Telenursing for the elderly. The case for care via video-telephony.

As most elderly people prefer home care to residential care, the nursing profession must change its current practice. New models of care are necessary. Information and communications technologies, such as video-telephony (i.e. any form of face-to-face video-communication), allow elderly people to maintain their autonomy by strengthening their emotional, relational and social abilities. Experiments in a variety of settings have tested a range of interventions based on video-telephony, from the simple giving of information to the provision of therapeutic procedures. The elderly have appreciated the opportunity to use video-telephony to communicate with a nurse about their needs, expectations and feelings. After some initial scepticism, nurses have concluded that telenursing complements traditional nursing practice. Although technology is no panacea for the problems of ageing, when applied judiciously it can bolster the position of vulnerable ageing citizens.