Wired Retired: how one senior uses technology to track his health
Many seniors are playing an active role in their healthcare with the help of technology. Russ Baker, a resident of Masonic Village at Elizabethtown is one of them.
“I’ve always tried to be healthy. It’s just important. If you want to live a lot longer, you just have to be as healthy as you can. You have to eat right and exercise and all that type of stuff.”
Russ enjoys walking, so he uses fit bit technology to track the number of steps he takes every day. He says the results he sees on his fit bit give him the motivation to continue.
Although seniors have historically been late to warm up to technology, more and more are seeing the benefit. According to a PEW Research Center Study, more than half of adults 65 and older use the internet today.
Russ logs on to check his patient portal, a website that gives patients access to their personal health information.
“It reminds me of when I have a doctor’s appointment. It tells me if one of my meds is going to expire, or if I need refills. It keeps me up to date on that. And, I can look back and see what happened in my last doctor’s appointment.”
You can also use a patient portal to schedule appointments, check to see if immunizations are up-to-date and you can view allergies and lab results.
“The nice thing about that is that you’re more engaged with your healthcare,” says Dr. Kenneth Brubaker, the Chief Medical Director with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Dr. Brubaker also uses a patient portal, and likes it because he can log on quickly to check things like his last cholesterol.
As more and more seniors embrace technology, Russ Baker continues to work towards his health goals.
“My ultimate goal is to live until I’m 150. No, I’m just kidding. My ultimate goal is to feel good and to be able to be active.”
