Which challenge is commonly faced by older adults and low-income users when using digital health?

Which challenge is commonly faced by older adults and low-income users when using digital health?

• A. It reduces continuity of care.
• B. It has no effect on access.
• C. Low digital literacy and access gaps can exclude these groups from benefits.
• D. They require no training.

Answer: (C)

Access to digital health hinges on being able to use the tools and having reliable connectivity. For older adults and people with low income, gaps in digital literacy and limited access to devices or affordable internet mean they can’t take full advantage of online appointments, remote monitoring, or digital health records. When these barriers exist, these groups are effectively excluded from the benefits digital health can offer, which is the central challenge being highlighted. Digital health solutions do improve continuity of care when everyone can access and use them, but that requires simplifying interfaces, offering training, and providing alternative channels like phone support or affordable connectivity. The other statements miss the core issue: access is indeed affected, training is often needed, and the problem isn’t that digital health inherently reduces continuity of care but that exclusion from its use disrupts it.

Access to digital health hinges on being able to use the tools and having reliable connectivity. For older adults and people with low income, gaps in digital literacy and limited access to devices or affordable internet mean they can’t take full advantage of online appointments, remote monitoring, or digital health records. When these barriers exist, these groups are effectively excluded from the benefits digital health can offer, which is the central challenge being highlighted. Digital health solutions do improve continuity of care when everyone can access and use them, but that requires simplifying interfaces, offering training, and providing alternative channels like phone support or affordable connectivity. The other statements miss the core issue: access is indeed affected, training is often needed, and the problem isn’t that digital health inherently reduces continuity of care but that exclusion from its use disrupts it.