Welcome
ExtendaTouch will provide the primary peer-to-peer resource for an entirely free, safe, and anonymous online caregiver community, supporting our members regarding highly specific and sensitive issues at critical moments. We support and honor the many organizations, online platforms, and search engines that help so many caregivers now. ExtendaTouch adds a new layer of direct peer-to-peer support that allows caregivers to connect personally, rapidly, and relevantly.
The current state of caregiving
Caregiving usually begins with unexpected events. New caregivers find themselves unprepared, uninformed and unequipped to handle the myriad of new responsibilities. Long term caregivers suffer from isolation and stress that often causes them to die before their care recipients.
The tsunami: here and growing
Baby boomers, as they turn 65, add 11,000 individuals daily to the senior population. Estimates indicate that one-in-three Americans over 80 will develop Alzheimer's. Most of these individuals will need extensive support from untrained and unprepared family members. The rapid growth of individuals requiring care will exponentially increase caregiving demand.
We need to assemble a strong community immediately
We must pursue expanded caregiver support with a sense of urgency. ExtendaTouch will aggressively assume the challenge of relevantly matching caregivers who engage in supporting care-recipients with critical or chronic issues. Millions of caregivers have a fundamental need to gain access to other caregivers in times of crisis. ExtendaTouch singularly focuses on supporting those caregivers with rapid, multiple connections.
Why caregivers?
Caregivers attend doctor visits, assist during health crises, and interact with their care-recipients regularly. Mostly inexperienced family caregivers search to acquire new information and skills quickly. At ExtendaTouch, more experienced and informed caregivers can share their knowledge, experience, and support with less-experienced caregivers. New caregivers can review information they acquire with their medical practitioners and then share their knowledge with others who have similar needs. Long-term caregivers who suffer from isolation, lack of self-care, and mental health issues will find emotional support and a lifesaving connection. Currently fragmented and under-utilized, these millions of caregivers will join together to form a united and influential community.
Who do we serve?
ExtendaTouch serves anyone caring for another person or needing self-care. Our free community service exists for more than 45 million informal caregivers [family and friends]. They will provide an estimated $500 billion in unpaid services in 2020 and the approximately 5 million licensed paid caregivers.
The AARP projects 115 million Americans will need some regular caregiving in 2020. The shortfall creates an unbearable strain on caregivers, their care recipients, and their families.
Addressing the crisis
ExtendaTouch aggressively focuses on gathering caregivers into a unified, collaborative community. We believe that personal connections represent the most effective way to get information from experienced individuals to others less experienced. ExtendaTouch provides a community where single generous and knowledgeable caregivers can safely support and share information with many other individuals, who can then pass on their learning to many others.
Our highest priorities: Privacy, Security, Universal Access, and Choice
- ExtendaTouch will remain entirely free, supporting all web and mobile platforms.
- Members can connect only with whom they wish to communicate.
- We limit personal information to an email address, saved on a remote hard drive that is encrypted.
- We welcome professional caregivers, but HIPAA rules apply.
- Email provides secure encrypted requests for opt-in connections.
- Anonymous screen names and passwords remain entirely confidential.
Join ExtendaTouch and become a member today
Enter your email address, which is secure and private.
After that, you can add your profile and connect with other members.