Harnessing Technology for Older Adults with Serious Illness and Their Family Caregivers

Jennifer Dickman Portz, PhD, MSW

Assistant Professor

Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of ColoradomHealth Impact Lab, Colorado School of Public Health

Affiliate Investigator

Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado

My research is dedicated to the development and implementation of digital health interventions that can be used by older adults, their care-partners, family and providers to improve health decision making, symptom management, and quality of life.

Funding and Publications

Mobile apps have the potential to increase awareness of and access to palliative care.

Tele-health in palliative and hospice care offers an opportunity to reach under served populations.

Patient portals provide direct access to personal health information while managing serious illness.

Older Adults and Technology

Many older adults are interested in using technology for a variety of reasons. While it is an assumption that older adults do not like new tech, research suggests they are growing consumers of mobile devices, internet, and social media.

Our research shows that older adults may have unique challenges in adopting new technology, but once a user they are more likely to complete technology-based health interventions.

Family "Tech Support"

It seems intuitive, but under researched! Family and friends may be a major facilitator in the adoption of technology among older adults. Check out what we learned about adult children and grandchildren helping their older loved-ones to use a new device or software.

mHealth Impact Lab

Colorado School of Public Health

Kaiser Permanente Colorado