White Paper - The Positive Impact of Visual Timers for Senior Care
PROLOGUE: Executive Summary
Overview of Research
Time Timer® Visual Timers and Their Uses
Benefits for Senior Care
Summary of Findings and Recommendations
I. Introduction
Background on Senior Caregivers and the Challenges They Face
Importance of Visual Time Guidance and Management in Senior Care
Introducing the Concept of Using Visual Timers as a Tool in Senior Care
II. Current Challenges among Senior Caregivers
III. Benefits of Using Visual Timers in Senior Care
Increased Structure and Efficiency of Activities
Enhanced Time Guidance and Understanding
Support for Senior Care Routines
IV. Usage Summaries and Success Stories
Facilities Successfully Using Visual Timers
Senior Caregivers Using Visual Timers
V. Implementation Strategies
Integration with Existing Systems and Routines
Training Staff on New Systems
VI. Potential Challenges and Solutions
Resistance to Change Technical Issues
Costs and Budgeting
VII. Recommendations
Selection
VIII. Conclusion
Clear
Adoption
Executive Summary
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH
This white paper outlines the positive impact of using visual timers in senior care. This paper defines seniors as men and women aged 65 and older. In addition, senior caregivers are defined herein as those who provide care to seniors at least 5 hours per week. Caregiving may be provided by a family member, a professional caregiver, or within an assisted living community. This paper focuses on the work provided by professional caregivers including Certified Nursing Assistants, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, and Occupational Therapists.
Qualitative research was conducted to explore and understand the potential benefits of Time Timer® products within the Senior Market. Jennifer Axen of Axen Insights led a mixed-method research study with 15 research participants including Senior Caregivers and Seniors living independently. The research included surveys, interviews and observational research. The research was conducted over 8 weeks in multiple locations and settings including homes and care facilities in California, Minnesota, Ohio and Oregon. Data was captured through online video interviews, in person visits, transcripts and feedback diaries provided by caregivers.
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TIME TIMER ® VISUAL TIMERS AND THEIR USES
The visual timers featured in this paper are all designed and manufactured by Time Timer, LLC. Founded 30 years ago in Cincinnati, Ohio, Time Timer ® was first invented by Jan Rogers as a tool to help those who had difficulty envisioning the passage of time. Time Timer ® products have been primarily leveraged by educators often working with neurodiverse students needing help with time guidance and management. As Time Timer ® has grown over the years, their visual timers have been universally adopted by all ages in various industries included tech, food safety, elder care, and the home. Time Timer ® makes both analog and digital visual countdown timers as well as wearable technology. For our research project in senior care and living, we tested the following set of products:
TYPES OF VISUAL TIMERS AND THEIR USES
ANALOG VISUAL TIMERS:
Time Timer ® Original 3"
Time Timer ® MAX
Time Timer ® MOD
Time Timer ® PLUS
DIGITAL VISUAL TIMERS:
Time Timer ® TWIST
Time Timer ® Watch
Time Timer ® Watch FOB
ANALOG VISUAL TIMERS
The Time Timer® Original 3" is a compact 60-minute countdown timer sized for individual use or one-on-one work. The visual timer has a clear protective cover that allows it to be more portable in diverse environments.
The Time Timer® MAX is the largest visual countdown timer available on the market. At 17 inches, it can be displayed in large spaces and easily seen at a distance. It also allows for the disk to be set at various durations from 5 minutes up to 24 hours.
The Time Timer® MOD is an individually sized visual time with a removable silicone case providing durability and personalization for various environments. It is designed to be paired with the Time Timer® Dry Erase Board allowing it to tie visual time management directly to written schedules and reminders.
The Time Timer® PLUS family of visual timers is designed to promote independence and self-regulation for various time durations. For this study, we utilized the Time Timer PLUS 5-minute and PLUS 20-minute options to satisfy a need for short duration activities with maximum visual impact.
DIGITAL VISUAL TIMERS
The Time Timer TWIST® is a digital, easy-to-use visual timer tool. This digital timer is not only small in order to simply transport, but allows for maximum on-th-go customization. To use, the user simply turns the outer ring until the desired time is reached, up to 90 minutes, then push the play button. A digital display adjusts to show how much time remains.
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
The Time Timer® Watch is a visual timer combined with digital watch that can be used throughout the day to improve independence and self-regulation. Times can be set to repeat or an alarm can be set to create wearable accountability.
The Time Timer® Watch FOB allows the Time Timer® watch face to be used on a lanyard, backpack, or purse.
