Transforming daily support with multidisciplinary teleassistance: impact on health parameters in older adults-a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Home care and teleassistance emerge as effective, patient-centered approaches to meet the healthcare needs of older adults, enabling them to remain in familiar environments while receiving personalized care. Despite technological advancements driving teleassistance, the success of these interventions hinges on the acceptance and adherence of older person and their caregivers. This study explores the impact of teleassistance on older adults' health, focusing on daily and simple care, through a randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

Individuals aged 60 years or older were recruited and divided into two groups: the application group (APPG, n=21) and the control group (CG, n=19). Various anthropometric, motor, clinical, and biochemical measures were utilized for participant assessments. Throughout the 14-week experimental period, participants utilized the "Viva" application, receiving teleassistance and educational resources. Personalized support was provided to address any difficulties.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated that the "Viva" application had significant positive impacts on the health and well-being of older adult participants. Specifically, the APPG showed no-table improvements in flexibility [sit and reach (S&R): +5.1 cm, P<0.001], lower limb strength [sit and stand test (S&ST): +5.2 reps, P<0.001], and walking performance [6-minute walk test (6MWT): +41.3 m, P<0.001], compared to the CG. Additionally, the APPG exhibited enhanced overall health (P<0.001), cognitive function [Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): +4.7 points, P<0.001], and significant reductions in total cholesterol levels (-25 mg/dL, P<0.05). These findings were complemented by improvements in healthy food consumption patterns, reduced daytime sleepiness, and greater health literacy, further emphasizing the application's role in promoting healthy aging and improved quality of life. With technological advances and expanding internet access, telecare has the potential.

CONCLUSIONS

With technological advances and expanding internet access, telecare has the potential to revolutionize care for older adults by enabling them to safely and autonomously remain at home while receiving personalized support. This study demonstrated significant improvements in health outcomes, including reduced sedentary time, enhanced physical activity, better sleep quality, lower cholesterol levels, improved cognitive function, and healthier dietary habits in the teleassisted group. These results highlight teleassistance as an essential strategy for promoting healthy and active aging, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, and improving the overall quality of life for older adults.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (RBR-6wgkzs8).