Enhancing aged care online

Technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, revolutionising how we work, communicate and even receive healthcare. One significant advancement is telehealth – a digital health intervention that facilitates health care services when the client and clinician cannot meet in person. 

Telehealth has brought about significant transformations in the healthcare landscape, particularly in the aged care sector. As traditional healthcare services struggle to meet the growing demand of the ageing population, telehealth has stepped in to allow virtual appointments and remote monitoring and record access.

Telehealth has been able to support those who are unable to travel to appointments. This is demonstrated by the Covid-19 pandemic that underscored the importance of telehealth by providing timely and up-to-date health information, facilitating regular clinician interaction, and ensuring access to medical care, overcoming the need for face-to-face restrictions.

What was created out of necessity during the pandemic has now been embedded into aged care practice with significant long-term benefits. Studies, such as the four-year evaluation of the Care Home Innovation Programme in the United Kingdom, have shown remarkable outcomes in telehealth interventions for preventing acute health episodes among older adults.

These interventions have led to a 15 per cent decrease in emergency calls and up to a 30 per cent reduction in hospital admissions. These positive outcomes have caught the attention of the government, which is now prioritising the use of assistive technology to enhance the quality of aged care services.

Furthermore, the accelerated number of client and provider apps and operating platforms that continue to emerge and the growing number of reports, such as KPMG Australia’s 2019 report Delivering healthcare services closer to home, highlight the opportunity telehealth presents to modernise aged care in Australia.

Aligned to this, the Medicare Benefits Scheme has incorporated telehealth services into its coverage, both acknowledging its value and making healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Australians.

Despite this shift, telehealth delivery comes with significant challenges and has not been embedded into aged care practice easily. Moreover, telehealth services are not mainstream or routinely available in many rural and remote locations. Internet coverage, technology competence and device access are just a few barriers to integration that need practice changes and present new challenges. 

At Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC), we have embraced the telehealth revolution with a group of services known as Better for life online. These services are designed to enhance the health and wellness of individuals aged 50 years and above from the comfort of their own homes.

Within this group is a range of free online exercise videos that individuals can access at their convenience. These exercises cater to a variety of interests and fitness levels, and include yoga, general workouts, tai chi and dance. We also offer a free cooking-for-one video series with guidance from a qualified dietitian.

Complementing this, we have a telehealth program delivering one-to-one exercise physiologist-guided activities, social work, social support, dietetics and other allied health consultations. Plus a growing group exercise program for up to four clients guided by one health and wellness promoter.

These services aim to promote physical health, social wellbeing and overall wellness among clients. 

We commenced telehealth during the pandemic to ensure clients could continue exercise during the lockdown. We have been able to grow the program through an ongoing partnership with funding from Country SA PHN (Primary Health Network), under which regional and remote-living South Australians can access a supported introduction to exercise.

This has led to an ongoing adherence of over 80 per cent and seen clients using everything from their MBS Chronic Disease Management plan to their home care package to fund continued participation.

Even those who are not tech-savvy can benefit from our telehealth offerings

To address a primary barrier to participation, we offer assistance over the phone or through in-person visits to help set up the service and ensure that even those who are not tech-savvy can benefit from our telehealth offerings.

Most recently, on the back of this mature telehealth offering we have partnered with Charles Darwin University and – with Northern Territory PHN funding – will use telehealth to enhance the health and wellbeing of older Katherine residents. 

Initial evidence from our telehealth service shows important changes in functional health among participants as well as a reduced presence of depression and anxiety.

This is just one example of the positive implications of telehealth in the aged care space.

Recently, the Australian Government expanded access to subsidised telehealth services, encouraging aged care providers to have the necessary equipment and capable staff to support in-home and residential aged care engagement.

Telehealth can foster interprofessional collaboration among client care pathway clinicians thereby enhancing the comprehensive approach to primary healthcare, self-management and adherence to treatments among elderly patients.

When you add the capacity of wearables to provide real-time monitoring of location, vital signs and falls, while providing prompts for medication and hydration, it is hard to deny the power of the technology revolution in enhanced aged care.  

While there are still challenges to be addressed, with continued efforts and technological advancements, we can look forward to a future where quality healthcare is accessible to all older Australians, regardless of their geographical location or personal situation.

Dr Francis Albert – whose PhD investigated improved health pathways for older clients through GP and allied health communications – is a health and wellness promoter with Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC)

Dr Tim Henwood – a former academic with a PhD in human movement studies – was the group manager of research and development at Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) at the time of writing

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