A new study shows that telehealth programs have the ability to lower expenses for those dealing with dementia, while at the same time helping to boost the quality of life that they experience.
This research comes out of the University of California at San Francisco. Their study took a group of 780 people suffering from dementia and split them into two groups. One group kept their care and treatment routine normal. The other group used a program called Care Ecosystem that included both medical and day to day assistance administered in a remote manner. The group that used Care Ecosystem spent more than $500 less per month on their medical costs.
The team tracked study participants for a total of 12 months to conclude their findings. Those that used the Care Ecosystem service had access to telehealth support in medication, managing symptoms, finding care, respite assistance, and feedback and help with making their home a bit safer.
The team published their findings in JAMA Internal Medicine in mid-September. Since the team first launched this program in 2014, it has been replicated about 25 times through other organizations. They hope that this research continues to advance and help improve upon the quality of care that people with dementia receive. There is no cure for many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Hopefully a cure is found in the near future, but until then, steps forward like this help those struggling with dementia to live a better life for longer periods of time.
Telehealth and video chat have been game changers when it comes to the world of senior care. It’s also been an effective method of helping connect seniors to family members and the world around them. It is far easier to talk with a loved one that lives far away by video chat than it is to wait for them to be able to make a trip.
The true benefit of telehealth and the technology surrounding it is that it brings more control into the life of an individual. This is especially important for seniors that are struggling with their health and wellness. This is a time in life where people might feel a little helpless or like their life is slipping away from them. Video chat technology re-establishes some of that. Instead of needing to drive to a doctor’s office for a checkup, it can be done in the comfort of their own home. Instead of waiting on a friend or grandchild to stop by, a video call can be made. It brings the world to them, rather than having them be dependent on the world.
We pride ourselves in the quality of senior care and memory care that we provide to those that we serve. We’re always happy to talk with people about what we do and how it might benefit them. If you’re interested in learning more about how professional in-home care might benefit you or a loved one with dementia, please get in touch with us today.
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