Telehealth for the geriatric population: uses, opportunities, and challenges

Abstract Our hyperconnected world brings new opportunities to use and leverage information and communication technologies, tools, and systems to improve care quality and patient engagement. Telehealth, or the provisioning of healthcare services remotely, can enable healthcare professionals to screen, diagnose, provide consultations, treat, educate, rehabilitate, and monitor elderly patients and help them be more independent at home. Considering the rising elderly population and their complex healthcare needs, telehealth has become essential to provide high-quality care and empower patients to maintain their health in the comfort of their own homes. In this chapter, we overview different applications of telehealth to the care and rehabilitation of geriatric patients. We also explore the different benefits of leveraging telehealth, and discuss the major challenges associated with leveraging telehealth for the geriatric population.