Telemedicine for older adults.

Although telemedicine is not a new concept, health care assessment and treatment approaches which incorporate technology have expanded greatly over the past decade. Telemedicine has been used successfully with all age groups across the lifespan. However, telemedicine programs can serve an important function in home health care to support older adults in their own homes and communities. This article provides a summary of the types and outcomes of community-based telemedicine programs for elderly patients. In addition, practice and policy challenges in telemedicine are discussed.