How Seniors Are Adapting to Digital Health Care
If you still imagine most seniors as reluctant smartphone users who avoid apps and artificial intelligence like the plague, it’s time to update that picture.
A new survey from KFF (the Kaiser Family Foundation) found that today’s Medicare beneficiaries are surprisingly comfortable using digital health technology; from apps that manage prescriptions and appointments to online portals that track test results and doctor messages.
In fact, more than eight in ten Medicare beneficiaries used a health care app or website in the past year, and most said it made the system easier to navigate. Even more interesting: there was no real difference between seniors and adults in their 30s and 40s when it came to using these tools.
Maybe it was COVID that pushed everyone online. Maybe it’s that today’s 65-year-olds were still in the workforce during the smartphone revolution. Or maybe it’s simply the reality that, these days, you can’t refill a prescription, pay a bill, or reach a doctor without logging into something.
Whatever the reason, seniors have adapted, and many have even come to appreciate the convenience. They use apps to check lab results, message care teams, track medications, and manage chronic conditions. Nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries said they want Medicare itself to make it easier to share information among providers and to support apps that help manage ongoing health needs.
In other words, seniors aren’t rejecting technology. They’re asking for more of it; as long as it’s done well.
That said, not all older adults have equal access to these tools. Seniors with higher incomes and stable internet connections are far more likely to use digital health tech than those with lower or moderate incomes. For families with older relatives who may be struggling to keep up – especially in rural areas or with limited resources – this digital divide can make it harder to stay on top of care.
If your parent or loved one is managing a chronic condition or multiple specialists, helping them learn to use their provider’s patient portal or app can make a world of difference. It’s not just about convenience, it’s about better coordination and fewer gaps in care.
While most Medicare beneficiaries have gone digital in some way, only about 30% have used telehealth video visits in the past year. And just 23% have used apps to manage a chronic condition. There are good reasons for this. Many older adults still prefer a real conversation to an online chat box. About 17% of Medicare beneficiaries also face cognitive or mental health challenges that make navigating technology harder.
Trust in artificial intelligence remains low: only about a third of older adults say they trust AI to access medical records or offer personalized health advice. Privacy concerns also loom large. Seniors (well, really most adults) worry about how tech companies, insurers, and even government agencies use the personal health data these systems collect.
You might wonder what digital health tech has to do with estate planning or elder law. The connection is actually quite close. The more our health care moves online, the more important it becomes to plan for digital access and authority:
Who can log into your health portal if you’re hospitalized?
Who can manage your online accounts or apps if you become incapacitated?
Does your health care power of attorney or HIPAA authorization specifically allow digital access to records and communications?
If those powers aren’t clear, your loved ones could face frustrating barriers, when time matters most. Including language about digital access and telehealth authority in your planning documents can prevent delays and confusion.
Today’s Medicare beneficiaries are not Luddites. They’ve adapted to a digital world – sometimes out of necessity, often with surprising enthusiasm. Technology isn’t replacing good medical care or personal connection, but it can make an overwhelming health system a little easier to navigate. And if your estate plan or health care documents predate the “app age,” it may be time for an update.
