We just wrapped up a great few days at Medicarians 2026 in Las Vegas, where leaders across healthcare, Medicare, insurance, AgeTech, and aging services came together to talk about what’s next.
Our co-founder and CEO, Terry Dry, took the Innovation & Product Showcase Stage to share a topic we believe is becoming increasingly urgent across the industry: solving the last mile of technology adoption and digital literacy for older adults.
Technology Is Advancing. Adoption Is Not Keeping Pace.
There’s no question that innovation in aging is accelerating.
From telehealth and remote monitoring to Medicare and member portals, benefits navigation, fraud prevention tools, smart home devices, and AI-powered platforms, organizations are investing heavily in digital solutions designed to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and expand access.
But one theme we keep coming back to…
Technology only works if people actually use it.
And for many older adults, that’s still a challenge.
As Terry shared on stage, much of today’s technology is being done TO older adults, not FOR them.
Without the right support, even the most promising AgeTech, healthcare technology, and Medicare engagement tools can fall short of their potential.
The “Last Mile” Problem In Tech Adoption
At The Smarter Service, we focus on what we call the last mile of tech adoption.
It’s the gap between:
- Technology being available
- And technology actually being used confidently in everyday life
That gap is where real impact is either unlocked or lost.
We see it every day.
Devices go unused. Platforms underperform. Digital health tools don’t reach full adoption. Member engagement suffers. Investments fail to deliver expected ROI.
Not because the technology isn’t good, but because older adults often need hands-on support to feel confident using it.
A New Kind of Support: Technology Caregiving
This is where a new category is emerging.
What we’re building at The Smarter Service is what we call a Technology Caregiver model, a trusted, human layer that helps older adults navigate the digital world with confidence.
Through hands-on tech support, digital literacy training, fraud prevention education, and ongoing guidance, we help bridge the gap between innovation and real-world usage.
Because digital literacy is no longer optional. It’s foundational.
Why This Matters Now
The conversations at Medicarians reinforced something we’ve been seeing across the industry:
- Healthcare and Medicare are rapidly becoming digital-first
- Member engagement increasingly depends on technology
- Telehealth, portals, benefits navigation, and care access require digital confidence
- Fraud prevention, communication, and care access all rely on digital tools
- Older adults are expected to navigate more complex systems than ever before
At the same time, many older adults still lack the confidence, training, or support to fully participate in that digital ecosystem.
That creates risk.
And it also creates opportunity.
For healthcare organizations, Medicare plans, senior living providers, and AgeTech companies, improving technology adoption is no longer just a user experience issue. It is a business, access, engagement, and outcomes issue.
The Bigger Opportunity Ahead
When technology is adopted and used effectively, the impact is significant:
- Better access to care and services
- Improved health monitoring
- Stronger Medicare member engagement
- Reduced isolation
- Greater independence
- Better fraud and scam prevention
- Lower strain on staff and caregivers
- Higher return on technology investments
These are not small gains. They are system-level outcomes.
But again, they only happen when technology is actually used.
Looking Ahead
We left Medicarians energized by the conversations, the connections, and the growing recognition that this problem needs to be solved.
The industry is investing in the right tools.
Now the focus needs to shift to making sure people can actually use them.
That’s the work ahead.
And that’s where The Smarter Service comes in.
