The use of telehealth and remote interventions has been a common solution to help provide necessary health services to seniors at nursing homes due to the coronavirus pandemic. But researchers are urging providers to be cautious before they consider replacing face-to-face interactions with remote services after social distancing measures are lifted.
A London research team argued that remote interventions should be used to facilitate face-to-face interactions between seniors and healthcare professionals rather than replace in-person interactions, despite recent evidence of its effectiveness.
They noted that while studies on remote interventions for seniors are promising, the data is rarely compared to face-to-face interactions, and more research is needed to ensure its effectiveness.
Researchers also argued some underserved seniors may not have access to remote interventions in order to meet with healthcare professionals.
“Whilst these interventions are potentially effective and received positively by some frail older people, those evaluating or providing services should ensure that digitally underserved older people are not left behind through facilitating contact with healthcare professionals and providing both the technology and technical support needed for interventions to be successful,” they concluded.
Findings were published Sunday in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
