Help your elderly loved ones navigate telehealth with confidence. Covers setup, preparation, platform options, and tips for effective virtual medical consultations in Singapore.
Elderwise Editorial Team15 Februari 20268 min bacaan
Telehealth has moved from a pandemic-era necessity to an established component of healthcare delivery across Singapore and ASEAN. For elderly patients, who often face mobility challenges, transportation difficulties, and the fatigue of frequent in-person visits, telehealth offers a genuinely transformative option. A consultation that previously required a taxi ride, a long wait in a crowded clinic, and hours away from home can now happen from the comfort of a familiar armchair.
Yet despite these clear benefits, elderly adoption of telehealth remains lower than in younger age groups. A study published in the Singapore Medical Journal found that while over 70 percent of adults under 50 had used telehealth services, the figure dropped to approximately 35 percent for those over 65. The barriers are not primarily technological. They are a combination of unfamiliarity, anxiety about the quality of remote care, and practical challenges around setup and communication.
This guide is designed to help family caregivers bridge that gap, making telehealth accessible and effective for their elderly loved ones.
Telehealth is well-suited for a range of healthcare needs common among elderly patients. Routine follow-up appointments for stable chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis are often handled effectively through video consultation. Medication reviews and prescription renewals, where the physician needs to discuss but not physically examine the patient, translate well to telehealth. Mental health consultations, including counselling and psychiatric follow-ups, are particularly effective via telehealth, as the comfort of a home environment can actually enhance communication. Post-surgical or post-hospitalisation check-ins, nutritional counselling and lifestyle guidance, and results discussions for blood tests and imaging are all well-suited to virtual delivery.
Telehealth has limitations, and families should understand when an in-person visit is essential. Physical examinations that require palpation, auscultation, or direct observation are not possible remotely. New or acute symptoms that may require diagnostic imaging or laboratory tests on the same day necessitate in-person attendance. Procedures including vaccinations, wound care, and injections obviously require physical presence. Falls or injuries that need hands-on assessment should always be seen in person.
A good rule of thumb is that telehealth works best for ongoing management of known conditions, while new, urgent, or complex presentations generally require in-person evaluation.
The basic technology requirements for telehealth are modest. You need a device with a camera and microphone, which can be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. A stable internet connection is essential, and most home broadband or 4G mobile connections in Singapore are more than adequate. A quiet, well-lit space where the patient can sit comfortably during the consultation is important for both audio clarity and the physician's ability to observe the patient visually.
Tablets are often the best device choice for elderly users due to their larger screens compared to phones and simpler interfaces compared to laptops. Position the device at eye level, either on a stand or propped securely on a surface, so that the patient can maintain a natural posture during the consultation.
Most healthcare providers in Singapore use established telehealth platforms such as those integrated into hospital apps (SingHealth, NUHS, and NHG systems), dedicated telehealth providers like Doctor Anywhere, MyDoc, and WhiteCoat, or the national HealthHub platform for public healthcare institutions.
Before the first appointment, help your elderly family member become familiar with the platform. Conduct a practice session where you walk through the process of logging in, joining a consultation room, adjusting audio and video settings, and ending the call. Familiarity reduces anxiety significantly, and most platforms offer test call features for exactly this purpose.
Preparation is even more important for telehealth than for in-person visits, because the time available is often shorter and the physician has fewer observational cues to work with.
Before the appointment, prepare a written list of symptoms, concerns, and questions. Gather all current medications and have them visible to the camera when asked. Note recent vital signs if home monitoring equipment is available, including blood pressure, blood glucose, weight, and temperature. Have the patient's NRIC and any relevant medical documents accessible.
If the caregiver will be present during the consultation, clarify roles in advance. The patient should lead the conversation wherever possible, with the caregiver providing supplementary information and asking follow-up questions as needed. This respects the patient's autonomy while ensuring that important details are communicated.
Effective communication during a telehealth consultation requires some adjustments from both the patient and the caregiver.
Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Elderly patients may find it helpful to use a headset or earphones if hearing is a concern, as this can improve audio quality significantly compared to device speakers. Look at the camera when speaking, rather than at the screen, to create a sense of eye contact with the physician.
If the physician asks the patient to show a body part, skin condition, or range of motion, assist with positioning the camera to provide a clear view. Good lighting is essential for the physician to observe colour, swelling, or other visual indicators.
Do not hesitate to ask the physician to repeat or clarify anything that was not understood. Telehealth consultations can occasionally suffer from audio lag or clarity issues, and it is far better to ask for repetition than to miss important information.
Take notes during the consultation or ask permission to record it for later review. Many elderly patients find it difficult to absorb and remember all the information communicated during a medical consultation, and this challenge can be amplified in a virtual setting.
After the consultation, summarise the key points: any changes to medications, follow-up tests or appointments needed, warning signs to watch for, and lifestyle recommendations. Share this summary with other family members involved in the patient's care to ensure everyone is aligned.
Telehealth consultations involve the transmission of sensitive medical information, and families should be aware of the privacy protections in place. In Singapore, telehealth platforms used by licensed healthcare providers are required to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the Ministry of Health's telehealth guidelines.
Ensure that consultations are conducted in a private space where others cannot overhear. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for telehealth calls. If the consultation platform offers end-to-end encryption, confirm that this feature is active. After the consultation, secure any recordings or notes containing medical information.
The most effective approach for elderly patients is typically a hybrid model that combines telehealth and in-person visits. Regular monitoring and routine follow-ups can be conducted via telehealth, reducing the burden of clinic visits. Periodic in-person appointments allow for comprehensive physical examinations and procedures. Urgent or acute issues are always assessed in person.
Work with your loved one's healthcare team to establish a schedule that balances convenience with clinical necessity. Many physicians are willing to alternate between telehealth and in-person appointments once they are confident that the patient and family can use telehealth effectively.
The value of telehealth increases significantly when combined with connected health monitoring devices. Blood pressure monitors, glucometers, pulse oximeters, and weight scales that transmit readings to a healthcare platform provide physicians with objective data that enhances the quality of remote consultations.
Several programmes in Singapore, including Integrated Health Monitoring initiatives and hospital-at-home programmes, provide eligible elderly patients with connected devices and remote monitoring support. Ask your loved one's healthcare provider whether they qualify for such programmes.
Some elderly patients are resistant to telehealth, and their concerns deserve respect rather than dismissal. Common objections include doubts about the quality of remote care, discomfort with technology, preference for the personal connection of in-person visits, and concerns about privacy.
Address these objections with patience and evidence. Share positive experiences from peers. Start with low-stakes consultations, such as a medication renewal, to build confidence. Offer to be present during the first few appointments. Over time, most elderly patients who initially resisted telehealth come to appreciate its convenience and are willing to use it regularly.
Telehealth is not a replacement for the human connection at the heart of healthcare, but it is a powerful complement that can make medical care more accessible, convenient, and frequent for elderly patients. With thoughtful setup, careful preparation, and patient support, families can help their elderly loved ones benefit fully from this evolving mode of care delivery.
Elderwise AI integrates with telehealth workflows to help families prepare for virtual consultations, track health metrics between appointments, and ensure that every interaction with the healthcare system is as productive as possible. Because better access to care means better outcomes for the people you love.