Activity tracker technologies for older adults: Successful adoption via intergenerational telehealth

Abstract

Over the last few decades, telehealth has emerged as another segment of the healthcare continuum. People are now able to gain more control over the care that is provided to them because telehealth technologies allow people to monitor and report the data that is collected to their healthcare providers. It is the providers of healthcare who then interpret the results and take necessary action. This study will observe how the provision of a wireless activity tracker influences the conscious health attitudes and behaviors in a sample of elderly participants who reside in an assisted living facility. This study will focus on the attitudes of the participants as determined by a self-report before the launch of an eight-week telehealth program, as well as at the conclusion of the program. To measure health behaviors, data was collected in regards to weight and blood pressure, as well as daily steps taken, calories burned, and distance travelled. This study is unique, thus any findings should be further studied and developed to better understand the efficacy, as well as outcomes of introducing a wireless activity tracker to any telehealth program. All information that was collected was with the consent of each individual resident, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The information collected by the wireless activity tracker was synchronized to the Fitbit® website (fitbit.com). The health vitals were taken by using a Bluetooth scale and an automated blood pressure cuff. The information was then recorded by the college students and entered into MyHealthPoint charts (myhealthpoint.com). This paper is to present the information gathered regarding the resident's weight and blood pressure; steps taken, calories burned, and distance travelled; demographics; various health conditions, as well as each resident's opinions regarding the activity tracker and the program in general. The goal of the research is to see how participants respond to the use of the wireless activity trackers and how the use of such a device affects their conscious health decisions and ultimately, the health of the residents.