Caregiver support solutions are designed to help healthcare organizations enhance support for both family caregivers and professional care teams. These solutions provide education, resources, and coordination tools to address caregiver burden and burnout, improve care quality, and ensure better support across the care continuum for those that they care for.
Caregiver support solutions
Caregiver education and training | Solutions that provide comprehensive, accessible education and skills training for caregivers, using personalized digital learning, simulation tools, and just-in-time instruction to build caregiver competence and confidence in delivering complex care tasks. Example companies: Trualta, CareAcademy, Wellthy |
Caregiver coordination and resource navigation | Platforms that connect caregivers with community resources, respite services, and peer support networks, reducing isolation and ensuring caregivers have access to necessary assistance and temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. Example companies: Cariloop, Carallel, Careforth, Wellthy, CareLinx |
Continuous monitoring and connected care | Technologies that provide real-time insights into care recipient status, detect emergencies, manage medications, and enable family caregivers to stay informed about their loved one’s wellbeing from anywhere. Example companies: Medisafe, GrandCare, CarePredict |
These are example companies, and not meant to be comprehensive. Did we miss your company? Schedule some time to connect.
The case for digital in caregiver support
The complexity of patient care continues to expand beyond clinical settings and traditional care teams. Today’s healthcare reality increasingly relies on everyday caregivers who shoulder the responsibility for patients outside hospital walls—family members, friends, and community caregivers who provide critical support with limited resources and training. Digital caregiver support solutions have emerged as transformative technologies that strengthen this essential but often overlooked component of the care continuum. By addressing caregiver needs, these solutions create sustainable caregiving models that simultaneously improve caregiver well-being and patient outcomes, bridging the gap between institutional care and the daily realities of home-based support.
Address workforce challenges and caregiver burnout
Both professional and family caregivers face caregiving challenges that threaten care sustainability and quality. The average staff turnover rate of hospitals in the US stands at 20.7%, which, on average, cost health systems $50-$75K per employee.1 This workforce crisis is further compounded by the fact that approximately 73% of employees also serve as family caregivers outside their professional roles, creating a dual burden that significantly impacts retention and performance.2 Simultaneously, approximately 40% of family caregivers report high levels of burden, with caregiving-related stress contributing to $13.4 billion in additional healthcare costs annually.3 Digital caregiver support solutions address these interconnected challenges by providing comprehensive resources for both professional and family caregivers while recognizing the unique needs of healthcare employees who serve in both capacities. By recognizing and supporting caregivers and employees, health systems can create a more sustainable care environment while also reducing costs. Healthcare systems that support employees with caregiving responsibilities can reduce unplanned absences and decrease turnover amongst their employee populations.
Enhance care quality and patient outcomes
Care continuity can be challenging when caregivers are not adequately supported which can lead to increased emergency department visits and care complications. Caregivers are often not trained on how to best support those they care for with studies showing that caregivers receive inadequate training for medical tasks they’re expected to perform.4 Digital caregiver support platforms address this lack of education and resources through accessible education, real-time guidance, and continuous support. Effective caregiver education and support programs have been shown to reduce hospitalizations, decrease complications, and increase adherence to care plans.5 By equipping caregivers with necessary skills and resources, these solutions enable better quality care in home settings, ultimately improving patient outcomes while reducing healthcare utilization costs.
Strengthen patient-centered care and community health
Supporting caregivers serves as a powerful extension of patient-centered care philosophy, recognizing that effective healthcare extends beyond clinical settings to embrace the social support systems surrounding each patient. Healthcare organizations increasingly recognize that caregivers represent critical partners in achieving positive health outcomes and maintaining continuity across care transitions.6 By implementing comprehensive caregiver support solutions, healthcare systems demonstrate a commitment to whole-person care that addresses patients’ needs within their real-world contexts. This community-centered approach aligns with healthcare’s evolving role as an anchor institution responsible not just for treating illness but for fostering health and well-being throughout the populations they serve. By investing in digital tools that empower and sustain caregivers, healthcare organizations strengthen their position as trusted community partners while simultaneously improving clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
Sources
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1251378/staff-turnover-rate-of-hospitals-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20the%20average%20staff,rates%20among%20certified%20nursing%20assistants.,
https://www.goziohealth.com/blog/what-is-the-cost-of-hospital-employee-turnover - https://www.forbes.com/sites/denisebrodey/2024/04/25/73-of-employees-have-a-secret-second-job-its-caregiving/
- https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregiver-statistics-demographics/,
https://www.mellie.com/post/a-call-to-action-for-employers-this-national-family-caregivers-month#:~:text=%2413.4%20billion%20in%20additional%20healthcare,compared%20to%20non%2Dcaregiving%20peers. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK396398/#:~:text=many%20caregivers%20receive%20inadequate%20preparation%20for%20the%20tasks%20they%20are%20expected%20to%20assume,
https://www.longtermcarepoll.org/long-term-caregiving-the-types-of-care-older-americans-provide-and-the-impact-on-work-and-family/ - https://advancecaregivers.org/cca-training-may-reduce-er-visits-health-care-costs/,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2665/#:~:text=Interventions%20designed%20to%20help%20the,the%20patients%20under%20their%20care. - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9125858/,
https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52504.x,
https://www.telligen.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Manuscript.pdf
