Telemedicine Use by Older Adults Has Skyrocketed, New Poll Finds

The National Poll on Healthy Aging found one in four older Americans had a virtual medical visit in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, versus 4 percent of people over 50 who said they had ever had a virtual visit with a doctor in a 2019 survey, reports News-Medical . Comfort levels with telemedicine have climbed as well, with most older adults last year having at least one serious concern about trying a telehealth visit, which declined by mid-2020. However, not all older adults view virtual care as an adequate alternative for in-person care, and 17 percent of those over 50 still say they have never used any sort of videoconferencing tool for any reason. "These findings have implications for the health providers who have ramped up telehealth offerings rapidly, and for the insurance companies and government agencies that have quickly changed their policies to cover virtual visits," said the University of Michigan's Laurie Buis. "Tracking change over time could inform future efforts, and highlights the need for much more research on concerns, barriers, and optimal use of telehealth by older adults."