Prior to COVID-19, there was an estimated 44 million caregivers in the United States. Now, almost overnight, we have all become caregivers. Caregiving has always been difficult but COVID-19 has only exacerbated the challenges and the self-isolation and quarantine efforts put in place to limit the transmission of the virus continue to dramatically impact the way caregivers interact with those they support.
Throughout the pandemic the use of technology has been used by the world to work, learn and stay connected. For caregivers, technology has the potential to make their lives easier while also improving the social, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing of the vulnerable populations they care for.
As part of its ongoing commitment to support the people and families in our communities impacted by COVID-19, Cambia Health Solutions has made a series of investments with local nonprofits and health care providers to put technology in the hands of those most in need. Below is a list of some of the partners and highlights from each investment.
- CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) - Oregon & SW Washington. CASA supports and promotes volunteer court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children. Due to quarantine restrictions put in place by COVID-19, Cambia and CASA for Children worked to provide Chromebooks to advocates and children so they could stay in contact and communicate.
- Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) MyMusicRx® - Oregon. Alongside community partner, Children’s Cancer Association, Cambia committed funds toward their MyMusicRx® program which provides music “medicine” for kids and families, currently in quarantine, through digital and social engagement. In addition, the program offers Facebook Live sessions every Tuesday and Thursday, for kids, families and healthcare workers
“Jared loved every minute of it,” said Jared’s mother Heather, of her son’s experience with MyMusicRx®. “We want to thank [Jared’s MyMusicRx specialist] Cameron for his awesome personality and compassion. Thank you so very much for making my boy laugh and being his friend!"
- Friends of the Children Portland - Oregon. Friends of the Children pairs children with unique talents, interests and dreams, and who face multiple systemic obstacles with a professional mentor. In response to COVID-19 limitations, Cambia helped support a fund to purchase software that allowed mentors and mentees to continue meeting virtually.
- Idaho's Area Agencies on Aging - Idaho. Through technology donations to Community Action Partnership and Southeast Idaho Council of Governments, Cambia helped provide iPads and internet support to seniors to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation caused by the pandemic.
- International Rescue Committee of Salt Lake - Utah. In the wake of COVID-19, Cambia worked closely with the IRC in Salt Lake City, an organization that helps people whose lives have been uprooted by conflict survive, recover and rebuild their lives in America, to put laptops, internet coverage and virtual support in the hands of 25 newly resettled refugee and immigrant households to ensure the families can stay connected and informed.
- King County Medical Society - Washington. With the rapid shift toward telehealth, Cambia provided funding to the King County Medical Society for the purchase of webcams, headsets and other technology necessary to implement telemedicine in their hospitals and clinics.
- OHSU’s Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH) - Oregon. Through Cambia’s investment, the NICH program, which treats children with complex or chronic health conditions, was able to purchase iPads so families can meet virtually with their providers and case managers. In addition, for those children currently receiving in-hospital care, the iPads have provided a way for them to stay in touch with their siblings, grandparents and friends.
“Hello Cambia, I’m a single mother, I have two babies, and I use the MAX to get around, so I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you for this awesome gift and now I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to stay in contact with my child’s doctor and I can stay in touch with the NICH program. I am very thankful for this program [NICH] and Cambia. Our family can use this to help finish our goals in life. - Thank you, A parent of a child in the NICH Program”
- Oregon & Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Associations - Oregon & Washington. Committed to ensuring all people have access to high quality hospice and palliative care, Cambia worked with both the Oregon & SW Washington Hospice and Palliative Care Association’s to provide software tools and technology to small non-profit hospices to help bridge the gap between patients, providers and family caregivers in self-isolation.
- Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon (PRO) - Oregon. To allow for the organization to continue providing its emotional and educational support services to families impacted by Parkinson’s, Cambia funded the purchase and training of virtual programming software.
- Sound Generations - Washington. To support aging adults and their loved ones, Cambia joined Sound Generations, which helps people on their aging journey, to provide 40 Grand Pads to clients and caregivers.
