Thanks to the times we live in, more and more products are being developed that can make the work of the caregiver easier. Some items are simple and some are more complex, but all of them can help ease the physical and emotional issues that often accompany the caregiver role.

Karen Stevenson, owner and publisher of ElderWeb.com, says there are two important things to focus on when trying to help a loved one maintain independence: avoiding falls and maintaining communication.

Stevenson used many of the following suggestions herself when her father was recovering from surgery:

• Grab Bars: These are for use in the bathroom to hold onto when getting in and out of the tub or shower or when using the toilet. Grab bars that look like towel racks are available to avoid an institutional feel. There also are grab bars that hook onto the tub that don’t require installation and portable grab bars that slide under the mattress for help with getting in and out of bed.
• Bed and Chair Canes: Sturdy and adjustable, these canes slide under beds or chairs and provide support when standing.
• Car Caddy: This is a strap that hangs down from a car window. It allows you to pull yourself up and out of the car.
• Tension Poles: These can be placed in any room and are held in place by tension between the floor and ceiling. They provide support for moving or standing.
• Reacher: These allow someone to reach for a high object without climbing.
• Glow Tape: This is used to make a path to the bathroom to cut down on nighttime confusion.
• Audio and Video Monitors: Monitors allow caregivers to roam around the house or out in the yard and still keep an eye (or ear) on their loved ones.
• Flip Phones: Cell phones have become very affordable, and flip phones are both easy to use and portable enough that they can be kept with (and even clipped on) a person at all times.
• Chair Lifts: These are for getting up and down the stairs. A chair lift may be the one thing needed to keep your loved one at home.

According to Joy Loverde, author of The Complete Eldercare Planner, there are some technologies being used now that will become necessities for caregivers in the coming years as they become more affordable and accessible. They are:

• PDAs: Short for "personal digital assistants," these small electronic organizers (which also send and receive email and have Internet access) can be lifesavers for helping a caregiver keep track of medications and appointments. PDAs are really taking off at assisted living homes, where doctors and nurses alike use them to keep track of prescriptions and coordinate ongoing care.
• Medication Management: Pill boxes have gone electronic, and there are many now that beep, flash or talk to give a reminder of what pill to take and when. There are even those that can alert a caregiver if a pill was not taken as scheduled.
• Family Browser Groups: These can be set up on the computer and allow families to be in constant, real-time communication (even if family members are scattered around the world). Photos can be posted and bulletin boards set up. Everyone can share in tasks such as setting up appointments, dealing with administrative issues or researching questions about conditions or care.
• Internet Support Groups: Loverde knows there are support groups already in existence, but feels this trend will only continue to grow as these groups can provide information and support 24/7
• Web Cams: These are easy to set up and very affordable. Web cams allow people to “see” each other in real time while chatting by phone or on the computer.

The purpose of each of these products is to help ease the workload of the caregiver while allowing the loved one to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. Some choices, unfortunately, are still fairly expensive, but Stevenson gives great advice on how to decide whether or not the product is worth purchasing.