3 Ways to Digitally Engage Senior Patients

The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in

2018 to 95 million by 2060 – increasing from 16% to 23% of the total population. This

demographic already experiences many barriers to healthcare access, including living on a fixed

income, high medical bills, and lack of transportation.

On top of that, more than two-thirds of individuals 65 and older who receive Medicare suffer

from complications such as failing vision and cognitive function along with other chronic, and

often multiple morbidities. This makes it more difficult for these individuals to access

medication, attend appointments and follow up on crucial aftercare.

A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that 92% of surveyed individuals 65 and

older owned a cellphone, and 61% used a smartphone. In addition, 44% of individuals

It is critical that providers cater to the unique needs of seniors, providing them with options to

digitally engage with their care team along their journey. Here are three ways that providers

can stay digitally connected with their patients while providing more equitable and accessible

care.

1. Enhance communications with both patients and their caregivers by eliminating phone

tag and improving care coordination and communication with HIPAA-compliant

SMS/MMS messaging. Sending reminders and pre- and post-appointment instructions

can improve patient outcomes. Language translation is another option that can further

increase access for hearing-impaired patients.

2. Simplify the intake process by offering digital instructions, forms, educational material

and videos, allowing the patient to scale to their preferred resolution on a tablet or

mobile device. This also saves time for providers and their staff by reducing

administrative burden and freeing up resources.

3. Empower patients with a combination of automated campaigns, virtual check-ins,

virtual care options and more. Putting decision-making in the hands of your patients

gives them greater control over their care. Offering multiple options for interaction

enables remote patient monitoring to ensure adherence to pre- and post-care plans.

Rhinogram is an all-in-one platform that will better assist your organization in meeting the

needs of its senior patients. See it in action, schedule a demo at

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