New partnership aims to address health disparities among older adults

A new collaboration between Howard University's 1867 Health Innovations Project — which supports researchers tackling medical issues in underserved communities — and AARP's Innovation Labs aims to address health disparities in those over the age of 50 and who belong to multiracial communities. The partnership is initially specifically focused on using technology to bridge gaps in diabetes management and medication adherence — Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals have higher rates of diabetes than white people, and many of these minority groups also have lower rates of medication adherence. The collaboration will involve two pilot projects: One will use face-recognition technology to remind individuals to take their medication, while the other will create a digital community to connect patients with similar conditions.