NanaHood and Philips Cares -

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

With the vital role that family caregivers play, I think it’s important to share information about any and all products that may help them out. With that in mind, I’d like to share a new digital tool that was just introduced for seniors and their caregivers: Philips Cares.

Philips Cares empowers caregivers to create an always-connected “care circle” where friends and family can share notes and updates about their loved one, and stay informed about their senior’s interactions with their Philips Lifeline personal alert system. The system’s goal is to reimagine the relationship between seniors and their support circles, helping caregivers worry less and focus more on the moments that matter with their loved ones.

One instance in my life when this would have been helpful is when my best friend/cousin had breast cancer. It was a very aggressive form of cancer and even though she fought hard for years, it was relentless. She lived in Florida, and I lived in Kentucky, but I made many trips down to visit her. She and her husband, Glenn, raised three beautiful, loving daughters who were grown with families of their own. They wanted to be with their mom but it was hard because of all their other obligations. Two of them lived out of state and traveled as often as they could to see her. When Martha’s cancer advanced and she had to have brain radiation, we all took turns staying with her. On the days when it was my turn, I drove her to her treatments and texted information to her daughters, but Philips Cares would have been a much better option.

Caregivers face a unique set of challenges – among them, wanting to physically “be there” with a loved one, while balancing the needs of the rest of the family, job obligations and their own well-being. It’s a difficult, but extremely important role.

My children were all very young when my mother and father were ill. My mom had terminal colon cancer and my dad had an aortic aneurism. Both required a lot of time and attention. My sister-in-law was a great helper and we coordinated their medicines, while juggling jobs and taking care of our children. Being a caregiver and a mom at the same time is exceptionally hard. Many of my friends have found themselves in similar situations.

Caregiving is stressful, and if there is something that can help relieve stress, then isn’t it worth investigating Philips Cares?