Healthcare is one of the biggest barriers preventing seniors from staying in their homes. Mobility issues, transportation challenges, and lack of a supportive network make treatment plans impossible to follow. In fact, 38 percent of Medicare recipients report difficulties meeting their healthcare needs. However, seniors still prefer to play an active role in the healthcare decision-making process. In this article, we discuss new laws that help seniors age in place in Union County.
Some of the new laws involve the role of remote patient monitoring (RPM) in senior healthcare. RPM is the use of digital technology to improve healthcare for aging-in-place seniors. Many people question the role technology can play in helping seniors. However, nearly 70 percent of seniors use the internet today. Combining technology and healthcare creates a practical solution.
New Laws That Help Seniors Age In Place
Beginning in 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) will implement laws allowing the inclusion of remote patient monitoring (RPM). This new technology is expected to not only facilitate independence but also empower seniors to participate in healthcare decision-making. Additionally, data-sharing across the board will likely lead to increased RPM use by private insurance providers.
How RPM Improves Patient Care
Some of the biggest difficulties surrounding aging in place for seniors involve transportation, activities of daily living (ADL), and healthcare needs. Remote patient monitoring can help eliminate these issues in many ways. RPM allows doctors to have access to medical information previously unavailable to patients outside of healthcare facilities. Some benefits include:
- Continuous monitoring of vital signs: Monitoring vital signs from home allows Doctors are able to access more information through monitoring vital signs from home. They can obtain much more information than can be obtained in a regular office visit. This is especially important for patients with chronic conditions.
- Real-time responses to patient questions: Patients can have direct contact with physicians and nurses without an appointment.
- Decreased hospital readmissions: Senior patients frequently find themselves back at the hospital because conditions are allowed to worsen between appointments. With the new law, at-home monitors will raise concerns and facilitate quicker, more proactive treatment.
- Virtual visits: When patients aren’t able to get to appointments, many routine visits can take place at home.
- Connectivity among physicians: Seniors often need to see different doctors for a complete treatment plan. RPM allows data-sharing, so all healthcare stakeholders can access the required info.
The use of RPM shows promise for improvement in senior healthcare. In truth, it could increase the ability of seniors to age in place.
David York Agency Can Help You Understand New Laws That Help Seniors Age In Place In Union County
New laws present a new set of challenges. If you’re struggling to understand their ramifications, we can help.
David York Agency also understands the challenges of caregiving and is willing to provide all the support you need.
If you need more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at 908.373.5300. A free phone consultation can help you decide what services might be best. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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