BENEFITS FOR SENIOR CARE
The research data from this study revealed multiple benefits of using visual timers within Senior Care environments. These benefits include improved time guidance and management within senior care facilities.
Caregivers who used the visual timers reported a significant improvement in efficiency within their caregiving routine. This improvement included better communication with clients receiving care with a clear measurement of time. This helped manage the client’s timing expectations and, therefore, helped ameliorate stress and frustration levels.
Visual timers also helped enhance caregivers’ and staff efficiency. By using visual timers to time routine tasks (also known as timeboxing), care facility staff reported a greater ability to focus on those tasks and stay within the parameters of their dedicated care time. For family caregivers, visual timers provided an additional benefit of the timer itself visually communicating the length of their visit or stay, thereby allowing them to focus on quality time with their family member and not having to reference the time verbally. For care facility staff, the visual timers also gave helpful structure to personal grooming routines including shower and bathing time, eating time and countdown to a visit or activity.
One of the most important benefits of the visual timers is helping with senior safety. For those seniors living in care facilities as well as seniors living independently, visual timers with whiteboards helped offer support with medication schedules, reminding seniors and caregivers what time medication should be administered as well as any notes.
An unexpected benefit discovered through this research was using visual timers to aid in senior well-being. By promoting structured and consistent schedules that Seniors could view, seniors experienced a greater sense of autonomy and control. Some caregivers also reported that providing this level of consistency and routine contributed to better resident well-being. In one case, a senior caregiver noted the potential implications for managing lateday agitation among seniors, also known as Sundowners. While this was a singular case, this is an area we will continue to study for further understanding.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Overall, the findings from this research indicate that the use of visual timers within the senior care and living context greatly improves the comfort, safety and satisfaction of seniors .
For senior caregivers, the use of visual timers advances both the quality and efficiency of their work and provides them with a tool that makes their work feel more manageable, improves their overall feeling of job satisfaction and even helps relieve stress.
It is therefore the recommendation of this research that senior caregivers and senior living facilities seek to implement the use of visual timers within their daily work and the context of their facilities. While the investment is relatively minimal (less than $50.00 per timer unit), the benefits are significant in improving both senior quality of life and senior caregiver job satisfaction.
One of the most important benefits of the visual timers is helping with senior safety.
For those seniors living in care facilities as well as seniors living independently, visual timers with whiteboards helped offer support with medication schedules, reminding seniors and caregivers what time medication should be administered as well as any notes.
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Introduction
BACKGROUND ON SENIOR CAREGIVERS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE
Since the Covid-19 outbreak and the ensuing pandemic, healthcare has faced major challenges in retaining nursing staff. Within the senior care market, this challenge is even more pronounced. During the pandemic, senior care facilities struggled to stay open and serve patients and clients. Nurses were deployed to the front line of hospitals and shelter-in-place orders greatly hampered senior care and living facilities. Many facilities had to close or operate at a greatly reduced capacity.
While we are no longer living in an emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic, senior care facilities are still experiencing greatly reduced operating staff, many of whom feel burdened and burned out by the daily responsibilities they face. These challenges and burdens include understaffing, resource allocation, and physical and emotional demands. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, senior care facilities struggled
with staffing shortages. Chronic understaffing resulted in staff working longer hours with increased numbers of patients. At present, senior care facilities continue to struggle with budget constraints that compromise resource allocation including hiring enough staff members and maintaining operational systems and services. While the aging population is growing, the number of available caregivers continues to wane. These resource constraints have resulted in increased physical and mental stress on caregivers who often struggle to make difficult choices about how much time and attention they can provide to the increased number of senior clients.
Over time, senior care facilities have recognized the need to help their senior caregivers by offering new strategies and tools. These provisions include systemic support, self-care and time management.
The patient had dementia and became easily irritated awaiting for her caregiver to arrive...The caregiver wanted her [the patient] to understand that he would return to see her after spending 30 minutes with another patient... the patient could benefit greatly from using a visual timer that would show her how much time was left until her caregiver returned.
Over time, senior care facilities have recognized the need to help their senior caregivers by offering new strategies and tools. These provisions include systemic support, self-care and time management.
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IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL TIME GUIDANCE AND
MANAGEMENT IN SENIOR CARE
While visual timers were initially invented to assist the young, it did not take long for people of all ages and abilities to acknowledge the benefits of making the passage of time visible and tangible.1 Over the years, Time Timer® has received numerous inquiries and comments from users who have found these timers helpful for individuals across a wide range of cognitive abilities and conditions.
