How New Healthcare Technology Can Help Seniors

It’s an exciting time to be alive! Healthcare technology advances every day, and much of this new healthcare technology can help seniors lead happier, healthier lives. Because of its rapid advancement, it can be difficult to “keep up” with all the new tech out there. However, by spending a few minutes learning about the new modern tools available, you may find improved quality of life and healthcare outcomes. New technology also makes it possible to be more independent in later years, which is a huge benefit to many senior citizens. Read on to learn more about the new healthcare technology available to seniors in 2025, and how it can help you lead your best life, no matter your age.  

Telehealth Services

The best new healthcare technology for seniors comes in the form of telehealth services. Previously, seniors in rural areas lacked access to advanced medical care without long flights or potentially treacherous drives. Now, many healthcare providers and insurance companies provide telehealth service options. You can see many types of healthcare professionals via a video call or text chat service. This includes psychotherapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, audiology, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and even urgent medical care. 

Being able to see your doctor online means you don’t have to travel, and you limit exposure to others who may be sick. It’s also a great service for seniors who have reduced mobility, especially those in winter climates where walking, driving, or using a walker on ice and snow can be very dangerous. Telehealth is especially convenient when you just need a quick check-in with a doctor for a routine follow-up or prescription refill.

Medicare also pays for telehealth services, usually at the same rate as in-person services. Please note that beginning in 2025, Medicare will only pay for telehealth services for seniors in rural areas (click here to learn more about Medicare and telehealth). Telehealth also does not replace in-person medical care, and for proper diagnosis and treatment of serious illness or injury, you will still need to be seen in-person. It is, however, a great supplement to routine care.


Ask your doctor or call your insurance company for more information about telehealth services in your area, and what is covered by your insurance plan.

Wearable Health Gadgets

The many wearable health gadgets available today are incredibly useful in monitoring and maintaining your health. For example, in most Stellar Living senior living communities, all seniors are given an emergency pendant that they can press to receive immediate care. This pendant allows residents to alert the caregivers and medical team at the community in case of a fall or other medical emergency. 

For non-emergent care, a smart watch, fitness watch, or other type of fitness tracker can help you improve your day-to-day health. Tracking your sleep, steps, and energy expenditure might encourage you to be more active and work harder during exercise. Additionally, wearable health gadgets can give you important information that may help you diagnose and treat health conditions or illnesses earlier. Many fitness watches keep track of your heart rate, and will let you know if you experience a “skipped heartbeat” (arrhythmia), or unusually high or low heart rate. Noticing disruptions in your sleep through the tracker’s data could help you get diagnosed with sleep apnea, or treat insomnia.  

Remember, wearable health gadgets are only as accurate as their hardware and software. If you see something worrisome in the data your smartwatch or fitness tracker detects, schedule an appointment and see your primary care provider for further investigation. 

If you want a new fitness tracker device, many seniors find the Apple Watch convenient and easy to use. There are many other brand devices available, including the Fitbit. Search online retailers, consult your doctor, and read reviews to find the device that will work best for you.

Smart Homes

Smart home technology can reduce your energy expenditure, save you money, and keep your home safer and more comfortable. Some common smart home devices include smart thermostats, like the Google Nest. These track your time spent at home, current weather, and indoor and outdoor temperature to save you money and reduce energy consumption. 

Wifi home monitoring and security systems are also popular among seniors, especially those who live alone. Ring cameras can alert you to intruders (or just visitors), or even deter potential burglars with lights and sirens. You can also install a whole-home smart security system that you can monitor through your smartphone through retailers like SimpliSafe.

Smart smoke detectors can help seniors with hearing loss to make sure you’re alerted to smoke or carbon monoxide in your home. Speaker systems like the Echo Dot can allow you to contact friends and family easily and hands-free (and as a bonus, you can also listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks). For easy video chatting with loved ones, you might try the Amazon Echo Show. Staying in touch with family and friends reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation, which will actually improve both your physical and psychological health. 

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology– devices that help people with disabilities, injuries, or mobility challenges–has come a long way since the days of wooden canes. While there are fancy new ergonomic canes that aid with walking (check out rehabilitation poles, like these ones), there are also tons of assistive devices for all sorts of challenges. For example, if you have lost or are losing your eyesight, screen reader software can help you read text on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. On Mac devices, VoiceOver is a built-in option to help you use your device, even if you’re having trouble reading. For Windows, NVDA is a good free screenreader. 

Arthritis can make many tasks more difficult and painful. Thankfully, with new technology, there are devices to help you manage these tasks more easily. Some great options for arthritis include:

As you can see, there are tons of options for assistive technology. Try searching your favorite online retailer for help accomplishing any tasks that are giving you trouble.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence, called “AI” for short, is a cause of fear for many seniors and adults all over the world. There are many serious concerns for how AI can be harmful, but thankfully, no Terminator-style robots are coming to destroy us. AI can also be helpful, especially for seniors. Many wearable health monitors, smart home systems, and electronic devices use AI processing to detect falls, call emergency services, alert you to possible health conditions, to name just a few. 

Robotic Mobility

Robots seem like a very futuristic technology, but robotics are rapidly advancing in the healthcare field. Robotic prosthetics have the potential to be life-changing for those who have lost limbs. Robotic companions are being tested in hospitals as a possible way to help isolated seniors who don’t have the ability to spend time with others in-person.   

 

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Devices

Your doctor can use a Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) device to check your vital signs and other symptoms, without requiring you to come into the office. Many of these can even wirelessly transmit data to your doctor in real time. Some common RPMs include at-home blood pressure cuffs, glucometers that help manage blood sugar, pulse oximeters that monitor your blood oxygenation, and Bluetooth scales and thermometers. 

As you can see, healthcare technology has come a long way in the last few years, and it continues to advance rapidly. It’s easy to see how this new healthcare technology can help seniors in a wide variety of ways. If you find yourself needing more medical care these days, senior living communities might be a good place to learn how to use and get access to these new technological advancements. Tour a Stellar Living community today to learn more about how senior living communities use technology to make seniors’ lives better.