With a goal to connect and assist the more than 50 million caregivers in the United States, Intel Corporation today unveiled ConnectingForCare.com, the first online community of its kind for family caregivers, nurses, social workers and others to share information and provide emotional support, filling a void in today's healthcare system.

Developed by Intel in collaboration with the National Family Caregivers Association, ConnectingForCare.com uses the Internet to build a sense of community among caregivers through interactive forums, personal profiles and links to the latest research or treatments. The forums will allow caregivers to engage with one another at any time, ultimately leading to better coordination of care between the various groups. The Web site launches today in the United States and can also be accessed in the United Kingdom at ConnectingForCare.co.uk.

Tens of millions of Americans currently serve as family or professional caregivers, including campaign spokesperson Ian Ziering of "Beverly Hills: 90210" and "Dancing with the Stars." As one of the 50 million Americans who provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member, Ziering serves as a caregiver for his father, who has experienced kidney failure, and has witnessed the urgent need for improvements in communication and resource sharing that can lead to better care.

ConnectingForCare.com is part of Intel's commitment to finding new and innovative ways to apply technology to support today's caregiving population and improve health outcomes. Since 1999, Intel has focused on research-driven solutions for improving the care of aging and chronically ill individuals in home and clinical settings. This research continues to drive a variety of product offerings, aimed to assist those with various conditions as well as members of the care team. For example, the Intel Mobile Clinical Assistant platform, a reference design for an easy to use tablet PC that incorporates a barcode scanner, digital camera and wireless connectivity, was designed to enable nurses to access patient records at the point of care. The MCA platform helps nurses spend more time with patients, remain connected while on the move and manage the administration of medications.

Intel shares a vision with healthcare leaders of using technology to enhance the healthcare experience, increase quality of care and reduce the burden on the healthcare system. This campaign is a natural outgrowth of Intel's focus on people-centered innovation, providing a way to not only improve the quality of healthcare and reduce the burden of caregiving, but also a way to connect people and build a sense of community.

Renu /ITvoir Network