Tech Trends in Senior Care

Digital health adoption has become a necessity for seniors since the onset of the COVID epidemic. During lockdowns, older Americans were forced to communicate with loved ones via video calls. They did the same with doctors via Telehealth. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when many seniors wanted nothing to do with technology. Times have changed over the last two years and many seniors are jumping to learn more about technology.

“Gone are the days when seniors are forced to define healthcare by hospital walls,” says Philips Business Leader Kristin Molina. “Cloud-based solutions will provide the needed solutions for at-home wellbeing.”

Virtual technology that can be accessed from home is giving seniors the independent living they yearn for. They can now be more engaged in their healing and communication with others. The top senior technology trends of 2022:

Hospital at Home Model

This is a growing trend that should get even bigger going into the new year. Virtual care will allow seniors with more serious conditions to conduct visits with their doctors at home. According to AARP, most adults over the age of 50 prefer staying at home as opposed to independent living facilities. The Telehealth model also reduces costs and enhances patient overall satisfaction.

Technical Concierge Roles to Assist Seniors

During COVID, AARP reported a sharp rise in seniors using technical communication like email, texting, and smartphones. The only drawback is the need to increase seniors with tech issues. In response, organizations are using tech concierges to help older Americans in troubleshooting, repair, and new device setup.

CWD strategist Jessica Longly says it only makes common sense to include the appropriate technology if we expect seniors to have a personalized experience.

Consumerization and Control Over Senior’s Health

Seniors will have a better opportunity to have more involvement in their own health this upcoming year with the Cures Act Final Rule. It empowers seniors and gives them more control over health-related decisions. More seniors want to be actively involved in the healing process. One-on-one discussions with physicians via Telehealth solves that problem. According to AgingChoices, more seniors are becoming more comfortable with personalization. While there can be pitfalls with any new technology, the new technology trends will provide both the choices and freedom that seniors need.

Originally published at https://robertcenko.net on December 29, 2021.