Postpandemic Telehealth Use: Patterns and Barriers for Older Adults in the United States, 2024.

Abstract

<b>Objectives.</b> To examine telehealth use and modality choice among US older adults (≥ 65 years) and identify factors associated with adoption and modality preference in the postpandemic era. <b>Methods.</b> Using data from 2723 device-owning older adults in the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 7; nationally representative, March-September 2024), multivariable logistic and multinomial logit models examined associations between telehealth use, modality, and covariates, including socioeconomic factors, health conditions, digital literacy, and prior health information technology use. <b>Results.</b> Overall, 31.4% of older adults used telehealth in 2024 (video: 12.38%; phone-only: 12.41%). Higher odds of use were associated with Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07, 3.81), lung disease (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.22, 4.42), depression (AOR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.01, 3.54), and frequent provider visits; lower odds were associated with nonmetropolitan adjacent residence (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17, 0.76) and health insurance coverage (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.62). In addition to these factors, video use was uniquely associated with higher income, ability to use apps without assistance, and prior health IT use. Nonusers most commonly cited preference for in-person care (45.7%) or not being offered telehealth (13.4%). <b>Conclusions.</b> Telehealth use has stabilized but remains low among US older adults, with persistent geographic and socioeconomic disparities in modality choice. Policies ensuring audio-only parity and targeted digital literacy interventions are essential to promote equitable telehealth access as telehealth becomes integrated into postpandemic care. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2026;116(S3): S218-S228. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308575).