Age Tech

Benefits of home care for seniors and how age-tech can help

Before advancements in technology, seniors had no choice but to age in a care facility. Now, it’s no longer the only option. In fact, many seniors prefer not to go into a senior care facility, and would rather stay in their own homes. 87% of older Americans want to age in place, and age-tech can empower them to do so.  

What is age-tech?

Age-tech is technology specifically created for seniors. Seniors living at home, or “aging in place,” rely on healthcare technology to decrease the amount of in-person care they need.   

53% of older Americans would prefer a mix of medical staff and healthcare technology to manage their medical needs. The healthcare age-tech that can help seniors age in place includes: 

• Medication adherence: These devices help seniors accurately take their medication, in the right dose, at the right time. It includes automatic pill dispensers, medication reminders, and adherence monitoring. 
• Remote patient monitoring: These devices track the vitals of patients, helping their healthcare providers manage their chronic conditions. 
• Emergency alert systems: If a senior is in a medical emergency—for example, if they have a heart attack—emergency alert systems can notify healthcare providers, sending help without the patient even calling 911.  
• Telehealth: Remote messaging systems, video chats, and calls with providers allow seniors to receive medical care in the comfort of their own home. 

Although only 8% of seniors currently have a health and safety device, 70% of seniors made a tech purchase in the past year. Seniors keep reaching for their devices, and AARP says they’re ready for more. There is great potential for seniors to be using healthcare technology to age in place, and home care can help seniors live a higher-quality life. 

Benefits of senior home care with age-tech

Retain their independence

Seniors have spent their entire lives building a home they love, working for themselves, and making choices. When they move into a senior care facility, it can feel like their autonomy has been stripped away from them. They no longer feel that same sense of independence they’ve had throughout their entire life. 

“Many seniors know they need help,” says Mary Sue Patchett, Vice President of Brookdale Senior Living. “But they don’t want to ask for it because they’re afraid of losing their independence.”  

To help seniors retain their independence, home care is key. It allows seniors to live their lives in their own homes, and technology allows them to experience their time without a stay-at-home caregiver constantly looming over their shoulder.   

Far less expensive

Another aspect of independence is financial independence. Unfortunately, 65% of adults said they aren’t saving money to pay for senior living, and senior care facility costs aren’t affordable. The average monthly cost for a semi-private room in a senior care facility is $7,900. Similarly, full-time at-home care is also extremely expensive, with a median of $4,500 per month. 

Along with pricey assisted living and caregiving prices, healthcare expenses are also on the rise. Costs for inpatient care have risen by 195% over the last 20 years, while prices for outpatient services grew by 200%.  

Assisted living facilities, in-home caregiving services, and healthcare are all extremely expensive, and seniors only have a finite amount of retirement savings. However, age-tech can lower the cost. By using age-tech, seniors require less in-person care, without a reduction in quality. 

Overall less fear

When seniors can’t afford to hire help, caregivers in the family usually have to step up to assist them. Family members of seniors spend an average of 24 hours a week providing unpaid care, and this increases when there’s no extra help. In fact, many caregivers need to reduce their hours or quit their jobs to help care for their elderly loved ones. 

Unfortunately, seniors aren’t blind to the impact of their need for care. In fact, Pachett says another reason seniors don’t ask for help is because they’re afraid of “becoming a burden to their children.” She continues, “Instead, they suffer silently and often in isolation.”  

Since age-tech reduces the amount of in-person care seniors need, it can help them feel like less of a burden. This increases the likelihood that they’ll seek care for any medical ailments they’re facing, without worrying about the impact it’ll have on their loved ones.   

Delivering high-quality care with age-tech  

Age-tech helps seniors maintain their independence, save on finances, and drop the fear that they’re a burden. Most importantly, age-tech provides high-quality care that drives positive health outcomes.   

If you’re looking for a healthcare solution for seniors, look no further than the Ōmcare Home Health Hub®. It was specifically designed for elderly patients to help them age in place by providing:  

• Medication deliveries: We’ll deliver medication directly to your doorstep.
• Pre-packaged medicine: Up to 30 days of medication comes in easy-to-open pouches, and it is programmed to dispense on time, in exactly the right amount.
• Medication reminders: You’ll get reminders when it’s time to take medication.
• Regular check-ins: You can regularly check in with healthcare providers via video chat, calls, or text messaging.
• Cost effectiveness: After a one-time fee, the Ōmcare Home Health Hub® is only $9.99 per month.

