The World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health has defined SDOH as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age” and “the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and systems.” Learn more here.
According to a recent study, in the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, social isolation and feelings of loneliness are a reality for many older adults in the United States. This is especially true for individuals who have limited mobility, chronic health conditions and other obstacles to physical and emotional supports.
Telehealth Technology Can Bridge the Gap
Expanding the use of (and access to) telemedicine may help reduce barriers to healthcare and empower hospital systems to increase their capacity to provide deliberate and essential in-person care to patients with severe health conditions, while at the same time allowing patients who are not as severely ill to be tended to via virtual care models.
Technology allows us to connect, virtually – anytime, anyplace and anywhere. For seniors, this is particularly important as telehealth technology can:
- Connect a clinician to a patient for proactive well-care and timely intervention, as needed
- Connect a member to a loved one, providing peace of mind and a stronger sense of security
- Connect a patient to responsive emergency assistance at the press of a button
At Clear Arch Health, our connected care remote patient monitoring (RPM) and mobile personal emergency response system (mPERS) solutions may help make it possible for seniors and aging patients to live safer, more independent lives while managing their chronic conditions outside the confines of a hospital environment.
As you consider caring for a loved one, know your options. We encourage you to explore the ways in which you can keep them safer – all year round – whether at or away from home.
