Conclusion
Healthcare technologies hold much promise for
meeting the needs of America’s rapidly increasing
older population—especially given this
cohort’s growing propensity toward chronic
illness and disability—and offer many potential
benefits for older adults, healthcare providers,
and family caregivers. But, although older adults
and formal and informal care providers largely
are receptive to using health IT applications, the
full potential of technology for these populations
is not being realized. There remain a number of
barriers to be addressed—cost (among other cost
considerations, many older adults are unwilling