While the overall use of telehealth has dipped since the pandemic, its use remains high in mental health care, with 88% of psychologists reporting that they offer telehealth services. Virtual care is an important way to meet the public’s wide range of needs, as it can increase access to specialized care and help to alleviate both geographic and logistic barriers.
Despite the benefits, there remain assumptions about who uses and can benefit from technology. For example, there is a persistent perception that older adults are less likely to embrace technology. However, recent data indicate that digital health care and technology play a role in the lives of a large swath of the American public. Insights from Rock Health’s 2024 Consumer Adoption of Digital Health Surveyopens in new window show that 58% of Americans used virtual care in the past year. Of the 53% of Americans who own a wearable device, over half are actively tracking at least one health metric.
Delving into age differences in use reveals a complex picture. While millennials had the highest rates of virtual care utilization (68%), followed by Gen Z (60%), a significant proportion of older adults report using virtual care as well—48% of Baby Boomers (ages 65–74) and 41% of the Silent Generation (ages 75 and older). Additionally, about a third of adults ages 65 and older said they own a wearable device such as a smartwatch, and over 80% of those are willing to share that data with a health care provider.
The public’s use of health technology clearly varies, but when approached in a personalized manner that considers an individual’s access to and comfort with technology, the incorporation of digital tools can have profound implications for enhancing care and better meeting the needs of people across the lifespan.
Given the importance of telehealth access, APA Services is closely monitoring the status of Medicare telehealth flexibilities—including delay of an in-person requirement—which have been extended through September 2025. To stay up to date on APA’s response to federal policy changes, visit the APA/APASI Response Center.
Read more about how technology is reshaping psychological practice and how digital tools are extending care.
