with Friends and Farmville to reading or writing blog posts, the social media entertainment world is virtually endless. For as fun and educational as social media is, it can also be a dangerous place. A caregiver can help your loved one stay safe. For example, many seniors are eager to share their personal information, do not realize the full implications of posting information online (it 's there forever), and may not be savvy enough to spot someone trolling for data. Should your senior loved one have any sort of memory loss or mental challenges, a caregiver can read posts before they are sent and review information before it is read. If your senior loved one faces physical disabilities, the caregiver may need to perform most of the computing tasks. Never fear, the social interaction and cognitive enhancements are every bit as beneficial, perhaps even more
In the nursing profession, one of the primary responsibilities over a nurse is to provide care. A caregiver is “a person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chro...
Roberto, K. A., & Jarrott, S. E. (2008, January). Family Caregivers of Older Adults: A Life Span Perspective. Family Relations , 100-111.
Dementia is a difficult disease to understand and handle. A major problem involving these patients are caregivers that are not properly trained and educated to care for people with the disease resulting in issues such as neglect and abuse.
Social media's portrayal of aging and older people can varies depending on its objective. The
The book, ‘How to Care for Aging Parents’ is authored by Virginia Morris and with a forward by Robert M. Butler. In up-to-date new edition, the author completely revised and expanded over 200 pages of the text, covering the emotional, the legal issues and procedures, the financial aspect of every kind, medical related issues, and logistical related issues in caring for the elderly.
Social media is affecting all spheres of life and no profession is left untouched by the impact of social media and nursing profession is no exception. Nobody can deny the benefits of social media for the profession of nursing yet its disadvantages for the registered nurses and student nurses during clinical practice cannot be ignored. “Social media can be defined as the constellation of internet-based tools that help a user to connect, collaborate, and communicate with others in real time” (Ressler & Glazer, 2010). Social media is growing at a very rapid rate and is now the mainstream communication method for most of the global population (http://www.internetworldstats.com/facebook.htm). It has brought a tremendous revolution in communication and disseminating information to nurses round the world.
This assessment will address the potential and risk assessment of using social media in health care. Furthermore, it will address the policies and guidelines which all nurses are expected to adhere.
Up to 43.5 million caregivers like you provide informal care for a loved one, reports Caregiver.org. While you appreciate the opportunity to meet your loved one’s personal, physical and other needs, you may experience emotional and physical burnout, which affects your overall health and your ability to provide quality care. Understand the warning signs and ways to alleviate caregiver burnout as you provide the best level of care for your loved one and yourself.
There is a 5 million estimate of the carers in the UK and figures are foreseen to upscale for the next 40 years to 9 million (O’ Dowd, 2007). With this high number of carers, for whom the carers can ask for support during times when difficulty arises in relation with taking care of people with dementia.
Some of the ideas that are central to the idea that social media is a benefit to today’s society are that social media encourages increased communication with friends and family, provides fast access to breaking news and other information, and help business attract new business and correspond more quickly with their existing customers. Increased communication is important in all aspects of life. Keeping in touch with family and friends is easier than ever before. Whether it be a Facebook post or a tweet updating friends about exciting news or being able to see a picture...
Generally twitter and other social websites are good and they have many nice aspects, but at the same time they need awareness of families, communities and also governments. Young people have to use them but for important things and under control.
As we age our bodies change, our abilities to care for our selves lessen and we start to rely more on our caregivers for the proper care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by 2015 there will nearly 89 million people by 2015 who are 65 years of age of older. This will be almost double the elders there were in 2010. This means that as a nurse we will see an increase in elders in the hospital needing care. A study done in 2009 stated that “64% of caregivers of persons 50 years of age or older with a chronic or disabling condition” (Earlea & Heymann, 2012, p. 359).
Our elderly should be afforded the best possible care. This care should not only be financial but mentally and emotionally as well. They may not be able to care for themselves, but they have paid their dues, and took care of us now it's our turn to take care of them. As our elderly parents or caregivers enter their twilight years we should honor them by making their final years enjoyable and as comfortable as possible. They paved the way for us to be the adults that we are and in most cases led to the success that we have had.
Social media merged into people’s daily lives in many ways. The younger generation learn and adapt more easily with the fast-paced innovation of technologies, so that they can be more active when getting involved with virtual society created by people who are using the social media applications, such as Facebook, Forums, MSN, etc. As to the middle age individuals, even though some of they are unkindly to some social media tools like Facebook, due to privacy concerns. They are still using other kinds of social media applications to some degree, and take keen interest in using them, as the applications are more convenience then the traditional ways of exchanging information, like e-mails and short text messages. However, compared with the individual users below 55 years old, the percentage of that above 55 years old and still using social media in New Zealand is usually around 30% or less (see Figure 1 below.
Social media is becoming more and more popular day by day. It has become a part of our lives.