The Role of Telehealth in Senior Care

By Your Health Magazine

Many seniors needing health care during the COVID pandemic were forced to rely more heavily on telehealth services. Years later, telehealth continues to transform senior health care, although change has been gradual. A national survey of older adults showed that large percentages of patients are willing to use telehealth services, leading to the question, does Medicare cover telehealth?

The results also showed that people on the older end of the spectrum were less likely to use telehealth services. More seniors would be willing to use telehealth services if they had a financial or other incentive. Telehealth services have the potential to transform senior care by improving access to care, reducing costs, and generating better outcomes.

Benefits of Telehealth Services for Seniors

Telehealth services offer a host of benefits for health providers and patients. They’re convenient, efficient, and cost-effective. More importantly, they help seniors stay healthy.

Here is a list of the advantages of telehealth services for seniors:

● Convenience: Patients can visit their doctors at convenient times in the comfort of their homes.

● Transportation: Seniors who can’t drive or have mobility issues can attend their visits more easily and save on travel costs.

● Accessibility: Virtual appointments enable accessibility to healthcare for seniors living in rural areas or areas where resources aren’t nearby.

● Reduced costs: Seniors may save money on virtual visits, which help to minimize transportation costs, emergency visits, and hospital readmissions.

● Remote monitoring: Physicians can monitor some conditions using real-time monitoring devices.

● Remote support: Patients get access to psychiatric care, dietary support, and other support from home, making it more likely that seniors will use these services.

Seniors’ Perspectives on Telehealth Services

Pre-pandemic telehealth services were not prevalent. The COVID outbreak broke some of those barriers out of necessity. A clinical investigation published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society involving people over 65 after the pandemic showed that most seniors prefer in-person care. Nonetheless, they were happy with the care they received during telehealth appointments and wanted virtual appointments.

Seniors responding to the survey cited the following benefits of telehealth appointments:

● Not having to go out in bad weather

● Avoiding exposure due to the pandemic or other illnesses

● Being able to stay home when they were ill or had mobility issues

The representative group of seniors also said they favored telehealth services when they could see a trusted physician.

Clinicians asked seniors to give a grade for telehealth appointments on a seven-point scale. The typical rating was a six.

Barriers & Challenges Exist for Telehealth Services for Seniors

Surprisingly, telehealth services date back to the 19th century but have been slow to catch on. While health providers overcame some barriers with telehealth appointments during the pandemic, seniors still face obstacles.

Some of the challenges in obtaining telehealth services include:

● Technology Access and Literacy: Many seniors struggle to use electronic devices and navigate platforms. Also, high-speed internet isn’t available in some regions.

● Privacy and Security Concerns: Health providers must ensure HIPAA compliance and have systems that protect patient data.

● Clinical Limitations: An inpatient may be needed when physicians need to perform a physical exam.

● Resistance to Change: After a lifetime of going to doctors’ offices, some seniors may not want to change their way of doing things.

While not all types of health appointments are appropriate for virtual appointments, seniors could leverage the benefits of telehealth services more often if they had a little help. Intuitive software and community-based training on how to use it could expand access to senior healthcare.

Telehealth for Seniors: Future Directions and Policy Support

Seniors concerned about the disadvantages of telehealth services may be a reason why more seniors aren’t yet comfortable with virtual doctor appointments. Legislation encouraging rather than discouraging telehealth services may prompt seniors to request virtual doctor appointments more often. The federal government has passed legislation to include telehealth services in the Medicare and Medicaid programs through September 30, 2025. Policymakers will need to extend current legislation or pass new legislation for Medicare and Medicaid to continue covering telehealth services. Future changes should be thoughtfully implemented to ensure effective and equitable senior care.

As emerging technologies advance, physicians may be able to diagnose and treat patients more efficiently during virtual appointments. AI can quickly analyze data to diagnose patients and more accurately evaluate the findings of wearable devices. As time passes, physicians and health insurers may also be able to create hybrid treatment models that integrate in-person and virtual appointments in meaningful ways.

Telehealth Services Can Effectively Transform Senior Healthcare

Moving forward, technology and policy will play essential roles in getting seniors to use telehealth services and transforming senior healthcare. Better healthcare promotes safety and independence among seniors, while improving their overall quality of life. Most importantly, the best senior healthcare services will allow seniors to age in place in the comfort of their homes for as long as possible.