The worldwide population is aging. The demographic shift is putting pressure on the already overburdened healthcare systems, which are struggling to keep up with demand. To ease this pressure, no-code technology can assist, and will become increasingly essential in the future to alleviate high demand.
As the population ages, there will be an increase in the number of people aged 85 and over. This age group is the fastest-growing segment of the population. By 2066, there will be three times as many people aged 85 and over as there are today. Healthcare systems worldwide will need to adapt to this demographic shift that is already having a significant impact on healthcare.
The challenges of providing healthcare for an ageing population
Long-standing illness, comorbidity, frailty, and chronic conditions are more prevalent among the elderly. As such, their healthcare needs are more complex and demanding. The challenges associated with providing healthcare for an aging population are significant and far-reaching. They include:
An increase in the number of people living with chronic conditions
Approximately 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition. 60% have at least two chronic conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The aging population is more likely to suffer from multiple chronic conditions – requiring a coordinated and integrated delivery of care. This form is currently not available in most healthcare systems.
A shortage of healthcare workers
The number of people aged 65 and over is projected to grow from 703 million in 2017 to 1.5 billion by 2050. Meanwhile, the number of working-age adults (aged 15-64) is expected to decline during this period.
This demographic shift will result in a shortage of healthcare workers worldwide. In the UK, there is already a shortage of GPs, with one in five practices reporting difficulty recruiting GPs.
An increase in the number of people living alone
The number of people living alone is rising, both in the UK and worldwide. In 2016, there were 11 million people aged 65 and over living alone in the UK. This is projected to increase to 12.9 million by 2030.
This trend has several implications for healthcare, including the need for more home-based care and support services.
Solving the challenges of providing healthcare for an ageing population with no-code technology
The current healthcare system is not equipped to deal with this influx of elderly patients with complex needs. In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) is already struggling to meet the needs of an aging population while relying on shrinking budgets.
In the State of Ageing 2022 report, the experience of being older is getting considerably worse for many, and the health system is not coping. But no-code technology offers a way to solve the challenges of providing healthcare for an aging population. No-code platforms provide a low-cost, quick, and easy way to develop custom applications without coding.
Digital solutions to streamline care
In particular, no-code can alleviate the shortage of primary care physicians by empowering healthcare providers to create their digital solutions.
For example, an elderly patient with multiple chronic conditions might need to see several specialists, each with their appointment schedule. A no-code platform can be used to create a custom app that helps patients keep track of their appointments, medications, and test results.
Empower patients to self-manage chronic conditions
Another example is the use of no-code platforms to develop apps that help patients self-manage their chronic conditions under the supervision of their GP.
Streamline onboarding and patient data intake to improve care
No-code platforms can be used to create digital forms that can be completed by patients before their appointment. This helps to save time during the consultation and ensures that all the relevant information is collected.
Digital forms are also useful for follow-up care. After a patient is discharged from the hospital, they can be sent a digital form to complete that helps to monitor their progress and identify any problems. This information can then be shared with their GP. This will cut follow-up visits while improving communication between patients and their care team.
Improve accessibility
Many seniors are less comfortable with the use of technology or have limited experience with using digital tools. The flexibility of no-code technology allows organisations to create a user-friendly patient experience that puts elderly patients at ease by using elderly-friendly UX/UI practices, as well as real-time assistance features like live chatbots.
Intake forms, changes of prescription, and medical history forms are easily adjusted to allow all members of the population to feel comfortable. Providers can create a digital front door experience that includes multi-language options or even co-browsing, allowing a senior patient and care provider complete forms together collaboratively.
Provide personalised care and support
Because no-code technology makes it easy to collect data, it can also be used to provide more personalised care and support. For example, an app can be created that collects data on a patient’s health, medication, and lifestyle habits. This information can then generate a personalised care plan tailored to the individual’s needs.
Consolidated view of patient’s history
Healthcare teams will find themselves more frequently managing multiple diagnoses and treatments, as well as the interactions between multiple diagnoses and treatments.
No-code technology can directly impact the following areas, which map directly to The National Academy of Medicine’s Vital Directions for Health, and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 including:
- Improved accessibility
- Creation of assisted streamlined onboarding processes
- Collection of consolidated data and overall patient insight
- Support of personalised care for patients
- Drives affordability through efficiency
As the population continues to age, the need for streamlined management and collection of relevant patient data is critical. No-code technology gives healthcare providers the ability to adjust, fine-tune and manage data collection across multiple aspects of a patient’s healthcare experience. In turn, enabling a team of care providers to respond more quickly, holistically, and with more confidence.
This article was co-authored by EasySend’s Account Executive, Chris Morant, and Dr. Tamah Chesney Morant, Teaching Professor of Economics, Poole College of Management, NC State University.