Digital Mental Health for Older Adults: Foe or Friend?

SOCIAL media; ELDER care; MENTAL health services; MENTAL health; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; INSURANCE; DIGITAL health; ARTIFICIAL intelligence; MEDICARE; HEALTH care teams; OLD age

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the integration of telemental health services for older adults. But such digitization also created new complexities regarding equitable access, privacy, and regulation. This article summarizes the evolving digital mental health landscape, focusing on regulatory frameworks, inherent risks, and the transformative potential of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Also covered are shifts in Medicare coverage and calls for standardized guidelines, interdisciplinary collaboration and robust regulation focused on patient privacy and AI ethics. Despite challenges, AI-driven diagnostic, monitoring, and intervention tools offer insights into mental health trajectories, using data generated by wearables, social media, and immersive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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