Boomers can now take advantage of the latest technological advances in health care monitoring, using tools that can improve your outcomes and save you a bit of dough along the way.
Here's a number of nifty gadgets & apps available to us through the brave new tech-world, designed to keep us healthier, learn healthcare costs in advance, or be "seen" by a doctor without leaving the house:
Activity and nutrition tracking: If you're one of the 68% of adults ages 50 to 64 who track their weight, diet, exercise routine or other health indicators (according to a recent Pew survey) then check this out. Companies like Jawbone and FitBit have introduced intuitive and accurate activity tracking tools that are being adopted rapidly. The calorie counting app MyFitnessPal is growing its users at a 50% annual rate, and today has 65 million people registered; together they have lost over 100 million pounds.
Telemedicine and advanced sensor technology: can improve
management of chronic care patients, thus literally saving lives. Baby Boomers want to remain independent for as long as possible. When polled, the vast majority of us would prefer to age in place even after we need daily assistance, and digital health technology will help make that possible. The cost of four days of in-hospital heart monitoring ($30,000) could be reduced by up to 72% through the use of telemedicine and remote monitoring. You can also see substantial savings from using services like Doctor on Demand ($40 per visit) or Teladoc for regular visits and consultations.
management of chronic care patients, thus literally saving lives. Baby Boomers want to remain independent for as long as possible. When polled, the vast majority of us would prefer to age in place even after we need daily assistance, and digital health technology will help make that possible. The cost of four days of in-hospital heart monitoring ($30,000) could be reduced by up to 72% through the use of telemedicine and remote monitoring. You can also see substantial savings from using services like Doctor on Demand ($40 per visit) or Teladoc for regular visits and consultations.
Meditation: Research shows that meditation has many health benefits, from reducing anxiety/stress & blood pressure, to controlling pain and improving sleep. It's worth learning.
New to meditation? No problem. Headspace offers a gentle introduction to a concept that can feel very alien at first. The app eases you into the practice. It starts you off on a free Take10 program, which gives you the chance to meditate for just 10 minutes a day over 10 days.For those who know meditation, there’s a variety of guided breathing and visualization exercises which you can tailor to focus on what matters to you most, with options for those that suffer from anxiety, or those that might need to calm down in an emergency, such as a panic attack.
The app isn't free, but basic starter sessions are. A subscription - which unlocks access to a deeper range of mindfulness exercises up to one hour in length, costs $96 for an annual plan (billed all at once) which works out to $7.99/mo; 12.99/mo for a plan billed monthly; and 19.99/mo for a family plan.
New to meditation? No problem. Headspace offers a gentle introduction to a concept that can feel very alien at first. The app eases you into the practice. It starts you off on a free Take10 program, which gives you the chance to meditate for just 10 minutes a day over 10 days.For those who know meditation, there’s a variety of guided breathing and visualization exercises which you can tailor to focus on what matters to you most, with options for those that suffer from anxiety, or those that might need to calm down in an emergency, such as a panic attack.
The app isn't free, but basic starter sessions are. A subscription - which unlocks access to a deeper range of mindfulness exercises up to one hour in length, costs $96 for an annual plan (billed all at once) which works out to $7.99/mo; 12.99/mo for a plan billed monthly; and 19.99/mo for a family plan.
Cost transparency tools: Today, the price and quality of care can vary greatly by location, and as we age, we will assume increasing responsibility for healthcare costs. So tools that provide objective cost data, like ones developed by Change Healthcare, Castlight Health and ClearCost Health help us make better, more informed care decisions and help us save money.
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