As apps and other wearable technologies are increasingly implemented for patient care in senior living, data breaches are often a concern. Compared to other industries, senior living and healthcare are one of the biggest targets of cyberattacks, as bad actors steal patient data for use in identity theft and other schemes. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission took steps to curb such abuses by strengthening a rule notifying people of health data breaches on technologies like fitness trackers and other health apps.

The FTC asked for changes to its Health Breach Notification Rule, which requires personal health record vendors and related entities that aren’t covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to notify individuals and the FTC of breaches of unsecured, personally identifiable health data. The changes would broaden the existing rule to include health apps and similar technologies.

Fitness trackers and other technologies have become more commonly used in the marketplace since the initial rule was written, and the changes would also encourage companies to disclose when they’re using patient health data for marketing purposes.

“We are witnessing an explosion of health apps and connected devices, many of which aren’t covered by HIPAA, collecting vast amounts of sensitive consumer health information,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement. When this information is breached, it is more vital than ever that mobile health app developers and others covered by the Health Breach Notification Rule provide consumers and the FTC with timely notice about what happened. The proposed amendments to the rule will allow it to keep up with marketplace trends, and respond to developments and changes in technology.”

In nursing homes and senior living communities, wearable devices like Apple Watches have proven to be effective in diagnosing patient well-being and monitoring and improving patient health and safety. Recent research showcased wearable devices’ positive role in psychological care, assessing patients’ psychological resiliency and response to psychological interventions remotely.