Monitoring heart conditions and blood pressure is a literal lifeline for both long-term care residents and at-home older adults.
As new technologies are being introduced into senior living and care spaces, some companies also are trying to close gaps in access to these tools.
Healthcare device manufacturer OMRON and provider EPIC Health are partnering to offer residents and patients access to OMRON’s blood pressure tool VitalSight, the companies announced last week.
The service, which will be available to people through Medicare at “little to no cost,” is meant to increase blood pressure monitoring among underserved older adults in the Detroit metro area.
Detroit and Wayne County, MI, is a region where senior mortality rates are more than 50% higher than the national average, the Detroit News has reported.
“EPIC Health remains diligent in its efforts to increase and improve dialogue between patients and physicians, address growing populations impacted by hypertension and stroke, and increase health access for all,” Greg Naman, MD, EPIC Health internal medicine specialist, said in a statement. “OMRON’s innovative technology makes them an excellent partner in this program.”
VitalSight consists of a digital blood pressure monitor, a scale and a wall-mounted data hub that transmits users’ health diagnostics to clinicians and caregivers.
Although the importance of monitoring symptoms outside clinical settings became particularly important during the pandemic, when in-person visits were difficult, tools like VitalSight or 100Plus, another blood pressure monitor, are important devices for older adults, especially in geographically or economically isolated areas.
A majority of seniors have high blood pressure, studies show. Unfortunately, fewer than half of adults between ages 50 and 80 who have hypertension regularly check their blood pressure outside of clinical settings, McKnight’s Home Care has reported.
In addition to being a precursor for heart disease, hypertension also puts older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
