You may have become familiar with telehealth visits, also known as telemedicine, having heard more about this type of patient care during the pandemic.
Many older adults were unable or unwilling to drive to outpatient care providers due to the risk of Coronavirus infection. Despite a recent increase in in-person doctor’s office visits, many patients continue to choose to receive most of their healthcare services remotely if possible.
We will cover the advantages and benefits of telehealth and the challenges in accessing this beneficial remote care.
Telehealth is a healthcare visit that is conducted remotely via a tablet, smartphone, or computer in the comfort of your home.
Home may be your loved one’s residence, an assisted living facility, or any other senior living community.
Geriatric doctors use telehealth visits most frequently, but other primary care physicians also offer virtual visits. The platform used for these visits is HIPAA-compliant, so you don’t need to worry about the privacy of your older loved one’s healthcare information.
You may understandably question how much medical care a physician can realistically provide during a telehealth visit versus an in-person visit. As healthcare providers have become more engaged with telehealth technology, the patient experience has become more robust and comprehensive.
For the best virtual care experience, having family or a caregiver participate in the visit can be helpful.
Your loved one may forget vital information and need assistance from someone who knows them well and can report accurate healthcare information during the visit.
Evaluations conducted via telehealth include, but are not limited to, the following:
There are numerous advantages of telehealth visits, but they aren’t for everyone. Some people with cognitive impairment will need hands-on in-person instruction on how to use and access video conferencing.
However, in general, telehealth benefits outweigh the challenges. Let's take a look at the seven advantages of telehealth visits for seniors.
If your loved one relies on you for doctor’s visits or has a professional caregiver for that purpose, it can be time-intensive and costly to transport someone to healthcare appointments. And Medicare pays for telehealth visits.
The use of telehealth allows you to be involved but more efficiently. If your loved one can access the platform independently, you can join from your office or home.
Getting an older adult in the car and to an appointment can be challenging and time-consuming. Not to mention your loved one may refuse to go.
A telehealth visit allows older adults to remain in the comfort of their homes to interact with their physicians. Travel can also be a safety concern for older adults with mobility issues.
It is not unusual for a patient to be confused about what warrants an urgent care or emergency room visit. A quick telehealth appointment with your physician can sort out the problem and possibly avoid an unnecessary emergency room visit.
We have all had the experience of panic at the re-emergence of symptoms or problems related to a surgery or illness.
To avoid your loved one being readmitted to the hospital, speaking remotely with your loved one’s healthcare team can help. They can then inform you whether to manage your loved one’s symptoms at home or to go to the hospital.
Many older adults reside in rural areas without easy access to outpatient health clinics. Remote telehealth is ideal for these situations because it allows for managing healthcare without traveling a long distance for care.
If you are a long-distance caregiver, it can be a challenge to manage the care of a loved one. Telehealth visits allow you to participate, plan for the visit in advance, and make necessary care adjustments based on the visit results.
Most insurance covers counseling via telehealth video conferencing, including Medicare and Medicaid.
For older adults, accessing counseling services in their homes has significant advantages. Your loved one won’t need to travel to an appointment, and the convenience can make the difference between agreeing to mental health treatment or refusing it.
More and more insurance companies authorize their patients to use telehealth video visits and will pay for it just as they would an outpatient appointment.
Medicare and Medicaid both pay for telehealth visits. Remember that in many cases, insurance requires face-to-face interaction with a patient via video rather than a phone call.
Telehealth, despite all of its advantages, can’t cover everything.
Preventative care visits such as mammograms, dermatology, cancer screenings, heart and kidney function tests, etc. will require in-person visits along with any surgeries.
Avoiding vital preventative screening is counterproductive and can be harmful. However, for routine healthcare visits, telehealth can be an appropriate healthcare choice.
Amanda Lambert is a Certified Care Manager, Aging Life Care Professional, and Certified Master Guardian Emeritus. She is also the founder of Lambert Care Management, providing care management and consultation services to older and disabled adults. She has 20+ years of experience in geriatrics, with expertise in mental health, home health, and guardianship, as well as all aspects of care planning, including assessment, projected costs of care, client advocacy and education, caregiver coaching, and advance directives. She is also co-author with Leslie Eckford of Choose Your Place: Rethinking Home as You Age (2020), Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers at Home (Rowman and Littlefield 2018).
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