TELEMEDICINE AND MONITORING DEVICES AS TOOLS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

Research objectives: The aim of the study was to gather current evidence on the impact of telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies on quality of life and clinical outcomes in older adults. It also aimed to identify the public health implications of such interventions. Methods: A structured narrative review of peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2016 and 2025 was conducted. These were identified through searches in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords related to telemedicine, telecare, remote monitoring, wearable devices, older adults, and quality of life. Quantitative, qualitative, and review studies involving patients aged 60 years and older with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, neurological and psychiatric disorders, frailty syndrome, rehabilitation needs, and in the postoperative period were included. Key findings: The included studies indicated that telemedicine contributed to improvements in quality of life and in physical and mental health status, and it also had a positive impact on increasing the level of self-care. These interventions favorably affected clinical parameters such as blood pressure control and glycemic control, which was particularly important in patients with multimorbidity. In many geriatric populations, a reduction in the number of hospitalizations and healthcare costs was also observed. Conclusions: Telemedicine and remote monitoring devices are promising tools supporting aging in place and reducing the burden on the public healthcare system in the context of population aging. Full and effective use of teleinterventions still requires adaptation of the technology to fit the functional and cognitive abilities of older patients.