7 Ways Technology is Improving Long-Term Heart Health in Seniors
How's your heart? As you age, heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and high blood pressure become increasingly common. New data shows that more than 184 million people, over 61% of the U.S. population, are likely to have some cardiovascular disease.
These heart issues can lead to decreased mobility, complications like stroke or heart failure, and a higher likelihood of needing long-term care. For anyone over 50, maintaining heart health is critical for preserving independence and reducing the chances of requiring more extensive healthcare.
When not properly managed, these heart conditions can lead to ongoing medical care and the need for long-term care services, whether at home or in a facility. Atrial fibrillation, for example, can increase the risk of stroke, leading to mobility issues and cognitive impairments that require long-term care and supervision. Similarly, untreated high blood pressure can cause heart failure or kidney damage, increasing your risk of stroke, complicating your health status, and increasing your healthcare needs.
Fortunately, technological advances are transforming how heart health is managed, making monitoring, preventing, and treating these conditions in aging adults easier. For older adults, these tech advances can make all the difference in their quality of life.
Seven Ways Technology Is Improving Senior Care and Heart Health
Here are seven ways technology is improving heart health for seniors and lowering the risk of needing long-term care:
1. Wearable Heart Monitors and Smartwatches
Devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, equipped with electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate monitoring capabilities, can detect irregular heart rhythms in real time. For those over 50, this early detection is crucial for managing conditions like atrial fibrillation, as prompt treatment can prevent complications.
2. Telehealth and Virtual Care Platforms
Telehealth services have revolutionized senior healthcare, allowing for remote consultations with cardiologists and specialists. For older family members with mobility issues or those living in rural areas, virtual appointments make managing chronic heart conditions like hypertension more accessible and convenient.
3. Digital Health Apps for Medication Management
Apps that help seniors track medication schedules, provide reminders, and manage prescriptions play a significant role in ensuring that heart patients adhere to their treatment plans. Many older adults forget to take their medication correctly, and proper medication management helps in reducing the risk of heart-related complications.
4. Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs)
Modern pacemakers and ICDs are more sophisticated than ever, with the ability to remotely transmit data to healthcare providers and automatically adjust settings based on the patient's needs. These advancements improve safety and reduce the frequency of hospital visits.
5. Virtual Exercise Programs and Heart-Healthy Apps
Regular physical activity is crucial to heart health, and technology makes it easier for older people to stay active. Even younger adults will use this type of technology to monitor their activity. Virtual exercise programs tailored to older adults and heart-healthy apps provide safe ways to engage in physical activity, even for those with limited mobility.
6. Remote Patient Monitoring Devices
Blood pressure cuffs, glucose monitors, and other remote monitoring tools enable doctors to monitor your or a loved one's heart health in real time without frequent in-person visits. This continuous monitoring is beneficial for managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, which are significant contributors to heart disease.
7. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Predictive Analysis
AI is transforming heart health care by analyzing vast amounts of medical data to identify risks that may go unnoticed during routine checkups. For example, AI-powered stethoscopes can detect heart murmurs and subtle abnormalities, allowing for earlier and more accurate diagnoses.
AI algorithms have become critical players in cardiovascular screening. These intelligent systems analyze vast amounts of medical data to predict potential heart risks early.
By examining factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and patient history, AI models identify patterns and predict potential heart problems. This leads to timely interventions and personalized risk assessments, enabling doctors and patients to develop customized strategies for long-term heart health management.
With these innovations, seniors benefit from personalized risk assessments, enabling them and their doctors to create targeted prevention strategies that support long-term heart health and reduce the risk of serious complications.
Impact of Technology in Long-Term Care Facilities
Caregivers and long-term care facilities are also using advanced technology to better care for older adults with heart conditions. Smart beds that track heart rate and movement, remote monitoring systems, and AI-driven health analytics are helping staff monitor patients more efficiently. Medication management technology and wearable devices reduce human error and ensure seniors receive appropriate dosages, minimizing health risks.
The MIT AgeLab surveyed experts about caregiving and technology, and medication management was the second task most experts listed as benefiting from current and future technology.
