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CareGiver360 was created by Ken Ziel, a Colorado father whose son has a range of developmental and physical disabilities. Ziel 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.
“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 (my son) Austin,” Ziel said.
Caregivers can also use the tool to streamline updates in care procedures, treatments and conditions.
CareGiver360 creates “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 guide to become familiar with their care recipient.
The idea came one evening after Ziel 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,” Ziel says.
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The National Autism Association provides relationship-coaching tools at no charge to qualifying couples who have a child with autism. Couples in need will receive a book and DVD presentation at no charge. To qualify, couples that have a child with autism should write to lori@nationalautism.org outlining their special circumstance. Qualifying couples will then receive both the book and DVD in the mail. Lifetime partners that have a child with autism also qualify. Counseling funds are also available through Family First. To apply for a $500 grant towards marriage counseling, couples can visit www.nationalautismassociation.org/familyfirst.php.
