The use of online healthcare platforms increased significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There were many concerns regarding digital healthcare, especially for senior citizens. The gap of technology faced by the older generation is the foremost hindrance in the utilization of telehealth. However, lockdown due to global pandemic forced them to try telehealth platforms and the numbers have been increasing ever since.

About only four percent of citizens over the age of 50 had experienced telehealth visits till 2019. However, in the first 3 months of the pandemic, 1 out of 4 American senior citizens used digital platforms for their regular checkups and therapies increasing the rate to 30% in 2020. Moreover, it was reported that providers also offered digital healthcare appointments to their senior patients more during the global pandemic. In a survey , it was unfolded that about sixty-two percent of senior citizens were offered online healthcare visits by their providers in 2020 which is much higher compared to fourteen percent in 2019.

Initially, senior citizens had many concerns about online therapies and consultations but the level of comfort increased with their increasing experience with the virtual healthcare visits.

Following are some steps that should be followed by the providers to make the telehealth experience more convenient and productive for the older patients

• Speak clearly and slowly
• Make sure that you have proper lighting in your room so that the patient can see you clearly
• Maintain eye contact when you speak
• Use gestures to convey your meaning
• Be vigilant about the patient’s feedback. If he/she seems to be facing any problem; address it calmly and slowly
• If the patient seems to have hearing issues, make sure either he/she is wearing headphones or using hearing aids.
• Provide the customers with detailed written instructions