Telehealth refers to the communication between health care specialists and their patients via email, telephone, and in some cases, closed circuit television. This type of communication is helping elderly people live longer by allowing them to live at home alone or with their families. Being able to ask questions without having to visit the doctor’s office is a huge relief to those who can’t always visit their doctor between regular appointments.

If you’re taking care of an elderly loved one or friend, you may have questions about their medication, symptoms they may be having, or general questions about their emotional well-being, loss of appetite, or insomnia. Most elderly people go through different phases where they stop eating and sleep only a few hours at nighttime. While most recover after a few weeks and begin to eat and sleep normally again on their own, sometimes they do not. Contacting their doctor to express your concerns is important because a simple medication change could help them return to their regular routine.

Other forms of telehealth include videoconferencing, physiological monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and other body functions that make frequent doctor visits unnecessary. Because many elderly people rely on Medicare and other forms of government health care, keeping health costs down is important. By remaining at home instead of moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home, elderly people retain more of their independence while spending less on health care costs.

Depending on the type of care the elderly person you’re caring for needs, Medicare may help pay for monitoring devices, videoconferencing equipment, and other technology used to make staying at home even easier. Being able to live at home can greatly improve the mental and emotional health of elderly people. If you would like to include telehealth technology into the care plan of your loved one, talk to doctors, pharmacists, and other health care professionals to help you provide the best care possible.