It has been over a year since everybody’s life shifted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Social meeting places such as workplaces, schools, places of worship, gyms were limited. Our homes have become places we do everything.
With quarantines and lockdowns worldwide, virtual wellness platforms have become the go-to places as we seek online health solutions. There`s virtual membership while payments are through credit cards.
Tele-health
It`s the use of technology to dispense health-related services. Initially, tele-health reached long-distance patients for consultations, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions.
Tele-health reduces the time patients spend in hospitals and dramatically reduces the associated costs combined with remote monitoring. Telemedicine also uses the same platforms to dispense prescriptions online before deliveries. Insurance players are also backing this and are offering packages to encourage uptake.
Virtual Therapy
With a less social connection that we are experiencing, mental health issues are on the rise. Loss of livelihood, fear, uncertainty, and other stress-inducing issues have caused mental health issues to rise.
With a wide array of communication gadgets, this form of online therapy is taking root. The client books an online appointment with a licensed therapist and communicates through video set-ups. It is cheaper for the therapist who doesn’t have to incur costs like rent and the commute to work. Also, it reduces the cost to the patients. The overall effect of this is lower therapist fees which then encourages more people to seek professional therapy.
Meditation Apps
Finding some resemblance of peace and calm during this Covid-19 pandemic can be stressful. Balancing work, school, and other social obligations – family and friends – is a real challenge.
Finding time to take care of yourself is essential. Beyond relaxation, meditation, done regularly, can help manage anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, and depression. Therapist sessions happen in the comfort of your home, and the best part of it is there are now downloadable applications that are easy to use. They have filters so you can specify your condition or need. They also come with short guided videos to “sleep stories,” and all you need to do is customize them.
Digital Fitness Platforms
Ideally, we would take to the gym, parks, and beaches to exercise, but this has changed courtesy of the pandemic. Technology has brought gyms into our homes. Online trainers who we meet at the gym have taken to the virtual streets. Either with real-time scheduled sessions to uploaded videos, there is everything for everybody.
Even after the pandemic, this new way of life may be with us for good. We may not need to go to the hospital for that consultation or those periodic visits to the therapist or do away with gym subscriptions.