About eHope | How it Works

PROVIDING CARE

The primary goal of an eHope caregiver community is to enable care recipients to focus entirely on wellness and relationship building by minimizing the day-to-day stressors which compete for their time and energy.

eHope provides a mechanism for family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to provide care in a way where no individual is over-burdened and everyone’s life remains in healthy balance.

Whether it’s running a simple errand, preparing a meal, or providing respite care for a primary caregiver, eHope communities provide multiple ways to provide meaningful care.

Shared Leadership

Each group has a subset of volunteers (usually about 1/3 of the group) who periodically fill the role of Team Captain. All communication regarding needs, and status updates are funneled through the Team Captain who is on call 24 x 7 during their assigned week and is in direct daily contact with the care recipient.

The Team Captain communicates to the entire group on a daily basis, primarily through the online needs list, calendar and discussion board. The Captain may also call or email individuals within the group periodically to solicit their specific involvement.

Active Care

Active care refers to the tangible things that caregivers do as active members of a caregiver community. Some examples of non-medical physical, social and emotional care are:

• Running an errand or providing a ride
  
  
  
• Maintaining the online medications list
  
  
  
• Preparing a meal
  
  
  
• Yard work or housecleaning
  
  
  
• Researching alternative treatment options
  
  
  
• Grocery Shopping
  
  
  
• Submitting / following up on insurance claims
  
  
  
• Attending an appointment with the care recipient and taking notes
  
  
  
• Planning / organizing group social events
  
  
  
• Provide help caring for a care recipient’s elderly parent
  
  
  
• Being available to simply listen
  

Grief and Bereavement Support

eHope caregiving extends well beyond the life of the care recipient. In cases involving a death, group members provide support throughout the dying process and also support the surviving family members long after the death of the care recipient. This includes helping everyone in the group through subsequent periods of grief and bereavement.