This is an overview of the core conversation that took place at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 8, 2013 at 3:30 at the Sheraton Austin.
If you attended and would like to get access to the documents that were shared, please email me.
Facilitating the conversation at SXSW 2013. Photo credit: Evan Carroll
Description: As our loved ones age, we find ourselves taking on caregiver responsibilities, sometimes way earlier than we expected. Last year I became the sole caregiver for my aunt who has Alzheimer’s. Here’s what I learned: Caring for the elderly is hard. Prioritizing yourself while serving as the caregiver for someone else is even harder. Technology can help both of you.
It’s tempting to introduce technology to our elderly loved ones so they can better manage their lives. But that doesn’t work. We’re the ones who need to make technology work for us while we are helping them.
Google Docs, email and smartphones are great tools for keeping everyday details straight – especially if you do not live in the same home, town or even state of the person you are caring for.
This talk explored some of the challenges of caring for the elderly, technological advances that help you with daily management and tips for taking control while allowing the loved one to still believe they are in control.
Questions that will be answered in this panel:
- How can you leverage technology to run someone’s life?
- How can you focus on your life while serving as the caregiver for someone else?
- How can you enroll family members in the process?
- How do you deal with day-to-day struggles when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s (or any other illness or disability)
- How can you manage someone’s life remotely?
Borrowing heavily from agency-learned web production, client management and communication skills, Virginia has been working with her aunt to determine how they can both live the lives they want without having to sacrifice too much privacy or dignity.
You can find out more about Virginia Carter Ingram on a myriad of social sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium and Facebook (if already friends).
SXSW: The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals (March 8-17, 2013) offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery. www.sxsw.com