Background Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health messages and measures of social distancing designed to protect the older population have also inadvertently posed challenges for older persons in meeting daily needs, accessing healthcare and also maintaining social connectedness. In response, there has been a rapid adoption of digital platforms by retail industry, education institutions, religious and social groups to adapt to the pandemic. There has also been a rapid promotion and widespread adoption of telemedicine to the provision of healthcare. This is further accelerated by the expansion of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth item numbers. In the older population where there is a wide heterogeneity of health and digital literacy, social support, technology access, the gaps between the digitally included and excluded are even larger, potentially putting some at a further disadvantage.
Change By drawing on two extremes (an older family friend and a patient from clinical practice), it is clear that there are indicators that may assist clinicians in selecting patients who are appropriate for telemedicine or vice versa. However, there is currently paucity of clear guidelines and tools available, especially for our patient population. We aim to develop a health-network wide approach that may help clinicians streamline suitability of telehealth for our patients and look at barriers to telemedicine adoption such as: lack of access, lack of support, presence of physical, sensory and cognitive deficits.
Learnings The pandemic has accelerated and broadened the digitisation of many aspects of our life. This has created opportunities and a different approach to doing things. However, it has also inadvertently increased the digital divide especially for the older adults. More work needs to be done to close this gap by development of digital inclusion strategies and technology access in all sectors. We should also understand and accept the limitations of this digitisation especially in providing care to our vulnerable population.