Tele-Rehabilitation in Community-Dwelling Older People with Reduced Functional Capacity: A 4-Patient Case Report

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Tele-rehabilitation (TR) presents challenges for older adults due to potential transportation and health barriers.
• Age-related decline in digital literacy may hinder geriatric patients' engagement with TR.
• Understanding TR intervention, adherence, and digital literacy in older populations is crucial.

Observation:

• TR delivered via videoconferencing, both individually and in groups, was studied.
• Participants faced challenges joining group sessions outside their homes.
• Improvements in functional capacity were observed post-intervention.

Findings:

• High adherence to the TR program was achieved by combining individual and group exercises.
• The digital literacy levels of geriatric patients were comparable to younger adult computer users.
• Specific TR formats may enhance adherence to exercise programs.

Implications:

• Individual and group TR sessions can promote high adherence to exercise regimens.
• A baseline level of digital literacy may be necessary for effective TR, especially with multimodal (oral/written) materials.
• Strategies to enhance digital literacy are needed to optimize future telehealth adoption by older adults.