Combating Loneliness in Elderly Care: Role of Virtual Care Programs

Loneliness presents a significant risk to elderly populations worldwide. It is a silent epidemic, and even those who seem cheerful in their daily interactions may quietly suffer from feelings of isolation at home. Research indicates that loneliness can increase mortality risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It contributes to anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline while also accelerating cardiovascular issues and diminishing quality of life. Innovations in healthcare offer a beacon of hope for elderly individuals facing loneliness. Virtual care management programs (VCM), specializing in chronic care management (CCM) and remote patient monitoring (RPM), tackle loneliness from a health and wellness perspective, establishing stronger connections between patients and providers to create continuity of care and foster trust and empathy.

The Connection Between Loneliness and Health Outcomes

Studies show that social isolation and loneliness predict an earlier death by more than 25%, which makes it a health and wellness priority. However, with the increasing number of patients requiring ongoing care, consistent interaction and continuity may become unsustainable for traditional healthcare models already buckling under the strain. Privatization and other systemic healthcare issues have impacted providers’ time with patients who struggle to secure consistent appointments with their regular doctors. Many patients express feeling somewhat alone in their medical care. Poor communication with healthcare providers can lead to increased feelings of isolation. Consistent support from a care team in combination with counseling services can help prevent the erosion of mental and physical health, improving the outlook and outcomes for the elderly.

Digital Healthcare: A Ray of Hope

CCM and RPM programs present innovative solutions to combat loneliness through technology integrated with compassionate care. VCM systems strengthen the connection between patient and provider, improving patient confidence and security. They engage patients in their care, and they feel empowered and supported in recording, tracking, and monitoring their vital information. Here are some key components of VCM that aid in maintaining the patient-provider relationship.

• Continuous monitoring: Personal medical devices such as blood pressure cuffs and glucose monitors transmit patient information instantly to a healthcare team. Regular monitoring reassures patients that their health status is under surveillance, adding to their well-being. RPM also promotes early detection and timely intervention. In conjunction with regular check-ins, the system improves physical health outcomes.
• Personalized care plans: RPM data allows providers to create custom treatment strategies for their patients that they can adjust based on their response to medication, trend information, and patient feedback. These plans may include other physical, emotional, and mental well-being aspects such as nutritional guidance, exercise and mobility regimens, and stress management techniques.
• Building trust and empathy: With RPM, patients can send messages to their providers via a secure app or portal, enabling them to communicate health updates, ask questions, and report symptoms without an appointment. This approach can create meaningful bonds and foster understanding.
• Holistic well-being: The interconnectivity of VPM programs that enable data sharing across healthcare teams and channels creates a cohesive, stable community of caregivers. This allows for a comprehensive approach to care that includes all aspects of health and well-being and can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.  

Bridging Ancient Wisdom with Modern Innovation

A strong patient-provider bond is fundamental to medical care. This belief dates back 2,000 years to ancient Greece. Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Medicine,” felt that a deep understanding of a patient’s diet, surroundings, and lifestyle was seminal to effective care. A holistic care approach that is unique to an individual can only be achieved through a relationship that allows a provider to get to know their patient. This requires regular communication to develop a rapport and trust over time. Traditional healthcare methods could once achieve this kind of connection within a community. However, successful healthcare delivery today needs modern scalable tools like RPM to meet the growing demand for quality care. A study posted in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) reported that 88.97% of more than 3100 survey participants agreed that their RPM program helped them feel comfortable managing their health from home, and their overall satisfaction with their RPM program as a healthcare model was more than 90%.

Comprehensive Care Strategies to Defeat Loneliness

Robust healthcare incorporating modern and traditional practices and technological innovations like real-time monitoring, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) can attack loneliness head-on, keeping patients satisfied and supported in their care. Healthcare with RPM can have real-world impact in many ways including:

• Early intervention: RPM devices allow for continuous tracking of vital information, enabling the early detection of potential health problems before they escalate. For example, an abnormal blood sugar or pressure spike can trigger communication from a care team helping patients feel safe and supported.
• Quality care anywhere: For chronically ill, elderly, and rural patients, in-person access to healthcare can be difficult, leading some to avoid seeking the care they need. VCM programs allow patients to receive care from home or anywhere, reducing the need for in-person visits, while keeping the lines of communication open.
• Medical alerts: RPM systems can remind patients to take medications. They also notify patients, providers, and authorized family members of anomalies and emergencies, spurring communication and intervention, and creating a sense of community.
• Proactive, personalized care: Patients can control their care with a treatment plan tailored to their needs. They feel comforted in not managing their conditions alone, and empowered to follow a regimen that considers all aspects of their health and wellness.
• Enhanced emotional well-being: Regular check-ins provide consistent, empathetic communication that fosters companionship and emotional support. These interactions also build trust, which can improve a patient’s overall sense of well-being.

Addressing loneliness among the elderly has broader implications beyond individual health outcomes. VCM programs help elderly patients feel supported, connected, and cared for. This decreases hospitalizations, reduces care costs and strain on medical resources, and enhances overall well-being across elderly populations. A holistic approach to care that prioritizes communication and empathy demonstrates a provider’s commitment to their patients and the fight against loneliness.

To learn more about RPM devices and CCM through Nsight, click HERE to schedule a demo today. Whether you are a patient or provider looking to learn more about RPM, we would love to hear from you.