How COVID-19 is Driving Rapid Adoption of Telehealth for Aging Populations

If necessity is the mother of invention, crisis may be the father of adoption. Nowhere has the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic been felt more strongly than on seniors and the disabled. The need for social distancing has made clear the value of technology for bridging that distance.

“COVID-19 has accelerated the need for family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to have remote access to seniors as well as the disabled,” said Laura Mitchell, CEO of GrandCare systems, a leader in the aging and technology industry. “There has always been interest in technology tools among forward-thinking senior communities and home health care agencies, but since the pandemic, we have been inundated with calls and requests for video chat, telehealth capabilities and activity monitoring. Suddenly the value of these tools for the well-being of seniors and disabled people has become very concrete, very measurable.”

Mitchell was interviewed by host Karen Jagoda on a recent podcast hosted by Empower Patient Radio. In the episode entitled “COVID-19 Driving Faster Adoption of Telehealth for Aging Population,” Mitchell discussed the effects of COVID on senior housing and care services, and the tools that can help residents stay connected with family and friends, engaged and active, and healthy.

Empowered Patient Radio is a series of podcasts that focus on the latest innovations in digital health and the changing dynamic between doctors and patients. The audience includes medical professionals, researchers, patient advocates, entrepreneurs, patients, caregivers, solution providers, students, journalists, and investors.

Listen to the podcast: COVID-19 Driving Faster Adoption of Telehealth for Aging Population with Laura Mitchell GrandCare
View the transcript: Download transcript 
Check out the entire podcast series: Empowered Patient Radio