The internet really has done a lot of great things for people. In the world of senior care, these changes have been really noticeable. They also have the potential to help families save a lot of money. For example, the internet can be used to help improve the safety of seniors who spend a lot of time by themselves by monitoring their health and keeping them in closer contact with friends, family, and medical professionals. The internet can also help make it so that individuals who have difficulty getting around stay in their home and still have access to quality medical care.
Many times, people worry about the quality of care that is being received when it is done over the web. However, a recent study that focused on speech language therapy found that there was very little difference, if any, when it came to the quality of care provided. Patients being seen in-person and patients being treated through the web both saw similar gains when it came to therapy. For those that have doubted the efficacy of telerehabilitation, this is good news.
This particular study looked at 44 individuals who were in need of speech language therapy because of a stroke. All of these individuals originally received an in-person evaluation to start out with. After this, received a language skills test. Based upon the results of this, patients were assigned to either telerehabilitation services, or in-person services for a period of ten weeks. At the conclusion of ten weeks, patients were once again given a language skills test to mark their progress.
When it comes to senior care, not everything is always as simple as speech language therapy. Care done over the internet is a solution for many individuals, but not for all. In some cases, there is no safe way to replicate the presence of an in-home caregiver. Although the internet is a great tool, it cannot really replace a present care professional. Knowing the severity of your parent’s needs, and knowing what the best way to ensure that they are provided for is a must if you want to give them high quality care.
There are obvious benefits to receiving care of any sort online. Doctors and other medical professionals are able to see more patients in this way, and thus help more people live better lives. Also, many people skip appointments because they are inconvenient or it is tough to get out of the house. Having the luxury of not needing to leave the house can help people in need get medical attention more easily, too. The fact that at least some types of care do not see a drop in quality of care over the web is a big benefit here. For those of us who might be reluctant to use the web to help our parents, we don’t need to worry in many cases. But as always, be sure to speak to your loved one’s physician before you make any sort of decision here.
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