A new survey called ‘Digital Life’, conducted by Telus Health, shows that senior citizens are most likely, of any population group, to benefit from digital health technology.
However, the survey suggests they are the least likely group to access digital solutions. This observation fits other reports into the generation gap and ‘digital illiteracy’, especially among the elderly who are sometimes nervous about accessing digital services.
While the survey focused on Canada, the trends detected in the survey are applicable to most other industrialized nations. For instance only 40 percent of adults over 50 own a smartphone, and only 11 percent of this group own a wearable device, according to AARP research).
The overall findings, while showing a need for health technology with seniors, present challenges to technology manufacturers in ensuring that the products are suitable and that they are marketed appropriately.
The survey also found:
-87 percent of respondents agreed that accessible, secure information-sharing between individuals and healthcare professionals would have a positive impact on the health
-Over 60 percent of those surveyed agreed that digital technology plays an important role in managing their health.
-Over 90 percent of people stated that technology that enables their independence and ensures safety and security is important
The survey found lower take-ups of digital health solutions among Canadian citizens who were baby boomers (that is age 52 and over) and the elderly (classed as age 71 and over). While take-up of health technology was low among these groups (around 20 percent), what is of interest to businesses is that around two-thirds of respondents felt that digital health technologies would benefit them. This highlights an opportunity to heath technology companies; the work is not so much around the technology (although there are innovations to come), but more around the way health technology is marketed. Glossy pull-outs in magazines, for instance, may be less successful in persuading seniors than hands-on demos in clinics and shopping malls, for example.
Connecting with seniors is the key, according to Dr. Susan Lea-Makenny, who is director and senior medical advisor at the INLIV Clinic and who was involved with survey. Quoted by the website Mobile Syrup, she states: “The ‘Silver Tsunami’ we’re seeing in Canada tells us that not only is it increasingly important to educate Canadians about the impact technology can have on health outcomes but also to ensure we are maximizing the opportunity to put these digital health tools in place so all patients and their care providers can stay better connected.”
However, there are many good examples of innovative healthcare technology aimed at seniors; including smart inhalers to help with chronic disease management where the progress with conditions like asthma can be monitored remotely, with important data transmitted to medics, saving seniors time in terms of reducing medical visits. This is on the basis that most chronic diseases are best managed through daily attention to detail. These ‘smart’ devices are part of the extension of the ‘Internet-of-Things’ into healthcare.
A second area of development is with apps offering tailored exercise regimes, many of which are targeted at seniors. Some platforms offer ‘live’ exercise sessions, with the trainer in the gym broadcasting the latest fitness programs to people in their homes. This is part of the developing remote health market. Different types of apps allow users with diabetes to track their carbohydrate and nutrition intake and blood glucose levels; such apps can also offer tips on what to eat and how to get active, with a goal of inspiring better disease management.
Other technologies are aimed at those who care for the elderly. While caregivers have been generally under-represented in the digital health market, there are some innovations, such as allowing caregivers to see test results and other medical records, in one place, for those they care for; and being able to to use apps that can link to reliable medical sources, allowing the caregiver to read up on different medical conditions.
Improved communications is also a key part of the digital technology being developed — such as the ability to book appointments via apps; or text-style messages sent out when medications run low.
Furthermore, there are digital pill dispensers. These are connected devices that can hold a 90-day supply of up to 15 medications. The smart technology can alert both the patient and caregivers via text and email when the medication needs to be refilled. The digital health device also helps to remind people when the pills need to be taken.
Great success will probably arise from designing solutions around the specific health needs of seniors, making the product or service easy to adopt to combat the technology learning curve.
