~34.2M Americans have provided care to an older adult in the last year and ~15.7M family caregivers (FCGs) care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. According to JAMA, only 7.3% receive any training or education. FCGs suffer from poor health and depression, have no help or breaks, and unpaid for their caregiving.
OCN provides caregiver education, self-care skills as resilient caregivers, access to professionals and community resources, and other support. Badges are awarded for training in many health conditions. This knowledge reduces stress on the FCG, reducing healthcare costs as patients maintain high functioning level while avoiding adverse events.
Health systems, employers, and ‘at risk” providers are looking to the FCG as key component in bending the cost curve for these patients. OCN provides for wellness and education for the FCG to take care of themselves, reducing stress for the FCG while a healthier lifestyle ensures they will be capable of continuing their role as a FCG. OCN has created a “Care Bank”: clinical competency combined with time spent for care giving, for “banking” virtual and actual currency for the FCG - compensation where allowed by the payer environment, and network matching for exchanging member services.