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September 21, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Think of all of the older people who are hard of hearing and lack lights that flash when the doorbell rings.
And think of all of the older people who love the news but lack Internet access, simply because they and their loved ones lack the knowhow to set up an Internet connection.
Policy planners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) talk about strategies for increasing using of “aging services technology” (AST) in a new report.
The planners discuss the AST systems that are available, or could be available, to help older people and younger people with disabilities with concerns such as managing heart disease or depression, coping with sensory impairments, and making up for cognitive impairments.
“An important barrier is the widespread lack of awareness of ASTs, which results in underutilization among consumers, caregivers, and providers,” the consultants said in the report.
In some cases, older people may have trouble getting government health insurers, private health insurers or long-term care insurance (LTCI) carriers to pay for the AST systems, and, in other cases, use may be limited by concerns about effectiveness, privacy, security, usability and liability issues, the consultants said.
