Seniors Find Telehealth a Convenient Alternative to In-Person Office Visits

Telehealth—sometimes called telemedicine—provides virtual health care using internet access on a desktop or laptop computer, smartphone, or tablet instead of an in-person office visit. Both primary care and specialty care services are available using telehealth.

Telehealth makes health care more accessible for older adults living in rural areas or those with transportation or mobility issues. In addition, telehealth offers convenience for family caregivers whose work or family obligations make it difficult to schedule an in-person visit with a doctor or other health care provider.

Some forms of telehealth have existed for decades. The advent of new technology and the onset of COVID-19 have dramatically increased usage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37% of Americans used telehealth in 2021.

Although telehealth and telemedicine have become interchangeable terms, the two have different meanings. According to the National Institute on Aging, telemedicine refers to virtual doctor visits. Telehealth, in addition to virtual visits, includes education services, monitoring of medications, and management of health issues, among others.

Does Medicare Cover Telehealth?

With nearly every American age 65 and older eligible for Medicare, the good news is that virtually all Medicare programs cover telehealth benefits. Medicare coverages can change from year to year, and covered telehealth services in 2023 are reported to include office visits, psychotherapy, wellness visits and preventive health screenings, ER visits, urgent care visits for illnesses and rashes, consultations, and more. For more information on whether a service is covered, visit the Medicare website.

Who Uses Telehealth?

In 2021, 43% of adults age 65 and older used telemedicine. Older adults with mobility or other limitations that hinder in-office visits may find it convenient to receive cost-effective health care services. There are many scenarios in which telehealth can deliver appropriate senior-related care—here are a few:

• Jim, age 75, lives in a rural community. Jim has diabetes, and his wife, Liz, has mobility issues, making accessing medical care challenging. To help manage his diabetes, Jim relies on a telehealth program provided by the university medical center in his state. The program provides remote glucose monitoring and tracking, helps him stick to his medication routine, and provides education. As a bonus, the service allows his daughter, who lives in another state, to join his appointments via video link.

• Ellen, age 80, lives alone with assistance from her daughter Allison, who is 54. In addition to being Ellen’s primary family caregiver, Allison is working full time, and frequently has had to miss work to take Ellen to her doctor appointments. Allison worked with her mom and her mom’s doctor to set up a tablet so regular follow-up appointments could happen virtually instead of in person, allowing Allison to join the meeting from a conference room at work using her smartphone. This has allowed Allison to miss less work and still be able to help manage her mom’s medical care. It might have taken Allison some time to help Ellen practice using the tablet and technology, but the time spent was well worth it, and now Ellen can also use the tablet for games.

• Barbara, age 68, is recovering at home following a hospital stay. She has no family nearby, but she hired a local in-home care agency that sent a caregiver, Mandy, to help her. With Mandy’s assistance, Barbara used telehealth to attend a virtual post-discharge check-in with her doctor to ensure her incision was healing well. Mandy let her supervisor at the agency know what the doctor said about Barbara’s condition so Barbara’s adult daughter, who lives 500 miles away, could be kept up to date. Mandy also helped Barbara gather the information needed for the appointment.

Telehealth Pros and Cons

Before participating in telehealth medical care, you should weigh the pros and cons for yourself or a loved one.

Pros: Telehealth is helping make access to health care more convenient, including:

• Improving access to care for rural patients.
• Eliminating transportation issues for the elderly living alone or with mobility problems.
• Allowing individuals with scheduling conflicts access from home, the office, or when traveling.
• Providing access to specialty care that is not available close to home.
• Providing access to health care with fewer trips outside of the home.

Cons: For some, telehealth may not be appropriate. A few of the reasons may include the following:

• Symptoms calling for emergency care such as chest pains, difficulty breathing, or head injury from a fall.
• Inability of the technology to monitor particular health conditions.
• Inadequate access to technology.
• Conditions requiring hands-on diagnosis or treatment.

How To Make Sure Your Telehealth Visit Is Successful

To ensure the health care professional you speak with has adequate information to diagnose illnesses and treat you, make sure you have written notes of your symptoms and any questions. These notes can include the following:

• A thorough explanation of your symptoms, including any new symptoms you may have and when they began.
• Any other health conditions you are being treated for and the provider’s name.
• Any other routine information that would be recorded during an in-person office visit.
• If available, your blood pressure and heart rate from your blood pressure machine, your oxygen level using an oximeter, and your current temperature.
• Your current height and weight.
• A list of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you are currently taking, along with dosages.
• Your insurance coverage information.

You’ll also want to prepare and test your computer, tablet or smartphone setup ahead of time to ensure the appointment goes smoothly. Since some older adults may be less comfortable using a computer, tablet or smartphone, or have limitations that impact their understanding and use of the tool and technology, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers information and resources to help.

Remember, your doctor and their team are a partner in your health and well-being. As part of this partnership, a Right at Home caregiver can provide a wide range of in-home care services for seniors and adults with disabilities, including helping with dressing and hygiene, providing medication reminders, or helping with shopping and meal preparation. Right at Home caregivers can also help with respite care to give a welcome break to a family caregiver. Find the location nearest you to get a FREE in-home consultation.