Are Baby Boomers really resistant to healthcare technology?
A common assumption in healthcare is that older patients don’t want digital tools. Gozio’s late 2023 survey of about 700 patients on digital patient engagement trends suggests otherwise. The original report focused on the challenges patients face and what they want improved, with only a brief look at age. This post digs into the results by generation to test common myths about older Americans and technology.
Do older patients want one platform to manage their healthcare?
Across every generation, patients want a single platform to manage their healthcare needs, and 50% would prefer a single mobile app. Among Baby Boomers, 85% say a single platform is important, including 52% who say it is very or extremely important. Boomers are split on mobile versus desktop, with 30% saying they strongly prefer a mobile healthcare solution.
Which mobile features do Baby Boomers want most?
Baby Boomers use fewer digital tools than other generations to manage their healthcare, but the data shows no lack of interest in digital health technology:
- 77% would view their lab results and 71% would refill a prescription with a mobile app.
- 64% would like to send a message to their provider on mobile.
- 40% used their mobile device for their last digital healthcare service.
Overall, 60% of Baby Boomers say they would use a mobile app to manage all or part of their healthcare.
Do older patients prefer talking to a person over using an app?
Baby Boomers’ concerns about healthcare apps are much like those of younger generations. Their top concerns are privacy and ease of use, followed by the accuracy of health information. They are least concerned about feature integrations and a lack of human interaction.
That last finding stands out. Health system leaders often say older patients strongly prefer speaking with a person, but more than half of Boomers in the survey said otherwise. Boomers made up 33% of respondents, so the sample is large enough to take seriously. Smartphone, texting and internet use among Baby Boomers has risen sharply over the last decade.
How should patient age factor into your digital strategy?
Health systems should set assumptions aside and look at the data before shaping a digital strategy around patient demographics. Older patients are ready for mobile tools when those tools are easy to use and secure. Learn more about digital patient engagement trends in the full report, Charting a Path to Optimizing Digital Patient Engagement.
