Telemedicine continues to grow in popularity, and many are calling it the future of medicine. Telemedicine, which involves remote diagnosis, treatment, and consultation, is especially relevant in senior healthcare. Not only is it saving lives, but telemedicine is also helping seniors live healthier, more independent lives.
Increased Safety while Aging in Place
Some of the greatest developments in telemedicine are the several FDA-cleared devices seniors can wear that immediately send alerts when they detect falls. These devices can also monitor heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and more, allowing a physician to keep close watch on a senior from a distance and send help if needed.
If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional at-home care, Align Home Care should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults address their health issues and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years.
Easier Access for Less Mobile Seniors
Even seniors with help from home care providers might find the whole process of getting to a physician’s office and being examined exhausting, especially if they have mobility issues and use walking aids. With telemedicine, seniors can have their appointments in the comfort of home, with no travel necessary.
Less Waiting & More Time with the Provider
Telemedicine makes it easier for seniors to access healthcare. Along with more time spent with providers, seniors can avoid long wait times. The average person spends more than 20 minutes in a physician’s waiting room alone.
Easy Monitoring of Chronic Conditions
Telemedicine has become a great tool that helps physicians monitor chronic health conditions such as COPD, heart failure, diabetes, and obesity. Along with remote video consultations for follow-up discussions, new systems allow for remote monitoring and transmission of important information such as the patient’s weight, blood sugar, and vital signs in real time.
If your loved one is recovering from an illness or living with chronic health conditions, it may be challenging for him or her to live at home independently. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Kennebunk, Maine, Align Home Care can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
Reduced Costs of Healthcare
Finally, telemedicine has the potential to reduce the costs of senior healthcare while increasing the quality of care. For example, a recent study found that hospital readmissions within one month of discharge cost more than $16 billion every year. Telemedicine can reduce readmissions through the use of remote monitoring technology and follow-up video consultations. At-home triage services with televisits by nurses or physicians can also reduce the need for expensive emergency room visits. Telemedicine appointments are often done at much lower cost to seniors compared to in-person appointments, and there are no costs associated with travel.
Thanks to its many benefits, telemedicine could quickly become the standard method by which many seniors receive their care. Using the internet for various activities is just one of the issues aging adults must navigate in today’s modern world. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality elderly home care. Kennebunk families trust Align Home Care to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably. If your senior loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (207) 835-3490.