Technology has transformed modern healthcare, offering seniors unprecedented access to their doctors, medical records, and health information—all from home. But for many older people, using apps, websites, and digital portals can be overwhelming, which is where senior home care providers come in.
The Digital Divide in Healthcare for Seniors
While some seniors may feel comfortable with personal computers, smartphones, or making video calls, many others struggle with the technology. Beyond confusion about technology, seniors might also struggle with it due to a lack of access, vision problems, arthritis, or something else.
Senior home care providers, on the other hand, know how to navigate patient portals and find credible information on the internet that seniors can use to better understand their condition. This is key, as not feeling comfortable with technology can have a direct effect on the senior’s overall health, particularly if they aren’t getting reminders for appointments, test results, or important instructions from their care team. With a consistent caregiver by their side, no information is lost.
Closing the Gap With Hands-On Help
Senior home care providers can help seniors set up and log in to telehealth portals and ensure that usernames and passwords are stored securely. Additionally, when a telehealth appointment starts, they remain with the senior to help resolve any audio or video issues that might arise and ensure everything goes smoothly. This kind of help removes the stress of the visit, which is one reason why seniors might avoid using the service.
Equally as important, their calming presence allows the senior to focus on what the doctor is saying.
Researching Health Conditions Together
In addition to helping with telehealth appointments, senior home care providers also help seniors responsibly look up information about their health conditions. With so much health information online, it can be challenging to tell which sources are trustworthy. Caregivers can help seniors find reliable websites like the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, or the CDC and keep them from getting false information.
This joint research helps seniors better understand their diagnoses, medications, and treatment options. Additionally, it gives them more confidence during their appointments and helps them identify concerns and come up with questions they might want to ask.
Accessing Prescription Refills and Lab Results Online
Many pharmacies and health systems are also using digital platforms now to manage prescriptions and lab results. Senior home care providers help seniors use these portals to request refills, view test results, and send messages to their care teams. These are tasks that might not get completed otherwise, which could lead to worsening health conditions.
Additionally, caregivers offer comfort when lab results might not be what the senior expected, ensuring they’re not alone.
The benefits of digital healthcare for seniors are clear—and thankfully, with the help of senior home care, they’re able to take advantage of what the tools have to offer. As a result, they’re more likely to keep follow-up appointments, take their medications on time, and notice changes in their health, all of which lead to better healthcare overall.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Upper Darby, PA, please contact the caring staff at Better Care Home Health Services today at (267) 766-5218
Better Care Home Health Services is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Philadelphia, Germantown, Glenside, Elkins Park, Bryn Mawr, Roxborough, Wyncote, Broomall, Upper Darby, Yeadon, Lansdowne, Narberth, Wynnewood, Penn Wynne, Fairmount, Ardmore, Chestnut Hill, and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
- https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/connected-health-tools-help-seniors-digital-divide-persists
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9715874/
- https://www.anthem.com/employer/the-benefits-guide/older-adults-and-digital-healthcare-bridging-the-divide
Better Care Home Health Services is a family-owned agency dedicated to providing excellent and comprehensive home health care to individuals and families of Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties. We are honored that God has blessed us with the opportunity to positively impact and change people’s lives. It is our mission to ensure that we provide the very best of care to our clients.
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