New Technologies Hold Great Promise for Allowing Older Adults to Age in Place

Abstract

What is currently working, and where do barriers remain to full-scale technology adoption in the older adult cohort?Imagine turning on a computer in Montana and receiving an in-depth medical diagnosis from leading experts in Boston. Blood pressure, weight, blood sugar levels-all monitored remotely through new, innovative technologies. Imagine having access to medical devices that prevent major health crises before they occur, and a wealth of services that provide reminders to take medicines, schedule check-ups, or even restart your daily exercise routine. With advances in health technology, these new innovations are within reach- good news for the growing number of older Americans who wish to age in place.These new technologies could not have come soon enough. By the year 2030, nearly a fifth of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older- most with one or more chronic conditions (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). At the same time, physicians and nurses are in increasingly short supply (Kane et al., 2009; American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2014). And a number of surveys indicate that older adults overwhelmingly prefer to age in place at home (AARP, 2010). The emergence of new health technologies can help address these needs, providing older adults with an opportunity to receive the proper care and attention they need in an efficient, convenient, and cost-effective way.Such technologies range from those that help older adults access resources and connect with social networks, to those that enable monitoring and management of general wellness and chronic conditions, to those that support interactions with the healthcare system. The Bipartisan Policy Center (2012) examined the types of technologies in each of these areas (see Figure 1, page 53).Successful Technologies- and Where Jury's Still OutOne example of a technology that has supported better health outcomes and reduced the use of health services is telemedicine. Researchers in Ontario, Canada, evaluated the use by cardiac patients of weekly videoconferencing with a nurse, combined with daily transmission of weight and blood pressure, and periodic transmission of a twelve-lead ECG. Reductions in hospital admissions and length of hospital stays were noted (Woodend et al., 2008).Another large study of Medicare beneficiaries reported cost-savings and improvements in health outcomes among patients who used the Health Buddy Program-a care coordination approach that integrates a telehealth tool with care management for chronically ill patients (Baker et al., 2011).Other technologies-such as robots-hold great promise to promote exercise, support rehabilitation, improve medication adherence, and provide some care for those with severe dementia (Gadde et al., 2011; Back, Makela, and Kallio, 2013; Takacs and Hanak, 2008; Tamura et al., 2004). However, for now, robots have insufficient usefulness and acceptability, they are very expensive, and they lack safety standards (Back, Makela, and Kallio, 2013; Hayashi, 2009). Greater investments in research and development can improve robots' usability and acceptance among older adults, and advancements in technology are expected to bring down their costs.Other technologies, however, increasingly are being adopted due to a number of factors, such as the following:* There is a higher comfort level with technology among older adults. More and more, older Americans are accessing the Internet and using cell or smartphones, tablets, and e-readers (Pew Research Center, 2014);* The increasing shortage of clinicians, including physicians and nurses, as well as caregivers (Kane et al., 2009; American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2013; West et al., 2014);* A growing movement toward delivery and payment models that reward better health and cost outcomes versus more volume of healthcare services, which provides an incentive for preventing and more effectively managing chronic conditions; and,* Re