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In age, diseases can accumulate or occur in combination, requiring multiple medications. Securing the health of elderly patients on multiple drugs is a big challenge, especially during a pandemic. Patients hesitate to visit health care organizations and remain homebound, no travels. Important health checks and assessments are postponed necessary surgeries or treatments canceled. Post-surgery and rehabilitation measures often elapse unused. The state of health in society can worsen with increased pandemic duration.
The physical health and mental stress of the elderly population are of particular concern. In earlier days, seniors were part of larger families living in multi-generational households, nurtured with a feeling of comfort, love, and care. Things are different today, as about 82% of German seniors >85 years live in a single household. Many are lonely, without any social relationships. Will to live, vitality, curiosity, and optimism about life, critical factors of the psychological constitution, can be impaired. Often valuable senior expert knowledge is forgotten.
When stimulated, many manual, botanical, literary, artistic, academic skills and abilities can improve with age. Brain-, finger-, sensory exercises, and other stimulation techniques can also be of value. Improved mental stability and perception of seniors can be outcomes.
In addition, life-affirming self-esteem can support the goal of reaching the entire biological life span of 125 years, add a new dimension to the life of the elderly.
Telemonitoring strengthens the link to the homebound patients 24/7. It can connect distant experts and medical staff in local, patient-focused decision processes. Reliable and consistent real-time patient data are of importance. The Investment Act for Digitalization of Hospitals, the Digital Healthcare Act, and the Act for Strengthening of Nursing Staff are examples of the latest German legislation offering subsidies to health care and nursing facilities for upgrades leading to a higher level of secure health care digitization. Digitalization will monitor organ and vital functions, providing early intervention and support measures in real-time. It will also allow for a better balance of drug dosages for enhanced medication control.
Using high-speed internet and intranet services, patients can interact via videoconferencing in real-time with centralized telehealth service centers, specialized mobile health care providers, or communicate with close family members and friends. Touch-based, elderly-friendly devices and interfaces such as smart tablets, mobile phones, computers, tv, or info screens, can be equipped with text messaging and alarm functions and are easy to use.
