With an increasing number of health care providers now offering telehealth solutions, seniors can receive care without exposing themselves to the additional risks and challenges of an office visit.
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine refers to health care providers remotely delivering clinical health services and information to patients via interactive audio and video telecommunications using smartphones, tablets, or home computers.
Senior Health Issues Cannot be Ignored
Seniors with chronic conditions and other health challenges cannot afford to ignore or delay dealing with health problems due to transportation issues, fear of exposure to illnesses, or mobility limitations. Telemedicine addresses those by providing a secure safety margin, along with continued attention to the physical and emotional challenges seniors face. It also provides elements of ease and convenience, as well as a wide range of services.
Ease and Convenience
For many seniors, traveling to their physician’s office can be an exhausting task — finding transportation, navigating the walk to the office, waiting, and then being driven back home. Through the technology of telemedicine, the senior receives care and attention in the comfort of his or her home. This is particularly beneficial for those who live in rural locations, which may require significant travel time and the corresponding costs. Not only can the senior communicate with their doctor, but they can request medication refills and schedule future appointments.
Telemedicine visits are conducted on a secure network that meets the same privacy standards as you would find in a physician’s office or hospital. Also, if the senior consents, a friend or relative can participate in the call.
Telehealth Solutions Provide a Wide Range of Services
A large number of health concerns can be addressed via telehealth solutions, including:
- Allergies
- Chronic illness management, including diabetes and high blood pressure
- Coughs and colds
- Follow-up visits
- Medication questions, adjustments/refills
- Mental health
- Minor infections
- Pain
- Rashes
- Sinus problems
- Sleep problems
- Specialist referrals
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Wellness
Telemedicine is great for seniors with everyday health questions, those who need follow-up checks, or those who want to discuss symptoms and issues that are not life-threatening. Also, a telemedicine visit can reveal to the physician if an injury or illness is severe enough to require more intensive in-person care by a health professional, or even a visit to the emergency room.
Providers of telemedicine services include but are not limited to:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Clinical psychologists
- Speech and occupational therapists
- Licensed social workers
