Telemedicine and virtual care are no longer optional for healthcare practices. Covid-19 catapulted virtual care from an ancillary service to a staple of modern healthcare and has shown to be a positive addition for all parties involved.
In fact, Deloitte predicted Medicare Advantage plans that don’t embrace telehealth “will get left behind.” The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has already made several important updates in the last year to incorporate billing codes and necessary changes to ensure telehealth services can be offered to all Medicare users.
But nothing is without its challenges. One of the most pressing issues today is how to ensure virtual health is accessible to seniors and does not impede their access to quality care.
Seniors and technology
A common misconception is that the majority of seniors are hesitant to adopt technology. An AARP study found that 77% of older adults have a smartphone. However, another study found only 11% of seniors said they were comfortable using telehealth capabilities on their smart device.
There are also bigger, more serious reasons why a large number of seniors are unable to use telehealth services. As adults begin to age, they can expect to see a rise in health issues, such as hearing loss or impaired vision, which can make it difficult to read, type or hear. Technological advancements seem to evolve daily but little has been done to ensure the digital inclusion of the elderly, further isolating a population with minimal digital skills to begin with. Finally, mounting financial burdens like the surging costs of long-term care, housing and assisted living situations, and medical expenditures make it hard for people to afford smart devices or the internet.
To make virtual care more accessible for seniors, consider these four areas:
The research tells us that seniors have the tools and the ability to adopt new technologies. As telehealth becomes mainstream, seniors will be forced to adapt – but we as healthcare providers have a duty to make this process as seamless as possible, so one of our most vulnerable populations does not get left behind. We have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to make healthcare access easier and more valuable for our senior patients through virtual care.
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