Study: Seniors slow on the uptake for technology but rates of use increase

Most young people have had to help parents or grandparents get a hold on new technology, including that old VCR or a new iPhone. In a study published by JAMA, a team of researchers led by David M. Levine, MD, MA, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, showed a slight increase in the rate at which seniors use digital technology in their healthcare.

As baby boomers age and become sick, digital healthcare tools aim to improve and hasten care. But how do seniors take advantage of this technology? Analyzing results from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) of seniors from 2011 to 2014, researchers set out to measure just how much seniors use technology in their healthcare. The study analyzed the rates of senior use of the internet to fill prescriptions, contact a healthcare provider, address insurance matters and research health conditions.

The study focused on 7,609 participants in 2011 with the average age of 75. While 76 percent of seniors used cell phones and 64 percent used computers, fewer used other forms of technology. Results included:

• 43 percent used the internet.
• 40 percent used email and text messaging.
• Less than 20 percent used the internet for banking, shopping and social networking.
• 16 percent used digital health to access health information.
• 8 percent filled prescriptions online.
• 7 percent contacted healthcare providers.
• 5 percent accessed health insurance online.

Although most seniors are hesitant to use digital technology when in regards to their healthcare, the rate who used digital health increased from 21 percent to 25 percent over the course of the study. There is still work to be done to get these seniors out of the stone age but as more embrace the technological age, the easier managing their healthcare will be.

“Digital health is not reaching most seniors and is associated with socioeconomic disparities, raising concern about its ability to improve quality, cost, and safety of their health care. Future innovations should focus on usability, adherence, and scalability to improve the reach and effectiveness of digital health for seniors,” wrote Levine and colleagues.