ElderTree Smart System for Older Adults

Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are costly and pervasive among older adults. MCCs account for 90% of Medicare spending, and 65% of Medicare beneficiaries have 3 or more chronic conditions; 23% have 5 or more. MCCs are often addressed in primary care, where time pressures force a focus on medication and lab results rather than self-management skills. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether voice-activated "smart" technology increases adoption and sustains use of an evidence-based electronic health intervention (Elder Tree, or ET) for older adults with multiple chronic conditions, and thereby improves its potential to widely enhance quality of life and health outcomes. ET is an existing intervention providing tools, motivation, and support on a computer platform to help older adults manage their health. An Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded randomized controlled trial (RCT) found that ET improved quality of life and other factors among high users of primary care with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. However, many people did not use it extensively, which is a common problem with all web apps.