The adults who stand to benefit most from organised digital health records are often the least likely to be using them. Older adults typically have the most complex health histories — multiple conditions, multiple medications, multiple specialists — and the most to gain from having everything in one accessible place.
Common barriers and how to address them
- Unfamiliarity with apps — set up the account together with a family member; walk through each section once; most people become comfortable quickly
- Difficulty reading small text — increase device text size in accessibility settings; Looms responds to system font preferences
- Concerns about security — explain that health records are already stored electronically in hospitals; a patient-held record gives more control, not less
- Overwhelm from many features — start with one thing: upload a medication list, or log a blood pressure reading. The rest can follow gradually
- Relying on memory for medical history — this is precisely what a digital record solves; even a basic medication list in digital form is transformative in an emergency
How family members and carers can help
Family members are often the de facto health managers for elderly parents — accompanying them to appointments, managing medications, liaising with multiple specialists. Looms Family Hub allows a family member to maintain a health profile on behalf of a dependent relative, with the ability to share records with any connected centre.
Setting up medication reminders for an elderly parent takes five minutes and can significantly reduce missed doses — one of the most common causes of preventable hospital admissions in older adults.
"The best digital health tool for an older adult is the one set up by someone they trust, then handed back to them at their own pace."
Sara Nassereddin, Health Technology Writer