Most notably, the caregiver of Charlton Heston reached out to thank the company for providing a resource that allowed Heston to maintain independence and work during his battle with Alzheimer’s.
1 Time, Value, and Anxiety by Danial J. Gilbride, MRC/LPC, www.timetimer.com/blogs/news/time-value-and-anxiety
INTRODUCING THE CONCEPT OF
USING VISUAL
At the time of the writing of this White Paper, a more recent query was from an occupational therapist who managed several senior living communities. The therapist discovered the visual timer from a teacher who recommended it as a tool to help his autistic son. One day, a senior staff caregiver mentioned the challenge he faced in managing one of his patients. The patient had dementia and became easily irritated waiting for her caregiver to arrive. Her confusion and frustration levels were so high that she would contact her caregiver every few minutes to see when he was coming back to give her medication. The caregiver wanted her to understand that he would return to see her after spending 30 minutes with another patient. Upon hearing this story, the occupational therapist had the idea that the patient could benefit greatly from using a visual timer that would show her how much time was left until her caregiver returned.
TIMERS AS A TOOL IN
SENIOR CARE
Going into our qualitative research we hypothesized that there are several ways that visual timers may be used as a tool in senior care. Our initial hypothesis suggested that visual timers could be used in the following areas:
Visual timers can be set for various durations to manage activities. Activities may include recreational activities such as classes, facility meetings, special events, group activities, and personal care routines.
Visual timers can offer a clear countdown for mealtimes, family visits and important daily schedule or daily routine changes. Visual timers offer caregivers and seniors a common reference point that is objective.
Visual timers may be used to help manage medication administration and schedules. Empowering seniors and their caregivers to maintain a sense of consistency and structure within their daily medication routines.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of seniors entering a care facility is a loss of independence and control. Visual timers offer an objective tool that can offer seniors a greater sense of structure and control. Senior caregivers who are charged with managing routines can benefit from using visual timers to help manage their schedule and activities to accomplish while caring for a senior resident.
Current Challenges Among Senior Caregivers
During our interviews with senior caregivers, we explored both the positive aspects of their work as well as the current challenges they face.
The rewarding aspects of senior caregiving are largely tied to the positive impact caregivers have on the seniors’ quality of life and the meaningful personal relationships they build.
However, for the purposes of this paper, we will focus on the current challenges faced by senior caregivers.
Feeling Overworked and Under Appreciated:
One of the biggest issues senior caregivers face is feeling overworked and undervalued. Due to nationwide staff shortages, caregivers often have increased workloads, leaving them unable to spend the amount of time they would like with each patient. This can compromise the quality and efficiency of their care.
Time Management & Guidance Issues:
Senior caregivers are often responsible for juggling multiple tasks, including providing personalized care to each client. This can lead to anxiety, exhaustion, and, in some cases, even depression, as they struggle to manage their time effectively.
Seeking Support and Resources:
Many caregivers have sought counseling or asked for additional resources from their supervisors to manage their schedules and cope with the emotional and physical stress of their work.
Need for Tools and Training:
Caregivers express a strong desire for additional tools and training to help them better meet their clients’ evolving needs and stay informed on the latest advancements in senior care.
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Benefits of Using Visual Timers in Senior Care
Through our 8-week research study, we confirmed that using a visual timer like a Time Timer ® product offers various benefits to senior caregivers. Overall, we concluded that by visually displaying the passage of time, senior caregivers can improve the efficiency of their daily care routines and contribute to their senior patient’s overall health and well-being.
The following pages describe the major benefits we discovered through our qualitative research with senior caregivers.
• Increased Structure and Efficiency of Activities
• Enhanced Time Guidance and Understanding
• Support for Caregiver Routines
INCREASED STRUCTURE AND EFFICIENCY OF ACTIVITIES
Two of the four facilities that utilized Time Timer ® products, reported that the large visual timer, called the Time Timer ® MAX , helped residents understand the duration of their scheduled activity.
Enhancing Focus and Engagement During Meetings and Activities
The visual timer was leveraged to help residents track the length of the weekly resident meeting, encouraging them to stay focused and engaged. Additionally, the countdown feature of the Time Timer® motivated clients to stay engaged in activities like physical therapy, where residents often need extra encouragement to continue.
Providing Non-Verbal Cues for Improved Communication
Caregivers also reported that visual timers helped provide nonverbal cues for residents who have difficulty hearing or understanding verbal instructions. The red dial of the Time Timer allowed clients to check the time independently, reducing the need for caregivers or activity instructors to continuously reference time verbally.
