How digital health is revolutionizing elderly care

The digital sphere is having a profound impact on almost every area of modern life. Senior health and elderly care is no different. Significant developments include telehealth, mHealth apps, wearable technology and artificial intelligence.

All of these innovations present a significant opportunity for the improvement of healthcare for seniors. However, there are also potential challenges and pitfalls to consider. This guide will cover the various areas at play when it comes to managing seniors’ health.

Key areas where digital health is improving senior care

The impacts of digital health on senior care have been extremely far-reaching. Here are just a few areas of consideration.

Telehealth and remote patient monitoring

Through telehealth, seniors are able to access a wide array of care in a far more convenient manner than would be usually available. From primary care to specialists to mental health care, the options available to seniors via telehealth are wide-ranging. 

Providing care in this manner offers many benefits for seniors. For example, the transportation barriers many seniors face can be very usefully mitigated via telehealth services.

Remote patient monitoring can work in concert to provide a high level of long-distance care. The tools can be used to track chronic conditions and detect early signs of worsening health.

Some examples of remote patient monitoring tools are blood pressure cuffs, glucometers and pulse oximeters. With developments in digital health, healthcare professionals can track and analyze this data with increasing efficiency. This is especially true with developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Medication management

Medication management is one of the most critical areas for senior health. Many older citizens rely on medication taken on a daily basis to maintain their health. However, the cognitive decline that many seniors live with can unfortunately have an impact in this area.

Seniors may find it difficult to remember to take the necessary dosages of their medications. Digital health has helped in these areas in a number of ways.

Medication management apps can be used to provide reminders and tracking. This can be particularly useful for more complex medication regimens. 

There are also smart pill dispensers, which can provide alerts and synchronicity with other tools. These areas can provide critical peace of mind for practitioners, patients and their family that seniors have the best chance to remember their medications. This is a critical area for maintaining independence among older citizens.

Safety and security monitoring

Advancements in digital health are having a major impact on the lives of seniors. Consider the following areas:

• In-home motion sensors: In-home motion sensors can track falls and send automatic alerts to the relevant caregivers.

• AI-powered camera systems: Artificial intelligence can also be leveraged to boost health outcomes for seniors. They can provide passive monitoring of activity patterns and pick up on more subtle signs of impending medical issues. They can also be used to track elder abuse.
• Wearable technology: Wearable technology such as the Apple Watch has provided a new frontier for digital health. Impacts for seniors can be enormous. They can detect falls and call emergency services, provide location tracking for caregivers, track sleep and so much more.

In spheres such as retirement living, digital health is also making an impact. Many of these facilities include features like emergency buttons, which with a simple press can link residents to potentially life-saving care in the event of an emergency.

Some facilities have taken this approach even further. For instance, new homes constructed in Living Choice retirement communities come equipped with “help phones” which allow for hands-free speech via a loudspeaker. 

This indicates how digital health is constantly improving. While emergency buttons might not be accessible in all emergencies, this new innovation presents a new way for seniors to achieve the care they need.

Augmented and virtual reality

The emerging technologies of virtual reality and augmented presents immense opportunities in the world of health. For seniors, there are a wide array of areas to consider. While this is still an area of development for healthcare, it is very much worth considering how seniors can benefit from this technology.

VR and AR are already being used to introduce people to new environments, such as for tourism. For seniors, there is tremendous potential here. VR and AR could be used to introduce elderly citizens to new settings, such as senior living, helping them make this transition more easily. It could also help to address mild memory issues or cognitive decline by providing assistance in the navigation of local areas.

The educational benefits offered by this technology are remarkable. The gamification offered by AR and VR technology may be instrumental in boosting information retention for those who use it. As a result, AR and VR could help seniors gain a greater understanding of their health, which can be a highly useful piece of healthcare.

There is also interest in how this technology might help physical therapy for seniors. It could also play a role with reminiscence therapy. This would allow seniors to revisit familiar times of their lives.

It is hoped that this form of therapy can provide a meaningful experience for seniors, while also boosting health outcomes through the stimulation of memories and emotions.

Unsurprisingly, digital health is playing a major role in changing healthcare for our older populations. It is crucial that further research is conducted into these areas to ensure professionals and patients alike are making the most of the opportunities provided.

Likewise, long-term strategies are essential to ensure healthcare practices keep pace with these developments in a productive, effective and safe manner. Only then can we know that our senior population is getting the best treatment possible.