Reach out to Ōmcare today to learn more.

by Ōmcare

The importance of connection: Why social messaging systems elevate healthcare platforms

High blood pressure. Obesity. Heart disease. Anxiety. Depression. A weak immune system. Cognitive decline. Alzheimer's disease… Even death.   

Those are the conditions that affect lonely seniors at higher rates than those who have meaningful relationships.  

Dr. Steve Cole, Ph.D. says, “Loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases.” He continues, “The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease.” 

The statistics: How loneliness affects elderly patients

If you’re the type of person who likes to see the numbers, we get it—so are we. Here are the statistics from the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). Loneliness in elderly patients is associated with increases the risk of: 

• Dementia by 50% 
• Heart disease by 29% 
• Stroke by 32% 
• Hospitalization by 68%  
• Emergency visits by 57%  

And the most shocking statistic: loneliness increases the risk of death by four times.  

Overall, the CDC says that the health effects of loneliness rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. It’s known as the “loneliness epidemic.” Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation, says, “This is a very real public health crisis.” 

Connection is essential to keep seniors healthy—both mentally and physically.  

What is loneliness?

Chances are: most of us have felt lonely before. Emphasis on felt. Because that’s exactly what it is: a feeling. The CDC explains that loneliness is the feeling of being alone.  

Loneliness and social isolation are not one and the same. A person could be surrounded by people, yet still, feel alone. Another person could be socially isolated, yet not feel lonely.  

"Loneliness is the discrepancy between what you want from your relationships and what you actually have,” says Stephanie Cacioppo, director of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine’s Brain Dynamics Laboratory.  

The goal is to help seniors avoid the distressing feeling of loneliness—even if they’re physically alone. 

A deep dive into elderly loneliness

When it comes to experiencing loneliness, seniors are the most at-risk members of society.  

The CDC notes, “Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation, because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.” Here are some more risk factors for loneliness in elderly patients: 

• Retirement 
• Loss of mobility  
• Lack of transportation  

40% of Medicare enrollees feel more lonely since November 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the isolation epidemic. 

Does technology build connections?

50% of older, educated Americans say the internet has been essential in helping them adjust during the pandemic. But it’s not as simple as just connecting seniors to the internet.   

“The solution is not just to say we are going to give everyone an iPad,” says Laura Trejo, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Aging. “What are they going to do with it?” Instead, here are some of the best ways to use technology to combat elderly loneliness:  

• Engaging online courses 
• Virtual senior fitness classes 
• Online community services 
• Zoom or phone calls  
• Classes to teach seniors how to use technology 
• And finally…healthcare technology is an amazing area to help seniors ward off loneliness.  

Healthcare interventions are key

Loneliness leads to health problems, but the opposite is also true: health problems lead to loneliness. For example, 1 in 3 seniors have hearing loss, which leads to them feeling lonely. 

Another risk factor for loneliness is having a chronic illness. Psychology Today writes, “Symptoms and treatment often require withdrawal from the world.”  

Due to the interconnectedness of health conditions and loneliness, healthcare interventions are key. Medical professionals can help patients manage the underlying health problem that’s causing loneliness. Ultimately, this intervention will lead to less health issues down the line. 

What we’re saying is: Healthcare interventions are extremely important to help seniors ward off loneliness.  

The American Society on Aging writes, “Loneliness and isolation should be assessed and treated in the same way as other issues concerning health—through screening and appropriate intervention.” Here are how healthcare interventions can help lonely seniors: 

• Periodic assessments for loneliness 
• Inform seniors of the adverse health effects of loneliness 
• Make efforts to connect seniors with social care 
• Determine and treat the underlying health issues that are causing loneliness 
• Recommend therapy 

And finally, take the time to build a relationship with your patients. 

Be a friend to your patients

Another way healthcare professionals can help is by fostering a connection with elderly patients. In fact, you might be one of the only relationships your patient has left. Taking a few extra minutes to show empathy can make all the difference in your patient’s life.   

When you’re communicating via a healthcare platform—for example, video chatting or messaging—you’ll want to be more verbal. During in-office visits, patients can read your body language. That’s not true when you’re providing healthcare virtually. Here are our tips for being a virtual “friend” to your patients:   

• Let your patients know you’re listening. 
• Be curious about your patient. Ask questions to understand your patient—including questions that aren’t necessarily about medicine. 
• Acknowledge the patient and their feelings.  
• Show support.  
• Share extra resources. 
• Treat the patient how you would want a family member to be treated.  
• Ask for feedback. 