Maintaining Consistent Schedules and Reducing Confusion
Using a visual timer also helped caregivers provide clients with clear and consistent schedules. For instance, one caregiver used the Time Timer to show a client she would return in an hour to give her a bath. By offering consistent time cues, caregivers were able to reduce confusion and create a fair, standardized approach to patient care, especially in settings where caregivers must see multiple patients in a short amount of time.
Setting Clearer Expectations and Reducing Resistance
The visual timer also helped caregivers set clearer expectations for residents. In one case, a caregiver working with a memory care patient who resisted bathing used the timer to show that the task
ENHANCED TIME GUIDANCE AND UNDERSTANDING
Many seniors, particularly those who contend with Dementia, Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions, struggle with understanding and keeping track of time.
Even seniors without cognitive impairment who enter a senior care facility or assisted living feel that time becomes increasingly abstract and hard to monitor.
During our research interviews, we learned that many seniors wear an analog watch in order to help them keep track of time and indicate to others that they still care about and track time. Care-
would only take 8 minutes. The patient became more agreeable, and the process was less stressful for both parties. Visual timers thus helped reduce caregiver-resident conflicts by providing objective timeframes.
Acting as a De-escalation Tool
In some cases, the Time Timer was used as a de-escalation tool. For example, when a resident became upset or agitated about waiting for their caregiver, the timer provided a calming effect by showing exactly how long they had to wait. This use case illustrates how visual timers can serve as mediation tools by providing an objective measure of time.
Supporting Sleep and Rest Schedules
An unexpected use of visual timers emerged in helping residents wind down before sleep. Caregivers found that timers could assist with managing sleep schedules, which is a major challenge for caregivers and facilities who want to help aging residents with important sleep health and hygiene. Older adults often struggle with settling in for sleep, a phenomenon referred to as “Sundowners” that affects roughly 20% of seniors. Caregivers reported that using visual timers to manage time helped seniors relax and fall asleep more easily. While additional research in this area is in progress, at the writing of this paper, the caregivers we interviewed report that visual timers help structure and manage time for seniors, making it easier for them to relax and fall asleep.
givers and administrators confirm that consistent routines are vital in senior care, especially for those with memory issues. Visual timers help residents anticipate transitions between activities thus reducing anxiety and confusion. For example, if a senior can see how much time is left before a given meal, activity, visit or medication administration, they feel much more empowered and, therefore, less anxious.
In this way, a visual timer helps empower residents by giving them a greater sense of control over their daily activities and helping them feel more patient knowing what is coming next in their schedule. For those that live more independently within a senior community, a Time Timer® visual timer can be a tool to help them continue to monitor their time, stay sharp and maintain autonomy over their schedules.
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SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVER ROUTINES
Our field research and interviews revealed that visual timers can greatly help caregivers to structure their day and manage multiple tasks more efficiently.
Improving Time Allocation and Task Efficiency
Caregivers who consistently used the Time Timer® reported that it helped them allocate the appropriate amount of time to each client or resident. This allowed them to develop a better understanding of how long specific tasks take, leading to improved efficiency and consistency in patient care.
Facilitating Smooth Transitions Between Activities
Caregivers found that the Time Timer® visual timers made it easier for their patients to transition between activities. For instance, one caregiver used it to signal to a resident when it was time to move from getting dressed to applying makeup and doing her hair. This helped the resident mentally and physically prepare for the change, making the routine smoother and more efficient.
Reducing Stress and Enhancing Schedule Management
The visual representation of time provided by the Time Timer® allowed caregivers to better manage their daily schedules. This
reduced the stress associated with multitasking and time pressure, enabling caregivers to stick to their planned routines without rushing or compromising the quality of care.
Potential Aid for Medication Reminders
During an 8-week study, several caregivers noted that the Time Timer® could be helpful for medication reminders. Although some caregivers successfully used the timer to remind residents when their medication was due, there wasn’t sufficient information to fully assess its role in medication administration. This remains an area for further research, particularly for health routines requiring timed intervals, such as blood pressure checks or timed breathing exercises.
For this study, it can be reported that caregivers believe that visual timers likely will help with medication reminders and administration. More research must be conducted in this area to report any conclusive findings.
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“ Usage Summaries and Success Stories
My day is go, go, go. Between clients, I use my Time Timer PLUS to sit down, take a breath, maybe grab something to eat, and decompress before helping my next client.
