One of the biggest challenges that caregivers face today is the internet. Things like social media can seem like great advances, but they have dangers associated with them. For example, if you have an elderly loved one that goes to the bank and checks in on their Facebook account while they are there, they may have just inadvertently announced to the world that they were at the bank thanks to the fact that Facebook will often post your location along with whatever you want to share. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, until we realize that your elderly parent may have just told a potential thief that they were alone getting some money out for the week. They may not have written that in so many words, but that may be exactly the message that someone with ill intentions may have gathered from their update. In other words, it can create the potential for a dangerous situation.
Now think about all the scam artists out there looking to make a few quick bucks off of people. The internet is a perfect tool for targeting vulnerable people. We obviously do not want this to happen to the people that we love. Or, think about the potential to purchase things over the internet. If someone with mild dementia was doing this, then forgetting about it, there is a chance that huge credit card bills could be created. Many situations like this are possible, and the elderly are an at risk group when it comes to this danger. It has made being a caregiver that much more difficult. It’s one more thing that caregivers need to keep an eye on.
Of course, the internet also has many things that help us when it comes to assisting an elderly loved one. We’re better able to connect with people, especially family members. We can look up tricks and tips on how to keep our houses safer for older people. And we can use the internet to research senior care and in-home care services. But the internet is like any man-made tool; it can be used productively, and it can be used harmfully, too. One of our tasks as family caregivers is to ensure that things like social media, search engines, and more are being used for all of the good benefits that they entail, and help our families to know of the dangers and pitfalls that exist so that they can be avoided.
The internet and safety on it might not be something that we would first consider when selecting a professional senior care service, but it should be. When someone is hired to help with an older loved one, we want to make sure that everything is addressed, including safety on the web. Before you hire an in-home caregiver to help with your mom or dad, let them know if this is a concern for you, and a plan can be developed to ensure that no problems arise and that technology is used only for the great things it can do.
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