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LeadingAge

The aim of a our report, Community-Based Telemonitoring for Hypertension Management: Practical Challenges and Potential Solutions, is to summarize practical considerations related to operations and logistics of a unique community-based telemonitoring pilot study targeting rural seniors who utilize community-based senior centers. The reprot reviews the technological challenges encountered during the study and proposes solutions relevant to future research and implementation of telehealth in community-based, congregate settings.


Older adults residing in rural areas often lack convenient, patient-centered, community-based approaches to facilitate receipt of routine care to manage common chronic conditions. Without adequate access to appropriate disease management resources, the risk of seniors experiencing acute events related to these common conditions increases substantially. Further, poorly managed chronic conditions are costly and place seniors at increased risk of institutionalization and permanent loss of independence.


Novel, telehealth-based approaches to management of common chronic conditions like hypertension may not only improve the health of older adults, but may also lead to substantial cost savings associated with acute care episodes and institutionalization.

Adults living in publicly assisted housing are primarily low-income single women in their mid-70s to early 80s. Findings from a range of studies indicate that significant numbers of these people experience chronic illnesses, disabilities, or both. Left unmet, this population’s needs compromise their health and quality of life, reduce their ability to continue independent living, contribute to higher Medicare and Medicaid costs, burden housing managers, and pose a safety risk to themselves and others. Over the next 20 years, a rapidly aging population will exacerbate these challenges.

The August issue of the online American Medical Directors Association publication features an article - Making Public Housing LTC Housing - by Dr. Robyn Stone on the need for publicly assisted, service-enriched senior housing and its potential for helping older adults to age in the community. This housing model responds to the preferences of most elderly residents – and their families – that these individuals age in place even as their health declines. With an existing infrastructure (public housing) and paid service coordinators (facility managers) already working in many of these buildings, the core of a housing system that is affordable for low-income seniors yet is linked to services is already in place.

Because publicly assisted housing serves critical masses of elderly residents in discreet locations, it offers an economy of scale in organizing, delivering, and purchasing services. Such housing also makes possible on-site staff who can respond to residents’ health and other needs as they arise. Incorporating communities, including the medical community, into service-enriched housing strategies may further increase their power to improve seniors’ health while lowering medical and long-term care costs. Dr. Stone's article highlights several studies that suggest positive results with these types of models and programs.

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