– Johnny Owens Senior Care Assistant
”
These facilities include: ViaQuest
Brookdale
Villa Gardens
Providence Elderplace
At present, multiple facilities are using Time Timer® visual timers with measurable success... positive patient outcomes surrounding managing time expectations.
FACILITIES SUCCESSFULLY USING VISUAL TIMERS
At present, multiple facilities are using Time Timer® visual timers with measurable success. These facilities include ViaQuest, Brookdale, Villa Gardens and Providence Elderplace. Several months following the conclusion of our research, multiple caregivers including Registered Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Administrators and Activity Coordinators have reported using Time Timer® visual timers on a daily or weekly basis. Success factors include positive patient outcomes surrounding managing timing expectations, extending patients and helping provide more structure to caregiver routines.
SENIOR CAREGIVERS USING VISUAL TIMERS
In addition to senior care facilities and communities, we conducted field research with multiple independent senior caregivers. These caregivers report using visual timers when they assist seniors with their daily care. Several have leveraged a Time Timer® product called the Time Timer® MOD with Dry Erase board to create a schedule for their in-home visits. By listing their activities such as bathing, reading and returning mail, paying bills, etc. on the whiteboard alongside the visual timer, caregivers can provide an easy reference to their senior clients about how they will spend their time together.
Implementation Strategies
As a low-tech assistive technology device, Time Timer ® products can easily and quickly be integrated by the user with minimal instruction.
INTEGRATION WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS AND ROUTINES
While senior care facilities are online and offer residents tech assistance and wi-fi, senior caregivers largely work with analog technology. In terms of implementing Time Timer ® products as an assistive technology, there are low or no barriers to adoption. Visual timers such as Time Timer ® only require simple batteries. There are no foreseeable issues in terms of compatibility with current technology. This makes the adoption of visual timers simple and effective.
TRAINING
STAFF ON NEW SYSTEMS
Time Timer ® provided instructions and training presentations and demonstrations to the senior care facility staff taking part in our research study. Throughout our interviews with Senior Caregivers, we received multiple comments on the desire for training on new tools and technologies. For senior caregivers, training on new systems and devices provides much sought-after continuing education that helps elevate their job satisfaction and make them feel more supported in and engaged with their work.
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Potential Challenges and Solutions
RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
Challenge: Change is difficult for almost any person but particularly hard for seniors. Many aging adults struggle with feelings of power and helplessness which are further exacerbated when compelled to be cared for by another adult who is not their family. For this reason, senior caregivers may face resistance from the senior they care for when they first introduce a visual timer into their session. This resistance could come from the senior feeling condescended to or simply a reluctance to accept a change from their normal routine.
Solution: There are multiple strategies that caregivers may use to get buy-in from their senior patients/clients. The caregiver could demonstrate how they use this in other facets of their own life, for example how they use it at home or during a staff meeting. By offering a demonstration and showing them how they can use it themselves, senior caregivers can slowly begin to integrate visual timers into their care routines.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Challenge: Ensuring that visual timers are reliable and user-friendly is important. Time Timer® products were created to be used by all ages and cognitive abilities alongside caregivers, teachers, or therapists so the interface is exceptionally simple and does not require any special technical knowledge to operate. For this reason, technical issues are a very minor concern.
Solution: Using a visual timer that is specifically designed to be user-friendly is key within the senior care market. Caregivers may seek online training or technical support from the visual timer manufacturer. Time Timer® offers instructions as well as product support for customers. The quality of Time Timer® products is paramount. Further, the analog interface is both familiar and reliable to the senior population.
COSTS AND BUDGETING
Challenge: Implementing visual timers at an organizational level may require corporate approval and a bulk purchase order. To request a purchase order, caregivers, nurses and therapists may need to evidence positive outcomes. Budget constraints may limit a caregiver’s ability to purchase the necessary number of visual timers needed for their work or their organization.
Solution: From our research we learned that caregivers who can show evidence of positive outcomes, combined with a clear cost-benefit analysis may help to demonstrate the long-term value to senior care facility administration. By showing how a visual timer directly helps caregivers be more efficient in their patient visits, organizations may be more open to including visual timers in an annual budget.
Recommendations
Based on our field test and follow-up interviews, there are several best practices for selecting and implementing visual timers.
