4 Future Trends in Senior Care

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By 2060, the life expectancy of Americans is projected to increase from 79.7 to 85.6. While living longer has its benefits, not all adults will experience a healthy life. With age, older adults are at a higher risk of having multiple chronic diseases, which impair their ability to function and lower their quality of life. As a result, elderly adults require more supervision and support.

However, the form that this supervision and support comes in may be surprising…In this blog, we discuss future trends in senior care and where you can find home health care services for aging loved ones.

Current Trends in Geriatric Care

One of the most influential future trends in senior care is digital transformation. New digital technologies are revolutionizing the healthcare industry. Some benefits of these digital trends in senior healthcare include the following: 

  • Decreasing the cost of care
  • Improving the quality and immediacy of care
  • Allowing patients to play an active role in monitoring their health

Home care trends also show that long-term care is shifting from institutional care to home-based services thanks to these advancements. However, while home care industry trends primarily revolve around digital healthcare technologies, tools can’t replace the human touch.

In this section, we present four current trends in geriatric care.

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools enable healthcare providers and patients to stay connected through a continuous stream of real-time data. It’s estimated that over 1 in 4 people will use RPM tools by 2025. For seniors who want to age in place, RPM can enable them to live independently. In addition, it gives families peace of mind knowing that a healthcare professional is monitoring their loved one’s condition(s).

Smart Devices

Technology for seniors has been evolving from personal emergency response service tools (PERS) to smartphones with large buttons and displays. The future of home health care is moving towards other smart devices to aid the aging population. One example is voice assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home. These smart devices help seniors remember to eat, take medication, and when their next doctor’s appointment is scheduled. 

Telemedicine/health

Telemedicine is a major trend in healthcare services that gained traction during the pandemic. It refers to remote consultations between patients and health professionals via video calls, phone calls, and texting. This technology allows seniors to safely speak with their physician without exposure to other sick patients waiting in a doctor’s office. It’s also convenient for older adults who can’t drive and more cost-effective than in-person care. 

Greater Need for Healthcare Workers

With the senior population increasing, there is a greater need for long-term health care for older adults. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health and personal care aides are predicted to be one of the fastest-growing professions in the next decade. However, considering the labor shortage, technology is a welcome solution. 

In summary, the trends in home health care include remote patient monitoring, smart devices, telemedicine, and a greater need for healthcare workers. Though current trends in geriatric care center around digitization, human involvement will always play a part in elder care. 

Find Geriatric Home Health Care Services

At Stowell Associates, we take a holistic approach to elder care, seeing each senior as a whole person with unique needs beyond physical ailments. As a personal home health care company, we offer geriatric care management and in-home care services.

Our geriatric care managers are registered nurses and masters-level social workers who advise adult children on short- and long-term care options for their elderly parents. We intently listen to your situation and concerns before recommending the best course of action for you and your loved one.

In addition, we’ve partnered with TheKey, a home care company staffed with professionally trained caregivers. They take the time to get to know your family member and use expert matching to pair your loved one with the right caregiver. Our geriatric care managers oversee your aging parent’s care, acting as liaisons between you and caregivers, so you stay informed.

Whether you’re a family caregiver looking to replace yourself with a trained in-home caregiver or an adult child who needs help making a decision about their aging parent’s care, we have a solution for you. Call 414-348-5035 to learn more about how we can help care for you and your family.

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