Technology Divide Between Senior 'Haves' and 'Have-Nots' Roils Pandemic Response

The transition to virtual and telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic has created a technological rift between older adults who can and cannot participate, reports Kaiser Health News . Seniors barred from virtual interactions include those with dementia, hearing loss, and impaired vision. Moreover, seniors with limited financial resources may be unable to afford devices or the associated Internet service fees, while others lack both tech savvy and learning assistance. In this situation, the tech "have-nots" are more likely to face social isolation, skip medical care, and lack food or other necessities. When SCAN Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage plan with 215,000 members in California, polled its most vulnerable members after the pandemic struck, it learned that about one-third lacked access to the technology needed for telehealth appointments. Many enrollees also needed translation services that are often problematic for telehealth services to accommodate. Forward-thinking experts like Aging in Place Technology Watch blog founder Laurie Orlov say nursing, assisted living, and senior communities need to install community-wide Wi-Fi services to help give seniors more access to telehealth and virtual resources.