Even if you’re communicating virtually, showing empathy leads to better health outcomes for patients.  

Social messaging elevates healthcare platforms

Connection is key to helping seniors avoid long-term health problems and needless suffering. That’s why we built a healthcare app that allows patients and providers to build meaningful relationships. And the Ōmcare Home Health Hub® was born. It’s a customizable telehealth portal.   

Here are a few things you can do with Ōmcare:  

• Connect with patients in real-time via video or chat 
• Provide face-to-face care 
• Help patients feel less lonely and manage their conditions 
• Provide medication management (prescribe medications, provide accurate pre-slit packages of multi-dose medication at the right time, and track adherence)

Reach out to Ōmcare today to learn more.  

by Ōmcare

Do elderly patients want to use healthcare technology?

As we’re considering alternatives to at-home healthcare for elderly patients, medical technology is what we turn to. Age-tech is not only more cost-effective, but it also allows older patients to maintain their autonomy and independence as they age.  

But when it comes to older patients, there’s a stigma that they don’t want to—or can’t—use technology. These are the questions we’re investigating today: Do older patients want to use healthcare technology? What barriers make healthcare technology challenging for the older generation, and how can we overcome them?   

Most elderly patients are using technology in their daily lives

Younger generations have grown up with technology, which makes it less complicated to pick up and learn quickly. But what about older generations who haven’t had the benefit of learning how to use technology from a young age? 

Although we typically imagine elderly patients struggling to use technology, 61% of people 65 and older own a smartphone. Even more—75% of elderly patients—are internet users. And finally, 56% of seniors send text messages daily. While there’s a common stereotype that elderly patients are unable to use technology, the vast majority of them are already using it in their daily lives.  

But what about medical technology specifically? Here are the statistics: 

• 40% of elderly patients want to use technology for medication management. 
• 21% of older patients want to use telehealth to video conference with their doctors. 
• 53% want their health to be managed by a mix of technology and healthcare staff. 
• 66% of older patients say they’re comfortable sharing their health data with their providers via technology. 
• 3 in 4 older Americans want to age in their homes with the help of technology. 

Not only are the majority of seniors comfortable using technology, but they’re ready to use it to manage their health. Yet even still, some seniors are being left behind in the new digital age.   

A deep dive into the digital divide

When it comes to developing digital skills, seniors are closing the generational gap and catching up to their younger counterparts. However, there’s still a digital divide among seniors. This gap in technology usage is mainly due to polarizing attitudes toward technology.  

Seniors are categorized into these five groups to help us understand their different attitudes towards age-tech. 

Here are the two senior groups that are least likely to use technology:  

• Old traditionalists: This makes up 20% of the elderly population. These elderly patients typically don’t have children, are isolated, and have fewer devices than the average senior.  
• Striving pensioners: These seniors make up 26% of the elderly population, and they’re likely to live alone, have health or financial problems, and have few devices. However, they’re likely to watch TV more often than other seniors.

The next senior group is likely to use technology on an average level: 

• Sociable grandparents: These seniors make up 25% of the elderly population. They’re likely to be married and socialize often. They don’t often feel lonely in comparison to other seniors. 

Here are the last two senior groups. These two are only about 3 in 10 of all seniors. They’re likely to use the internet and technology more than the average senior:  

• Mature life connoisseurs: 13% of the elderly population, these seniors are typically married, highly educated, and have steady finances. They’re likely to be more active and social than other seniors.  
• Aging techies: Making up 16% of the senior population, these elderly patients show a high level of excitement for technology. They’re often well-educated, active, make good money, and socialize often.  

Clearly, there is a large gap in technology usage among seniors themselves. So how can we go about bridging the gap so that more seniors use medical technology? 

How to drive higher age-tech usage in elderly patients 

Among the two groups of elderly patients that are less likely to use technology, we can see some common themes:  

• They are less likely to have family and friends that can help them navigate new technologies.  
• They’re more likely to face physical challenges, such as hearing loss, that makes using technology harder. 
• They often don’t have exposable income, meaning they can’t constantly buy new technologies. 

