How Telemedicine Consultations are Helpful for Elderly People?

There are several factors that prevent the elderly from seeing their doctor on time as the population ages. Weakness, distance, a lack of transportation, and a refusal to leave a place are just a few of these factors. The elderly are more susceptible to chronic diseases, which require constant monitoring, due to their advanced age and low immunity.

Around 7 million senior citizens are deemed home bound or have difficulty leaving their homes without assistance. These individuals may be unable to visit their healthcare provider in person without the assistance of a loved one or a dedicated driver, leaving them with few options unless they have access to telemedicine services. For many families, the cost of placing an elderly patient in a nursing home is simply too high.

Furthermore, older patients prefer to receive care at home rather than in a nursing home. In many cases, a loved one will move in with the older patient to provide at-home care, but many of these family caregivers will still require the advice and support of the healthcare community if they have not received proper training.

In the case of elderly people, telehealth offers a wide range of diagnostic, awareness, and treatment options. It has emerged as one of the most advanced forms of treatment in the healthcare industry, providing them with a sense of security and reassurance.

How Telehealth Can Improve Access to Elderly Care

Telehealth gives patients the option to consult with their Internal Medicine Doctor Homer Glen remotely using live video, audio, and instant messaging over a secure telemedicine visit. This eliminates the need for face-to-face visits and consultations, making it easier for at-home caregivers to meet their loved ones’ needs.

Many of these at-home caregivers will have their own responsibilities, such as raising children or working. They won’t have to spend as much time driving their loved one to and from the doctor’s office if they can consult with their loved one’s doctor from the comfort of their own home. These remote consultations can provide at-home healthcare providers with valuable insight and knowledge, allowing them to improve the quality of care for their loved ones.

Telemedicine can help elderly patients in the following ways:

• Reduce the cost and burden of some travel expenses
• Reduce the number of unnecessary hospital visits
• Reduce the stress put on-at-home caregivers
• Improve overall patient satisfaction

Using Telehealth to Care for the Elderly

Telehealth can help at-home caregivers better manage and treat a variety of conditions and diseases that commonly affect the elderly. While in-person visits will still be necessary in many of these cases, telehealth makes it easier for family caregivers to care for their loved ones by providing direct access to healthcare professionals. If you are living in Homer Glen and searching for experienced physicians then you can consult Dr. Sudarsana Chakrabarti, Internal Medicine Specialist in Homer Glen. She treats her patients with a personal touch. Dr. Chakrabarti is dedicated to providing exceptional care to her patients. Her compassionate and caring nature towards her patients is what sets her apart. You can consult with her using PatientMD Telemedicine services or may visit her at the Suburban Wellness SC office.

The following conditions can be treated and managed using telehealth:

Palliative Care: Telehealth allows at-home caregivers to report on their loved one’s condition as their health deteriorates while receiving valuable feedback and advice from physicians.

Chronic Disease Management: Telehealth helps at-home caregivers report on the condition of their loved ones, giving physicians insight into how their disease is progressing over time.

Heart Failure Transitional Care: Following an episode of heart failure, at-home caregivers can use telehealth to stay on top of their loved one’s treatment regimen, which includes dispensing medications, diet, physical activity, and stress management.

Primary Care for Weak Individuals: Patients that have trouble moving or leaving the house can use telehealth to consult with physicians on a variety of primary healthcare issues and concerns.

Final words:

There are so many ways elderly patients and family caregivers can use telemedicine to their advantage. Telemedicine services reduce the need for in-person appointments, lower the cost of care, reduce costly visits to the emergency room, and improve patient satisfaction.

About Author

Dr. Sudarsana Chakrabarti is a board-certified Internal Medicine Specialist in Homer Glen. She sees patients from adjoining areas like Orland Park, Lockport, New Lenox, etc. Being an Internal Medicine Doctor Homer Glen, she shares her knowledge through writing on different healthcare topics.