In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to focus on long-distance relationships and the stress and strain that distance can put on those bearing the extra miles to make it work.  Of course, we are not talking about romantic love, but the love of an aging parent who has made the decision to age in place at home while you have forged ahead to make a life of your own in another city or state.  This scenario is common, and the numbers are rising each year.  According to the Herald News:

“The National Institute on Aging estimates around 7 million Americans are long-distance caregivers. Aside from economic factors that often drive people far from their hometowns, shifting demographics in the country could exacerbate the issue: Over the next four decades, the share of people 65 and older is expected to rapidly expand while the number of people under 20 will roughly hold steady. That means there will be a far smaller share of people between 20 and 64, the age group that most often is faced with caregiving.”

But there is good news for adult children in this situation: improved technology and new devices are making the miles between not quite so far. Products like myHalo are taking their places in the “must-have” market, and we are far from alone. Technology is on the forefront of the issue and is offering more product options that ever before, aimed specifically at making life a little easier, seniors a little safer, and difficult situations a little less complicated – whether it be through medication dispensers, GPS tracking, or home monitoring and fall detection.

AARP has also created a list of tips for long-distance caregivers to keep organized and stay ahead of the curve, such as keeping contact and account numbers for utilities and financials. And in the case of an accident, having an up-to-date list of medications and insurance information on hand can save time and make a stressful event a little easier.

Finally, it’s important for caregivers to remember to give themselves some time off. Rest and relaxation are crucial when  juggling family life and caretaking. So this Valentine’s day, hunker down with a box of chocolates and celebrate all you do for everyone in your life – even from the comfort of your own home.

Thanks to an exciting announcement this week from the Obama administration, Alzheimer’s disease may soon join the likes of polio and yellow fever as examples of how science has triumphed when tasked with an insurmountable challenge.  The first ever National Alzheimer’s plan has been developed to determine the best options for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2025. As one of the millions with a family history of Alzheimer’s, I’m not too proud to shout, “YIPPEE!,” but it is difficult not to ask hard questions about funding and support for families – not to mention, “What do we do in the meantime?”

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In the January/ February edition of Connected World magazine, myHalo is a featured product in the article titled, “Who’s Watching Mom?”

To see the complete article, click here.

The ice cold temperatures that have blown through most of the country this past week has left many families planning for a long, cold winter.  And although falling snow may make for picture perfect landscapes, there’s nothing pretty about the frigid cold and the ice that makes winter weather especially dangerous for seniors.  That’s why Halo Monitoring, maker of myHalo, the most advanced medical alarm with automatic fall detection is offering a few tips to help protect your loved ones during this cold season Read the rest of this entry »

Huntsville, AL-December 21, 2011 Aging in place solutions are on the front of everyone’s minds and solutions that are not just practical but affordable seem to be the name of the game. However for many families who are waiting to enroll in government-funded programs, the wait seems to be getting longer with no end in sight. Read the rest of this entry »