Here are our recommendations to help these seniors access medical technologies: 

• Provide detailed instructions on how to use age-tech. For example, create easy-to-understand instructions to help.  
• If physical constraints, such as hearing loss or visual impairments, are affecting a senior’s use of age-tech, provide them with alternative options to help them overcome that barrier. For example, for patients with hearing loss, a healthcare messaging system may be better than a virtual appointment or phone call. 
• Help patients understand their financial assistance options. 

Finally, if you’re creating your own healthcare app, focus on making user experience accessible for all. This involves asking elderly patients about their preferences and abilities during research and development phases.  

Turn to age-tech that was created for seniors

While many age-tech options are created “top-down,” with seniors as an afterthought, the Ōmcare Home Health Hub® was developed specifically to help seniors use it with ease. Seniors want to use healthcare technology, so we’ve made it easier for them to do so. The Ōmcare Home Health Hub connects elderly patients with providers and helps them manage their medications. Reach out to Ōmcare today to learn more.  

by Ōmcare

3 Affordable alternatives to traditional home health care (2022 Update) 

3 in 4 older Americans want to stay in their homes as they age. Yet, home healthcare has become increasingly expensive, and it’s no longer an affordable option for the average patient. In 2022, the median monthly cost for full-time home healthcare is $4,500.  

That’s $54,000 a year.  

Thankfully, there are a host of technological healthcare solutions available for patients who have conditions that need monitoring and treating. Before you decide to hire a nurse to come over daily, let’s explore other, more cost-effective healthcare options. 

Technology’s role in home healthcare

Technology has opened up a world of possibilities for elderly people with disabilities and chronic diseases. Patients are no longer reliant on in-person healthcare to live independent lives.   

“We’re already seeing some really interesting ways technology is being used to help people as they age,” says Ben Jonash, an author of The Future of Aging. Medical technology is allowing patients to age gracefully and in their own homes, even when they have health issues. These technologies represent alternatives for elderly patients to avoid expensive, in-person healthcare. 

3 alternatives to home healthcare

1. Telemedicine

The first alternative to in-person healthcare is telemedicine. This is what it sounds like: a medical professional can provide their services through video chat, rather than in-person. Telemedicine, or telehealth, provides the following benefits: 

• Promotes continuity of care 
• Decreases the cost of care 
• Improves patient self-management and clinical outcomes 
• Reduces exposure to illness 

With telemedicine, patients can still get the care they need, without stepping outside their homes. They’ll still receive access to the same healthcare that they would in-person. And at times, care is even more accessible, easier to get, and quicker.  

2. Mobile Health

When a patient self monitors, then transfers the data to an online healthcare platform, it’s referred to as “mobile health.” Mobile health, similarly to telemedicine, represents another affordable alternative to at-home healthcare. Here are some examples of mobile health: 

• Tracking dietary intake and glucose levels for diabetes management 
• Remote patient monitoring (in these instances, devices do the monitoring for the patients)  
• Point-of-care diagnostics  
• Mobile health applications that connect patients with providers (for example, real-time messaging) 

Another example of mobile health would be when a patient wears an emergency health tracking device. Medical alert systems can alarm doctors and emergency responders when patients can’t do so themselves. 

Mobile health, in many cases, removed the need to have someone in the home, making it an incredible alternative to in-home healthcare.  

3. Medication management

Technology greatly enhances the ability of providers to remotely manage medications, allowing easy access for patients.Online medication management is widely known as “telepharmacy.” These are applications that remind patients of refill schedules and allow them to easily message pharmacists to request refills. 

Using online medication management, patients can have their medicine delivered. Some medication management tools even include automatic pill dispensers and medication reminders. By taking the entire process of managing medicine online, patients are more likely to adhere to their medication schedules, leading to more favorable health outcomes. 

Technology drives better health outcomes

Nowadays, most patients can’t afford to drop thousands of dollars a month on full-time home healthcare. Thankfully, no one has to—with the help of technology. Now that you know the alternatives to home health care, all that’s left to do is find the right solution for you.  

One option that offers telemedicine, mobile health, and medication management is Ōmcare’s Home Health Hub®. It’s a platform that offers patients and providers the ability to form a virtual relationship, checking in regularly, remotely. Patients can also request medication refills and have them mailed directly to their doors.  

Reach out to Ōmcare to get started with telemedicine and online medication management. 

by Ōmcare

Technology's impact on cost utilization

In the United States, healthcare is one of the top expenses for American families. In 2020, Americans spent $4.1 trillion on healthcare (yes, trillion). That means on average, each person in the U.S. spent roughly $12,500. Many physicians are concerned that high healthcare costs are placing a burden on their patients. 

