Senior citizens are using technology more than ever before. According to a recent survey that was conducted by the AARP, more than 50 percent of those over the age of 50 would like to have at least a portion of their healthcare needs met through telehealth or virtual means. This survey, it is important to point out, was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic hit full force. In all reality, this number is probably a lot higher now.
And this survey really only applies to health related instances. Seniors are using smart devices for entertainment, staying in touch with family and friends, and to otherwise make their lives easier. The problem here is similar to the problem that younger folk face when using technology: as the use of technology increases, more opportunities for being taken advantage of in some way arise. Digital thieves, scammers, hackers, and other criminals have more access to personal information that can be used to hurt us. This could be financial or something else. Regardless, the more of our lives we put online, the more opportunities there will be that our information could be exposed.
Given that seniors are often highly targeted by scammers and would-be defrauders, it is important that cybersecurity be a focal point for those in this line of business. We don’t often equate senior care with increased digital security measures, but that doesn’t make it unimportant. In fact, it is probably even more important that this portion of the population be protected from online scams, hackers, and phishing attempts. Seniors, thanks to cognitive issues like Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, may be at an even higher risk because of poor cybersecurity than others.
Regardless of what the angle is, the goal of senior care and other elder-related services is to help improve the quality of life that older individuals live. Technology–and the sub-topic of cybersecurity–are more heavily involved in this field than ever before. And that’s a good thing. It means that we are ensuring that the older loved ones in our lives have all of the same protections and safety features that we would expect for ourselves.
This applies to senior care businesses and nursing homes, too. It is more important than ever that this information be protected with tightened cyber security measures. Companies do not want to be at risk of falling out of compliance with HIPAA regulations. At the very least, this can entail hefty fines and a loss of credibility. Better cyber security measures can help keep this information safer.
Your first step here is to take a quick assessment of what technology your older loved ones are using and what information they have put about themselves online. Next, make sure that they know how to use these devices without giving out needless information. Just like anyone else, they should know that it’s always best to double check who they give information to. Emails, social media, and websites can be fraudulent, and it’s always best to be too careful–rather than not careful enough.
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