Telehealth to Address Health Promotion & Social Isolation in Community Dwelling Seniors During a Public Health Emergency

Abstract

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a public health emergency and dramatic physical and social lockdown for many of society’s most vulnerable people. This mixed methods study examined the feasibility and value of delivering health promotion occupational therapy through an online video platform to community dwelling seniors over the age of 65. Four stand-alone sessions were designed to introduce health promotion and aging in place to 10 community dwelling seniors. The sessions were designed to allow seniors to engage in informative, interactive activities offering a chance to share their lived experiences. Seniors embraced new technology and benefited from therapeutic recommendations in their homes. Qualitative and quantitative results support the adaptation of telehealth as a permanent benefit for community dwelling seniors and offers the potential to reach a broader audience, reduce barriers to access care, and optimize safety in the home.