Researchers administered an online survey to 90 family caregivers of older adults across the state of Michigan to assess their perceptions of the benefits and barriers of telemedicine. Of those caregivers surveyed who participated in a relative’s telehealth visit, less than half participated from the same audio/video connection. The majority of those caregivers perceived benefits of participating in the visits, but many caregivers were not physically with their relative at the time of the appointment and were unable to provide technical support.
Perceived benefits of telehealth included increasing access to care, continuity of care, limiting risk of exposure to COVID-19 and improving the relationship and rapport between their older relatives and care providers. Perceived barriers included concerns about their older relative’s ability to use telehealth technology independently, a loss of patient-provider rapport, and a decline in quality of care for chronic conditions requiring special types of medical technologies, a doctor’s touch, hands-on assessments or close visual observation.
The researchers argue that policies shaping telehealth should include family caregivers’ input and that the engagement of caregivers in telehealth visits may be critical for enhancing older adults’ ability to age in place.
Family Caregivers’ Experiences With Telehealth During COVID-19: Insights From Michigan
Minakshi Raj, PhD, MPH, et al
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois
https://www.annfammed.org/content/20/1/69
Journal
The Annals of Family Medicine