Telemedicine – A better solution for baby boomers

A couple of months back, my Grandma had a fall from bed and injured her hip, spent about a week in a hospital and then released. I was surprised how short her stay was as I need to do several things at home to overcome hazards that include poor lighting, loose carpets and much more.

To bypass the risk of post-discharge complications and to ensure that proper patient care is administered, the caregiver has to be made sure about managing the medication and in assisting towards early recovery so as to prevent readmission.

Despite, of taking out time from our busy and hectic schedule to attend our aging parents who need medical advice on a regular basis, getting a quick workout from healthcare providers is questionable.

If not taken care we have to rush for emergencies and consequently admission, treatment, and subsequent discharge. Freshly the risk of medical complications after discharge are huge and can prove challenging.
It’s highly important to understand that senior citizens feel more comfortable when health care is provided in their home.

Home health care has become a billion dollar industry in America, and it is widely due to the increased medical needs of baby boomers.

It’s when our aged parents fell ill, and we need to manage their care we realize how important healthcare is, at the same time traveling a long distance to visit a doctor takes lot of time and money.
No worries!
We have Telemedicine – the best option, it could do a lot more good than harm. It helps us to have virtual video visits instead of clinical visits and supports us to track the health of our ailing parents.

Healthy aging means continual monitoring of vital signs.

Telemedicine is referred to use of technology to monitor vital signs that include heart beat, respiratory rate, temperature, and blood sugar levels of a patient. Then communicate the same to medical practitioners from a remote place that benefits them to access care even without traveling to care provider and avoiding the chances of admission or readmissions to the hospitals.

Telemedicine enhances the personalized care of our elderly people.

It’s quite obvious that we need to change with the times. The majority of adults aged 60 and older are living with significant health risk. The health status of seniors is under-identified in many situations. Baby boomers deserve a fair share of good life. We should make them feel their best and live life to the fullest.

A good life in old age needs an evaluation of perceived needs for the best care possible. A larger number of senior citizens needs access to flexible, timely, coordinated and responsive services.

It’s quite natural on the part of aged people to come up with their physical and emotional health. Telemedicine is a beautiful and great way to reduce the risk of medical complications during the ailment or after their discharge.

Telemedicine is the best healthcare solution for chronically ill and older people as they need long term care.

The US Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965 aims to promote dignity of aging individuals and help them to maintain their health and well-being by meeting their requirements as stated in the OAA Brief released by the U.S. Department of Health.

Smartphones, Internet of Things (IOT) and social media has brought tremendous changes in Health Care practices, in shaping biomedical R&D and healthcare delivery.

Telemedicine is gaining momentum around the world and is becoming more important with every passing day. Family members can best access it to support the elderly people they care and healthcare providers have to bear a greater responsibility for providing best care.
As per the Vital and Health Statistics report released by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

The number of people using nursing facilities, alternative residential care places, or home care services is projected to increase from 15 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050. Most of this increase is due to growth in the older adult population who need such services.

The number of Americans over age 65 is projected to more than double from 40.2 million in 2010 to 88.5 million in 2050 (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010). Those aged 85 and over are projected to almost triple, from 6.3 million in 2015 to 17.9 million in 2050 and will account for 4.5% of the total population (United States Census Bureau, 2012).

As the focus on the use of technology for the betterment of aged people is growing day by day telemedicine plays it role in providing them safer and healthier lives. The world of telemedicine has begun investigating innovative methods of providing reliable health care to the aging residents.

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