There are perhaps more subtle ways that family support can also facilitate a recovery: A vested interest on the part of the patient's relatives and friends can help the hospital staff feel more connected to the patient also.

CNN: Healing touch of family, friends aids recovery

From GPS devices and computer programs that help relatives track a wandering Alzheimer's patient to iPad apps that help an autistic child communicate, a growing number of tools for the smartphone, the tablet and the laptop are catering to beleaguered caregivers.

WSJ: Beleaguered caregivers getting help from apps