Digital healthcare tools help older adults make informed treatment decisions

Digital healthcare tools designed specifically for older adults are proving valuable in helping seniors and their families navigate complex healthcare decisions, according to new insights from FAIR Health — a national nonprofit focused on healthcare cost transparency — through its collaboration with four health systems.

These interactive tools facilitate discussions between patients and healthcare providers and help seniors understand treatment options by clearly comparing the benefits, risks and costs of different care pathways, according to the FAIR Health brief. Examples include tools for early-stage breast cancer, fast-growing prostate cancer, and spinal stenosis, with each offering side-by-side comparisons of treatment approaches, outcomes, and estimated costs.

The tools’ adaptability has shown to be essential in clinical settings. Healthcare providers can use shared decision-making tools in various formats — digital or printed — and at different points in the treatment process. Older adults who are less comfortable with technology or lacked reliable internet access expressed a preference for printed toolkits. 

Shared decision-making tools particularly benefit older adults facing serious health conditions. Clinicians reported that family caregivers found the Alzheimer’s disease tool “especially valuable,” with many discovering resources they were previously unaware of, such as programs that provide payment for caregiving services. One senior psychometrist noted that “caregivers love the part in the toolkit that talks about caregivers getting paid.”

The research, conducted through learning exchanges with clinicians at Penn Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Emory University and University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute, found that 76% of patients appreciated the tools’ simple, understandable wording. Healthcare providers observed that early introduction of shared decision-making tools helped prevent patients from feeling overwhelmed when making treatment decisions.

The study found that shared decision-making tools were particularly effective for elective procedures like hip replacement surgery, where cost considerations can influence treatment choices. One 75-year-old patient initially rejected physical therapy due to cost concerns but proceeded after using the cost comparison tool to understand the insurance coverage options. 

According to the study findings, patients with serious diagnoses like cancer may initially show little interest in cost information, focusing instead on treatment effectiveness. However, clinicians emphasized that cost conversations should occur early in the treatment process to prepare patients for significant healthcare expenses.