Funding Tech Projects to Help Lonely, Vulnerable Seniors

By Julie Mozena, Caring.com author

According to the Administration of Aging of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 31 percent (11.2 million) of older persons currently live alone. This number will undoubtedly grow as the boomer demographic continues to age. The population of those 65-plus will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 55 million in 2020. At the same time, chronic disease, which affects 45 percent of all Americans, disproportionally affects seniors. As a result, older adults are much more likely to suffer severe setbacks in their health and overall quality of life.

The Verizon Foundation is preparing for this inevitable shift through the innovative use of technology to serve the needs of aging and other vulnerable populations. Roselena Martinez, Healthcare Program Manager, explained how the Verizon Foundation is increasing access to care and improving health outcomes by incorporating health information technology to empower seniors and caregivers to better manage their own health.

Click here to read more of this article, from Caring.com