MANAGING REMOTE CAREGIVING - ORCHESTRATING A CARE NETWORK FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA VIA DIGITAL COMMUNICATION

Sep 28, 2026

The abstract examines how digital communication tools reshape remote caregiving for people with dementia, using an autoethnographic reflection centered on coordinating care from a distance. It describes coordinating healthcare providers in real time through WhatsApp and other platforms, while navigating the sandwich generation’s dual role as care manager and emotional anchor. It highlights benefits such as immediate access to medical updates, medication management, and faster emergency decisions, while addressing emotional and logistical burdens, limits of telemedicine support, and challenges in remote medical advocacy, informed by personal insights and digital documentation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Digital communication for remote care coordination

Roles and responsibilities in long-distance caregiving

Benefits: updates, medication, and emergency decisions

Burdens and challenges: advocacy and emotional strain

Limitations: telemedicine support gaps

Documentation and integration of digital health data

214 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.717 MANAGING REMOTE CAREGIVING: ORCHESTRATING A CARE NETWORK FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA VIA DIGITAL COMMUNICATION Patricia Heyn, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, United States The growing reliance on digital communication tools has transformed caregiving, particularly for those managing care from a distance. This autoethnographic reflection examines the complexities of orchestrating a remote care network for a loved one, utilizing WhatsApp and other digital platforms to coordinate with healthcare providers in real time. As more adults navigate the sandwich generation—balancing professional responsibilities while caring for both children and aging parents—many assume the dual role of care manager and emotional anchor, ensuring their loved one’s medical needs, well-being, and support systems remain integrated despite physical distance. This narrative explores the benefits of digital communication in caregiving, including immediate access to medical updates, medication management, and emergency decision-making, alongside the emotional and logistical burdens of long-distance caregiving. Key themes include the role of technology in coordinating multidisciplinary care teams, the challenges of remote medical advocacy, and strategies for balancing work and caregiving responsibilities. The discussion also addresses the limitations of digital caregiving, highlighting gaps in telemedicine support and the burden on long-distance caregivers. By integrating personal insights, digital health data, and multimedia documentation—including photos, videos, and shared decision-making moments—this abstract contributes to the broader discourse on technology-driven caregiving, caregiver stress, and the evolving role of digital health tools. As gerontologists, we have long studied the aging experience, yet today, we find ourselves living it firsthand—navigating the very challenges we research and advocate for, as our personal and professional worlds converge in the realities of caregiving.

FAQs

How does the document describe digital communication tools changing remote caregiving?

It explains that reliance on digital communication enables real-time coordination of a care network from a distance, supporting medical updates and decision-making despite physical separation.

Which digital platforms are highlighted for coordinating dementia care?

The abstract specifically mentions WhatsApp and other digital platforms used to coordinate with healthcare providers in real time.

What challenges and limitations does the abstract identify for digital caregiving?

It notes emotional and logistical burdens of long-distance caregiving and highlights limitations such as gaps in telemedicine support and the difficulty of remote medical advocacy.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by River Wang