SELECTION PROCESS
When we conducted our initial test, we presented the 5 Time Timer® products that we hypothesized would work best in for the facility that served as our pilot program. For that senior care facility, we recommended the following Time Timer® products: MAX, Original 3”, PLUS (5-Minute and 20-Minute), MOD and TWIST. We then allowed the program participants to review the products and select the items they thought would be most valuable to their clients. In doing so, we recognized that the Original 3” and the MOD (both analog) gained the most traction. The MAX was only used by the Activities Coordinator and the TWIST (digital product) was trialled for only a short time.
IMPLEMENTATION
Through classic trial and error, caregivers were able to determine which visual timers best met the needs of their caregiving routines as well as the seniors they served. During staff meetings, caregivers discussed their visual timer usage and the pros and cons of their experiences. Through this discussion, staff caregivers were able to share experiences and, in some cases, even trade products with other caregivers.
In short, trial usage proved to be the best selection and implementation process. We also learned from our pilot testers and from subsequent testers, that establishing a lending library for products such as assistive technology products including motion sensors or visual timers proves to be a useful best practice for senior care facilities.
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Conclusion The impact of visual timers in senior care is positive and significant.
This research concluded that the impact of visual timers for senior care is positive and significant. Our research participants overwhelming reported that both senior caregivers as well as senior patients enjoyed multiple benefits from using Time Timer ® products:
RESULTS
STRUCTURE AND ROUTINE
Our study showed that the use of Time Timer® products helped senior caregivers by providing a clear visual countdown display of time as well as visual cues for activities. The introduction of a Time Timer® visual timer helped senior caregivers give their clients a clearer picture of the amount of time that was left in their care session or the amount of time they would need to wait between activities. This was particularly helpful for patients with memory issues.
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
The use of visual timers gave seniors a tool that was both familiar and objective. By using visual timers with their work, caregivers can set clear expectations with patients and thereby foster a sense of empowerment and independence. Visual timers ease the workload of caregivers by reducing the need for continuous verbal reminders leading to better, more connected communication with their clients.
STRESS RELIEF
Some caregivers used visual timers with senior families in order to relieve stress. For example, one senior caregiver who runs support groups for families, used the Time Timer® PLUS for breathing and meditation activities. In addition, caregivers reported using Time Timer® visual timers for managing their own patience for certain arduous tasks. By putting a limit on a difficult task, it made the task more tolerable and, therefore, less stressful.
Visual timers are an important tool in helping shape the future of senior care, creating more organized, efficient, and empathetic environments for aging populations.
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ADOPTION IN SENIOR CARE FACILITIES
Based on feedback we received from senior caregivers and senior care program administrators, we recommend the following process and practices for the integration of visual timers within senior care programs and facilities:
Pilot Programs: Introduce visual timers with a small group of users as part of a pilot program. Schedule several discussion or support groups to share information and experiences about the impact on and outcomes for seniors.
Training: Provide senior caregivers with training and instruction on how to best use visual timers. This includes understanding best practices for usage and ways to creatively implement them into daily activities and routines.
Positive Reinforcement: Consider incorporating behavioral science techniques to help seniors experience benefits from using visual timers. For example, if a bath can be completed within an ideal timeframe, senior caregivers could use appropriate praise, encouragement and rewards to help reinforce this behavior.
THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF TIME MANAGEMENT IN SENIOR CARE
The future of time management in senior care is likely to become an increasingly important topic. As people are living longer and requiring greater levels of care, tools such as visual timers are critical in maintaining independence for seniors and reducing the burden on caregivers.
Emerging technologies like AI-driven reminders and personalized care plans will likely complement visual timers, creating a holistic approach to time management. These innovations will continue to adapt to the specific needs of seniors, offering more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.
Furthermore, there will be a growing recognition of the importance of individualized care. Visual timers and other time management tools will be tailored to the unique cognitive and emotional needs of each resident, ensuring that they provide not only practical benefits but also contribute to the overall well-being of seniors. Time Timer® visual timers are low-tech assistive devices which offer easy implementation through low cost and low effort. The benefits of these devices are vast and can offer significant improvement for both caregivers’ and quality of life.
In summary, visual timers are an important tool in helping shape the future of senior care, creating more organized, efficient, and empathetic environments for aging populations.
“Understanding the Senior Market”, Axen Insights, May 2024
“The Importance of Visual Cues for Dementia Patients”, Aging Care, March 2024
“The Power of Visual Timers”, Adina ABA Staff, August 2024
“Embracing Generative AI and Large Language Models in Senior Care”, Health Tech Magazine, April 2024
“Time, Value, and Anxiety”, Daniel J. Gilbride MRC/LPC, Time Timer, circa 1998
