Are you a caregiver for an aging loved one in Ohio? This free web platform offers support
At a time when over half of Americans 50 and older provide care for others over 65, many may seek others for help.
The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) is an organization that provides one-on-one help and also refers people to an online platform they can access 24/7 from their homes.
Trualta, a free, web-based family caregiver education and support platform with headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, has partnered with COAAA to provide free access to people in Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties.
The partnership, launched in mid-2020, offers free content at www.trualta.com, including articles, videos, training modules and more that is related to caregiving skills. Local people can sign up at https://coaaa.trualta.com/login.
How did Trualta begin?
Trualta was launched in 2017 by Jonathan Davis, who was investing in health care education at a private equity fund when he realized that paid caregivers get training, but family caregivers don’t have access to it.
“I wanted people to be able to age in place at home while avoiding hospitalizations, and I wanted to see reduced burden on caregivers,” Davis said in a statement.
Q&A: Families combating Alzheimer's disease are not alone. What you need to know
Now, the site has 12,000 users and is in 32 states, with its United States headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.
In central Ohio, there are about 160 users. The platform is also available through agencies on aging in Dayton, southern Ohio and Lima.
To be able to offer free access to family caregivers, Trualta partners with health care payers, providers and government and social service organizations.
How can Trualta help caregivers?
Tammy Smith, caregiver support program manager at COAAA, often talks with family members who need help with caregiving.
Sometimes, she is able to refer them to Trualta for more guidance.
“Trualta has been so helpful for our caregivers and has definitely benefited them because they can access information and resources in the privacy of their own home,” Smith said. “Caregivers need help. I don’t think there’s enough resources available to help caregivers, so with Trualta, it’s free. I think that’s the biggest sell for me.”
There is information on power of attorney; advanced directives such as living wills; and Alzheimer’s and dementia, all in one place, Smith said.
In June, Smith recommended a caregiver try Trualta to learn more about their father’s new dementia diagnosis, she said.
“They're trying to figure out how to navigate this new role, this new journey so I recommended Trualta,” she said. “There’s a whole section on dementia and Alzheimer's disease and how to navigate that.”
Naviguide: New tool helps caregivers, older adults navigate aging services; age in place
When the person felt like their father was attacking them and being mean, Smith told them to get onto Trualta as a form of support and education to show that those were symptoms of the disease.
“The disease is horrible. It really changes the individual,” Smith said. “I believe Trualta is important in terms of providing education because … when we’re educated about something, we’re not as fearful.”
She also said the platform can help with caregiver burnout, which is common. Within the portal there are topics and information on burnout and how to avoid it and self-care techniques, she said.
“A lot of times when I get calls from caregivers, they have reached their threshold, they're done,” Smith said. “My role is to provide them ways to get that help, and one of them is through Trualta.”
She is also apt to recommend it because she has used it and found it helpful as well.
Why is Trualta important?
As the population ages — with those over age 65 expected to top 80.8 million in the U.S. by 2040, according to the National Council on Aging — more people may become informal, or unpaid, caregivers for their family members and friends.
About 54% of adults ages 50 to 80 have helped another adult over 65 with health, personal or other care tasks in the past two years, according to the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging released in November.
About 65% of them reported at least one challenge with caregiving, including fatigue and balancing other life and work tasks.
“Our population is aging, and most people want to stay in their homes as they get older,” Davis said. “There is a major home health workforce shortage, so home care aides are not available, and those that are may be too expensive for most families."
When families can't get other help, Trualta helps them provide the best care to their loved ones by teaching them skills, and offering them support, he said.
In Columbus, 10.3% of residents are over age 65, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
"Our users report feeling more confident, less lonely and less stressed about caregiving duties after joining the platform," Davis said.
dking@dispatch.com
@DanaeKing
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trualta, a platform for family caregivers, is free in Greater Columbus
