The family caregivers usually come up with different health IT tools like mobile health devices and personal health records that make it easier for consumers to track and manage their health.

But a recent survey, by the National Alliance for Caregiving and United Healthcare at the Consumer Electronics Show’s Silvers Summit, identifies three technologies that seemed to have the most appeal.

More than half of the 1,000 people surveyed — all of whom have already used some form of tech to help out with caregiving — said that the barriers, such as cost or privacy worries, wouldn’t stop them from trying the following:

Personal health record tracking: 77% of respondents said they’d find a web- or software-based personal health record helpful to track medications, test results and other data.

Caregiving coordination system: 70% of respondents said that they would find it helpful to have a system that logged a care recipient’s medical appointments and scheduling of help from family members or other volunteers.

Medication support system: 70% of respondents said that they would find it helpful to have devices that reminded patients to take their meds and give them info on side effects, plus alert a caregiver when the dose isn’t taken.

The nine other technologies that weren’t as well received included a symptom monitor and transmitter, an interactive TV-based system to help care recipients with physical, mental and leisure activities, and a video-phone system.

The study also identified three strategies that could encourage caregivers to try new health care technologies.

• Explanation on how the technology could be useful.
• How-to demonstration on installing and using the technology.
• It would be helpful if they were offered a three-year warranty on the technology.

SOURCE: http://www.healthcare-digital.com/sectors/health-service/health-technologies-caregivers-find-most-appealing