However, to reduce the healthcare cost burden on patients, we need to first cut expenses for healthcare providers. Unfortunately, bad debt caused by uncompensated care continues to increase at health centers across the country. In 2020, 47% of hospitals experienced increased debt due to uncompensated care. 21% of hospitals owe at least $10 million in debt. 

Technology improves efficiency, reducing costs  

Although $1.7 trillion is invested annually in healthcare, the industry is inefficient and burdened with costs. However, technology can help both patients and providers in reducing costs. For example, the right technology allows doctors to detect, treat, and prevent diseases, which reduces the long-term cost of healthcare. 

With rising labor costs, it’s the perfect time for the healthcare sector to embrace using technology to cut healthcare costs – while maintaining a high quality of care. If most providers adopted health technology, the efficiency savings could average over $77 billion per year. 

Don’t be afraid of technology and automation

You might be skeptical of automating tasks, thinking it’ll reduce jobs and staffing. Your administrative staff will still have to manage these technical solutions and address other tasks, but they’ll be much more efficient and productive. Automation and technology are not replacements for staff, but rather, an empowerment tool. 

New health technology helps reduce costs, offers a better patient experience, and encourages innovation.  

How technology reduces the cost of healthcare

1. Lower staffing costs

Labor is one of the biggest operating expenses. Plus, overworking the same employees with tasks that could be automated can lead to medical staff burnout. This reduces the effectiveness of your employees.  

By using technology, hospitals effectively manage their staffing schedules, while decreasing healthcare expenses. Data helps hospitals understand their staffing needs to avoid overworking and over scheduling employees. This can be done by looking at past shifts, plus examining the current patient needs. These apps can carry out real-time labor analysis to predict demands based on:  

• The number of incoming patients 
• The number of open beds 
• Capacity 
• Equipment status 

This innovative labor technology can help hospitals avoid resorting to expensive alternatives, such as temporary hires or paying staff overtime.  

2. Automate administrative tasks

Another key to lowering staffing costs is automating administrative tasks. The healthcare industry spends $2.1 billion on manual tasks for provider data management. These are poorly performed and error-prone. The entire industry could save 33%, or $13.3 billion a year if administrative tasks were automated. 

Administrative tasks waste a lot of time. Doctors end up wasting their time on entering patient notes, rather than actually treating the patients. But why let doctors waste their time, when there is technology available that lets doctors automate these administrative tasks? For example, instead of manually entering test results, there are apps for you to scan the test results and import them automatically.   

Mobile apps can help hospitals and practices save a lot of time. For example, apps can handle prescriptions, testing, appointment setting, answering patient questions, sending medication or appointment reminders, and insurance processes. Plus, technology can provide analytics that lead to better patient care.  

3. Streamline marketing efforts

Another way to reduce staffing costs, while also increasing revenue, is to automate marketing efforts. Hospitals need to invest time and marketing into their business, and automation is the best solution. It helps you:  

• Expand your reach and impressions 
• Gain and nurture leads 
• Acquire more patients 
• Grow faster 

Technology can give you data so you can take advantage of segmented marketing. For example, you can market your diabetes care specifically for diabetic or prediabetic patients. Segmented marketing helps you reach the patients who need your care. 

Plus, technology allows you to automate email campaigns, social media posts, patient referrals, text messages, review generation, and more.  

Marketing technology also provides analytics. These ensure your marketing team knows what’s effective, and what isn’t. When they know what types of content are resonating with your audience, they can keep driving engagement.  

There’s always more to be done for marketing teams. Streamlining marketing efforts helps you generate more revenue while avoiding overworking employees.  

4. Reduce the need for specialists

The overuse of specialists can make care very expensive. However, remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools can reduce costs by eliminating travel costs, hospital room expenses, and specialty fees. It also ensures that specialists are spending their time wisely. 

Using RPM technology, providers can remotely monitor patients in real-time. The system can analyze their healthcare data, and alert doctors in real-time if a patient’s condition grows worrisome. Then, the provider can adjust the patient’s treatment plans.  

When specialists are needed, technology makes it possible for them to utilize virtual appointments.  

5. Offer telehealth

Remote care saves an average of $19-$121 per patient compared to traditional, in-person doctor visits. Plus, throughout the 2020 pandemic, telemedicine was the key advancement that helped doctors stay in touch with patients. Even after the pandemic, 43% of Americans want to continue opting for telehealth. 

