By Zane Josie
An introduction to Geriatric care
Geriatric care is the process of caring for the elderly in the most convenient manner they deem suitable. The care is often associated with diagnosing and treating old age patients at their homes. The process also aims at catering to age-old problems and disabilities that cannot be avoided. The main aim of offering geriatric care by healthcare companies include:
- Supporting the patient’s consciousness
- Offering peace of mind
- Diagnosing disease at an early age
- Stimulating mental acuity
- Help in emotional stability
- Privacy maintenance
Geriatric care and Telehealth- a beautiful partnership
As with every area of healthcare, geriatric care is also facing a wave of tech transformation. The most popular example is the inclusion of advanced telehealth solutions in this care area. The results are simply amazing. Be it offering telemedicine features at home, calling emergency care with a telehealth app, or simply asking someone to come for emotional support; Telehealth has come up as a savior of the elderly.
As we explore this harmony of Telehealth and elderly care, we get to know more benefits that can help us a lot in the future. But before we explore the advantages, let us discover some common problems with the provision of geriatric care.
Technological challenges in Geriatric care
- Lack of communication
Communication can be the key to practical benefits in healthcare. But as we grow older, communication becomes tough. We cannot understand others’ points of view, and neither does the person we are conversing with understand us perfectly. And then there comes anxiety, anger, and sadness. This forms a large barricade in communication, especially when we are elder.
- Computer anxiety
Elderly people often observe negativity related to technological devices such as computers, mobile phones, or tablets, which makes them further away from the convenience of advanced telehealth solutions. Feeling a lack of knowledge develops anxiety, and the patient becomes apprehensive about using the new technology. This has been the main issue for which many companies are still struggling to find a solution.
- Commute issues
To utilize proper care, one must travel to care centers and medicinal facilities. This is a tough scenario if someone is nearing old age. While many people cannot commute easily, others find it too energy-consuming. While geriatric care aims to resolve the commute issues as much as possible by offering facilities at home, things still need to be improved.
- Doctor’s opinion about technology
Healthcare companies are spending millions on developing new technologies for geriatric care. Amidst that revolution, doctors’ opinion is still noteworthy for older people. Think of it- an elderly man is likely to adopt guidance from a doctor than we would from the owner of a technology company. Hence, doctors need to promote new technologies to better geriatric care.
- Ease of efforts
When it comes to using a telehealth app or depending on technology, the effort is everything. And if the ease of effort is good, the app will be used much easier. The lack of ease can develop uneasiness, and the user might not be willing to go forward with the new-age geriatric care at all. Trust is another great factor that can determine whether the user can use the technology or not.
How Telehealth can help
Telehealth has been trying hard to address the issues mentioned above. With the pandemic knocking on our doors, again and again, elderly people are finally starting to explore and understand the pros of telehealth system care. Slowly, an age of change has begun leading to better patient care. Let us know more about the ways advanced telehealth solutions are helping geriatric care in the US.
- Better patient care
Telehealth brings with itself a prompt action module that results in better care. Some of the examples include
- Heart monitor using applications
- Fall detector and depression detector at home
- Chronic management care
- Instant on-demand facility
- Online shopping for medicines
- Timely dose administration through app reminders
- Vitals tracking and monitoring
- Convenience on board
Telehealth and telemedicine software is easy to use, and the apps are easily downloadable and can be accessed through various handheld devices. Then there are features such as on-call doctor appointments, medical counseling through video calls, free online prescriptions, medication tracker, and discounts on bills and payments. This helps in offering good health and saves money for geriatric patients.
- Simplified, integrated billing and payment
Finance management is one main concern of old-age people. Since they have a limited financial income, they need to beware of extra deductions in their medical bills and payments. Telehealth offers an amazing commitment to this. The simplified, integrated billing and payment modules can help the elderly manage their bills and avoid invalid expenditure. They can track the monthly expense on health facilities, telemedicine, equipment, and lab bills. They can even create a strategy using the billing stats and reminders to save money and enjoy a peaceful life.
- Care for emergencies
Critical emergency handling is an important aspect of Geriatric care. Offering voice and data services from a remote location, emergencies can be tackled better using advanced telehealth solutions. Furthermore, telemedicine software can be used to send emergency calls, urgent notifications, and prompt responses to healthcare or medical facilities. This helps avoid mishappenings that usually arise from the delay of emergency care.
- Primary care for special individuals
Some geriatric patients are taken care of like kids, and they cannot move and hence, require complete attention. Telehealth can bring better times to these people by offering primary care. Timely checks, regular exercises reminders, monitoring of vitamins and minerals in the body, and help in managing stress levels are some of the ways Telehealth can help.
- Lab testing at home
Tests used to be more of a burden than a service for geriatric care, and this is nullified with advanced telehealth solutions. An elder patient can call lab testing teams, and the process can be completed at home. The reports can be sent online in a pdf format, and a physician’s advice can be obtained through video call.
In a nutshell- conclusion
Telehealth is still evolving and becoming better every day. With its impact on every part of the world, geriatric care has not remained untouched from its advantages. We know that convenience and prompt care are the most useful ingredients of geriatric care. Telehealth is accustomed to providing exactly that, leading to a better and more comfortable life for patients and health service providers.