Facilities are also using AI-based predictive tools to anticipate adverse events, such as heart failure or sudden drops in blood pressure, allowing for quicker responses. By integrating these technologies into daily care routines, facilities can improve patient outcomes and reduce the need for emergency interventions.
Higher-quality long-term care facilities and home health agencies are using more technology to provide better long-term care services for care recipients. If you are looking for quality caregivers and facilities, use the LTC News Caregiver Directory to search for caregivers, home health agencies, senior communities, adult day care centers, assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes.
Family Caregivers Benefit from Tech Solutions
Technology offers peace of mind and practical support for family caregivers and professional in-home care providers. Tools like digital medication managers and wearable devices can notify caregivers of changes in a loved one's health, enabling prompt action.
Virtual assistants and remote communication platforms also help families stay connected, ensuring caregivers can support loved ones without being physically present. These innovations reduce caregiver stress and make managing a loved one's heart health more feasible, even from a distance.
Promoting Good Heart Health Now
Maintaining good heart health involves a proactive approach that includes regular medical checkups, diagnostic testing, and healthy lifestyle choices, which should start well before you get to age 50
For optimal heart health, experts recommend seeing your doctor at least once a year for a comprehensive physical exam, even if you're feeling healthy. During these appointments, your doctor will monitor key health indicators like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, all of which can signal underlying cardiovascular issues if they're not in the right range.
In addition to routine physicals, specific heart-related tests may be suggested depending on your age, risk factors, and family history. These can include electrocardiograms (ECG), echocardiograms, and stress tests, which help detect arrhythmias or other abnormalities in heart function.
If you have a history of heart disease, your doctor might recommend more frequent visits and lab work, such as lipid panels or tests to check inflammation markers like C-reactive protein (CRP).
Lab work is critical for monitoring cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Regular testing helps track changes over time and assess your risk for conditions like coronary artery disease. Most people should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years, but those with a history of high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart disease may need more frequent testing.
Staying on top of these tests, combined with following your doctor's recommendations, can help catch potential problems early and create a tailored plan to support long-term heart health.
Be Proactive
With the right combination of technology and proactive care, you and older loved ones and their families can better manage heart health, potentially reducing the need for intensive long-term care and maintaining a higher quality of life.
A proactive approach to heart health, combining regular medical care with the use of advanced technology, can significantly reduce the risks associated with aging. Incorporating these tools into daily routines helps manage existing conditions and prevents new ones from developing.
Prevention is key and Brent M. Egan, MD, is an internist and vice president of cardiovascular health at the American Medical Association. He highlights that "Life's Simple 7" was developed to simplify heart disease prevention, making it easier for patients and doctors to implement.
The strategy, aimed initially at reducing heart disease and stroke, has also been shown to lower risks for lung, kidney, and liver diseases and cancer. The seven key areas include managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, along with improving nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, and weight management.
Dr. Egan explains that the American Heart Association generally recommends 75 minutes of high-intensity physical activity each week, which raises the heart rate to about 70% of maximum capacity—equivalent to 15 minutes a day, five days a week. For moderate-intensity activities, the recommendation is 150 minutes per week, targeting around 50% to 60% of maximum heart rate.
What is also important, though, is low-intensity physical activity because there are a lot of sedentary people who would find it very difficult to do moderate and high intensity physical activity.
Research shows that even minimal movement—such as being active for just 10% of each hour, or about six minutes—can have significant health benefits. Simply getting up and moving around regularly contributes to better overall health and reduces risks associated with prolonged inactivity.
By leveraging the latest technology, prevention techniques, and regular check-ups, older adults and their families can ensure a higher quality of life and potentially reduce the need for costly long-term care services.
Those long-term care costs are expensive and are rising rapidly nationwide. Traditional health insurance and Medicare do not pay for the cost of long-term care services. Adding Long-Term Care Insurance is a retirement tool many people use to address the future costs and burdens of aging.
LTC News offers tools to help you plan like a pro and learn about available options before speaking with a Long-Term Care Insurance specialist.
Being proactive with heart health is part of enjoying your longevity. Taking steps now will benefit you and your family in the future.