The Problem

According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 4 Canadians aged 15 and older said they had cared for or helped someone, who had a long-term health condition, a physical or mental disability, or problems related to aging (2018). This past year was all about looking out for the older generation and taught us valuable lessons. Almost everyone in life will get an opportunity to be a caregiver at some point, whether it be for a parent, grandparent, sibling, or other relative – there comes a time for all to need help. 

The majority of people have no problem stepping in when they are called upon. However, life doesn’t always make it so simple.

It is a very difficult transition when adult children start to take care of their aging parents. The majority of the time, elders look to their family members – be it their child(ren), in-laws, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and so on. Family members are the number one support system when it comes to giving long-term care and support to elderly adults. 

Whether it be that your elder parent can no longer drive, or they develop a health issue that restricts them physically and/or mentally, something often occurs that demands a little more time and effort from those willing to help. 

Often, providing that care is not as easy as it sounds. Time constraints, geography, and other issues often arise and adult children are forced to make difficult decisions. 

Although you always want to be there for your loved ones as they age, it is not always realistic in a world of work, extra-curriculars, and taking care of your own family or children. 

It can be very stressful for the adult child as they watch their parents age. They want to be there to support them, to bring them to appointments, pick up medications, and discuss action plans with the doctor – but it’s not always easy to schedule and can be time consuming. A challenge to say the least when you consider the balance of your current responsibilities. 

Your aging parents’ or loved one’s medical appointments are critical to their quality of life.  The appointment is a closed conversation between the patient and doctor.   Important details may be left out when trying to communicate with your loved one following the appointment. Such miscommunication can cause problems and leave you feeling guilty for not being there.   Even worse, miscommunication can lead to circumstances that severely impact your loved one’s quality of life.

The burden that caregivers often feel can lead to mental or physical health issues for themselves – creating more stress for everyone involved.

That’s why iAccompany is here to help.

iAccompany is an easy to use service that brings you peace of mind when it comes to your loved one’s medical appointments. By providing healthcare professionals to bring your loved ones to and from appointments, asking the questions you are concerned about, accompanying patients for lab visits or to the pharmacy after the appointment, and writing a formal report for you to review on your own time – iAccompany is your eyes and ears. The app makes it easy to book appointments, and even track progress when you can’t be there. iAccompany knows how overwhelming medical appointments can be and is here to make both the lives of your loved ones as well as yours that much simpler.