Gero-Informatics

Gero-informatics (sometimes termed Geroinformatics) is the development, application, and study of health informatics in geriatrics. Whereas gerontechnology refers to "matching technological environments to health, housing, mobility, communication, leisure and work of older people", gero-informatics concerns the role of information, information systems, and information technology in geriatric medicine and geriatrics care. It includes aspects of electronic health records, personal health records, and telehealth.^[1]

Gero-informatics is part of health informatics but focuses on areas of informatics that are specific to geriatrics. This is necessary, because implementation of clinical informatics at many medical institutions has often excluded, or insufficiently addressed, information about older patients. For example, electronic health records infrequently have comprehensive ways to represent the following kinds of data.

• Advance directives
• Physical functional status
• Cognitive status
• Patients' preferences for care
• Key information about caregivers

In addition, better clinical decision support is needed to address routine preventive and medical care of older adults.

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History

Current trends

In 2006, commercial developments in gero-informatics focused on tools for remote monitoring, such as for older adults living alone with distant caregivers.

See also

• Gerontechnology
• Gerontology
• Geriatrics

References