Remote care also helps providers save financially. They can offer primary care remotely, reducing unnecessary and expensive emergency room visits. It also saves time for providers. Physicians who use telemedicine reduce visit times by about 20%.  

Telemedicine is proving to be one of the most important healthcare technologies moving forward. It improves healthcare, and lowers the cost for everyone. It’s affordable, and it saves everyone time. 

Embrace technological advances  

In healthcare, the trends are moving us to a place where artificial intelligence will be used more and more to speed up treatment and reduce costs. With an eye for innovation, new ways of delivering care are made possible, which improves the effectiveness of treatments. Durable, user friendly, and cost-effective systems give us another avenue to improve healthcare. The future of this industry is bright. 

Looking for a technological solution to decrease costs? Ōmcare Home Health Hub® is a video-based, remote solution that ​allows patients to get their medicine and speak with their providers, pharmacist, or caregivers in real-time. ​​Reach out to Ōmcare to learn more!  

by Ōmcare

How age tech is the next wave of healthcare  

The world population is aging at an unprecedented rate. In 2019, one in 11 people were over the age of 65. By 2050, one in six people will be older than 65. By 2050, the population of people 80 years old and above is expected to triple. Never in human history have we had so many people reach old age. 

As people grow older, their health issues increase. Healthcare systems need to be ready to handle this change. Age-tech is a huge opportunity to revolutionize the way older people experience care.  

What is age-tech?

As the population ages, the demand for products that ensure older people can live comfortably, meaningfully, and independently will increase. Age-tech is technology designed to meet these needs. 

Tech companies are tapping into the earning potential of age-tech products. For example, Lively a health technology provider, and Lyft, an app for rides, launched transportation services just for older adults. 

The greatest market opportunity for age-tech providers is in healthcare. The Gerontechnologist features the 2021 Age Tech Market Map, and the top categories were:  

• Health  
• Wellness 
• Senior Living 

Although many people believe that the elderly don’t enjoy or use technology, 53% of older respondents said they would prefer a mix of medical staff and healthcare technology to manage their needs. Even if the elderly did prefer only medical staff, making that possible is becoming harder and harder. 

The Care Gap and its effect on age-tech

One huge reason health care age-tech is increasingly popular is because of the Care Gap. Many countries are experiencing a shortage of caregivers, and the caregivers that are still working are getting burnt out. Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. Experts estimate 4 in 10 caregivers find their jobs highly stressful. This never-ending stress causes many caregivers to drop their exhausting jobs altogether.  

The ongoing professional caregiver drought has shifted responsibility to personal caregivers, for example, family members, who spend an average of 24 hours a week providing care, all unpaid. But these personal caregivers have their own career, lives, and even their own children to care for as well.  

Healthcare age-tech can provide technological solutions to bridge the Care Gap. This can ease the burden on all caregivers, personal and professional. But even with all the benefits of age-tech, will the older population be able to and want to use healthcare technology? 

Do older people want to use health care age-tech?

There are sure to be people with doubts about the effectiveness of age-tech. There are stereotypes that the older generation can’t use or don’t want new technology. However, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports:  

• People 50 years and older use technology at the same pace as younger adults.
• 3 in 4 older Americans want to stay in their homes, and technology helps them achieve that goal.
• 40% of older respondents indicate they are interested in using technology for medication reminders.
• 21% of older Americans are open to videoconferencing with their doctors.

Not only can older people use healthcare technology, but they want to as well. But what kind of medicine counts as health care age-tech? 

What is health care age-tech?

While age-tech is a broad term, here are some examples of age-tech specific to healthcare: 

• Health monitoring 
• Personal emergency response system (PERS) 
• Medication management 
• Telehealth for healthcare communication 
• Hearing aids 

These examples of healthcare age-tech not only help the elderly, but they also help everyone around them.  

Age-tech benefits everyone

There’s no reason not to embrace age-tech; It eases the process of providing healthcare, and it also helps those receiving it. For the older generation receiving care, age-tech helps them maintain a sense of freedom. For caregivers, it alleviates  stress.. 

If you’re looking for a healthcare solution for seniors, our Ōmcare Home Health Hub® is your answer. It’s a video-based, complete care-in-the-home solution that ​ensures users can get their medicine and speak with their providers, pharmacist, or caregivers in real-time.  ​​Reach out to Ōmcare to learn more! 

by Ōmcare