Telemedicine in the Care of Older Adults with Dementia: Caregivers’ Perceptions and Experiences
<b>Background:</b> Population aging has led to a rise in dementia prevalence, increasing the demand for innovative care models. Telemedicine offers an opportunity to improve access, continuity, and caregiver support for older adults with cognitive impairment. <b>Methods:</b> This qualitative descriptive study was conducted at the Geriatrics and Gerontology Service of Cassiano Antônio de Moraes University Hospital (HUCAM-UFES), Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 11 caregivers of older adults living with dementia who participated in telemedicine consultations. Data was analyzed thematically using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. <b>Results:</b> Caregivers considered telemedicine useful, accessible, and safe, facilitating the continuity of care and strengthening the caregiver-professional relationship. The main limitations were the absence of physical examination and occasional technical difficulties. Most caregivers favored a hybrid care model, combining remote and in-person visits. <b>Conclusions:</b> Telemedicine proved to be a feasible and well-accepted strategy for the care of older adults with dementia, improving caregiver support and communication with healthcare teams. Public policies should foster digital inclusion and training for both caregivers and professionals, consolidating hybrid, person-centered models of care.
Authors
- L Dias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7482-3611)
- Guilhermina Rêgo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8590-9832)
- Thiago Dias Sarti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1545-6276)
- Viviane Gontijo Augusto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8906-0875)
- Roni Chaim Mukamal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5860-0741)
Institutions
- Universidade do Porto (PT)
- Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Pará (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geriatrics
- Published
- 2025-12-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10060169
- Primary Topic
- Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo