Colorado father creates online tool to help caregivers

A news release from CareGiver360:

Things just got a little easier for the at-home and facility-based care industry─ a sector already burdened with resource and funding shortages ─thanks to a new web-based tool aimed at supporting caregivers and improving the quality of long-term care.

CareGiver360® (www.caregiver360.com) was created by Ken Ziel, a Colorado father whose son, Austin has a range of developmental and physical disabilities. Ken was inspired to create CareGiver360 from his experiences raising a son with an array of special needs and trying to communicate all of those needs to multiple care providers.

“I was always full of anxiety when dealing with Austin’s many care providers,” said Ken. “I constantly worried about making sure each caregiver had the most up-to-date and accurate information about Austin’s progress. When providers left or new providers came in, I could see that the process of being brought up to speed and adapting to new procedures was just as hard on the caregivers as it was on me and Austin.”

CareGiver360® creates Personalized Care Guides tailored to the unique needs of those receiving long-term care, and streamlines and safeguards critical information to caregivers. Families are able to share a record of a loved one's care, condition and personal preferences. New care providers can use the Personal Care Guide to become familiar with their care recipient and become immersed in critical information pertaining to the individual’s specific care needs.

Caregivers can also use the tool to streamline updates in care procedures, treatments and conditions, so that they are equipped with the most current information. Additionally, CareGiver360® allows users to access an all-inclusive resource library to find information on best practices and leading research tailored to fit the needs of each care recipient.

For Ken, the idea of CareGiver360® came one evening after he and his wife left Austin with a caregiver to go see a movie.

“The amount of time it took to go over all of Austin’s care instructions with the caregiver, and the anxiety it caused my wife and me, was incredible. We were just preparing for an evening out of the house,” Ken said. “When we were in line buying tickets, I turned to my wife and said, ‘What if something happens to us, and we never come back from the movie? Who is going to make sure Austin gets the care he needs for the future?’”

High caregiver turnover is the single greatest contributor to decreased quality in care. CareGiver360® helps users create a caregiving legacy and relieves the burden of starting over.

“My hope is that, over time, the quality of care received and the wealth of knowledge shared by those who need it will continue to increase,” said Ken.