Aging in America News

| II. Perils, Inequities, and Solutions

| Liz Seegert

In part I of this feature, Seegert highlighted new data about the crisis in family caregiving.

Like it or not, technology is coming for the U.S. care sector. Many have pointed to the downsides of this trend: more insurers, particularly Medicare Advantage companies, have turned to AI to deny claims without human review. This practice places additional onus on family caregivers, who may have to spend hours on the phone with insurance companies, fighting for basic services for their loved ones.

But technology is also helping in this battle, says Neal Shah, CEO of CareYaya health technologies. “Innovations like Counterforce Health are now using AI to level the playing field,” he says, “generating robust appeal letters in seconds, that help patients win back coverage and get the care they need. But this highlights a broader inequity: technology is either empowering or exploiting families, with little middle ground.”

Addressing access, cost, and literacy

Inequities abound in use of technology among families, due to cost, access, and ability. One in five American households lack internet access, with low-income communities disproportionately affected. Some 22 million older people lack broadband access, most notably in low income urban and rural areas. Additionally, many older adults struggle with digital literacy. Without these skills, they have trouble accessing health care, banking and communication tools, further increasing dependence on caregivers or friends to take on these tasks for them.

“We must bridge the digital divide to ensure equitable access, especially in rural communities where both caregivers and older adults face the greatest barriers,” Shah said. While technology has immense potential to help caregivers, a troubling paradox of “innovation inequality” also exists. “I see firsthand how tech innovation is already helping thousands of families coordinate and afford care more easily, but the equity challenge is profound and real.”

One solution? Democratizing access through intergenerational care networks. Pairing digital natives with older adults helps them navigate technology, and creates a multiplier effect that extends far beyond individual interactions. This approach addresses both the caregiver shortage and digital literacy simultaneously, while fostering more meaningful human connections.

The Digital Equity Act, included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provided $65 billion to states, community organizations, and other entities for a range of broadband deployment and digital inclusion activities. However, efforts are still very much in the planning and preparation stage, assuming components are not overturned by the current Congress. Many tech companies have jumped into the family caregiver space, with apps designed for to help with everything from medication reminders, to remote monitoring, to virtual medical appointments. There are also apps specifically designed for caregiver self-care.

While hard evidence on feasibility and usability is still being collected, one review that analyzed 32 different studies, found that technology can help reduce depressive symptoms among family caregivers. The authors concluded that “these technologies have shown positive results, while also helping to overcome time and geographical barriers imposed by caregiving responsibilities.”

Of course, technology alone can’t solve the caregiving crisis. As Shah noted, It’s possible to alleviate some of the burden by employing strategies and platforms that align with caregiver and care recipient needs. Still, a concerted national effort is essential to close persistent gaps in access and cost, challenges that remain stubbornly on the back burner.

Liz Seegert is an independent journalist covering aging, women’s health, policy, and related issues. She is based in New York’s Hudson Valley.