Aging populations across the globe are increasing the demand for solutions to enhance their resilience and quality of life. Resilience is the ability to bounce back and adapt to adverse events such as chronic illness and its deterioration. Resilience is essential for aging well. The acute shortage of physicians and nurses, the high burnout among health professionals, the austerity of health systems and additional challenges that health systems face, urge us to explore how health innovations can improve care for elderly people. Health innovations such as digital health, personalized care, and robots are transforming the care for elderly people enabling them to maintain their independence and improve overall well-being.
What health innovations can elderly people use to enhance their resilience?
For example, wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, biosensors) provide real-time monitoring and facilitate the tracking of vital signs such as heart rate, oxygen levels, activity patterns, allowing early detection of risks for falls and problems with heartbeats. These devices allow informal caregivers to make informed decisions, ensure timely diagnoses and medical intervention to prevent deterioration in health conditions.
Voice-activated devices, automated lighting, and fall detection systems enhance mobility and reduce risks of accidents. Elderly people may use a meal planning application that is driven by artificial intelligence to tailor their meals to their health condition, addressing their dietary needs and providing optimized nutrition.
Telemedicine, available in most health systems across EU countries, makes healthcare more accessible, allowing encounters with nurses and physicians from home to maintain monitoring, reduce health inequities, and decrease frequent hospital visits. In some countries physicians can track a patient’s health status through connected devices for managing chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory diseases) to prevent complications. Simple solutions such as chatbots and virtual assistants that are powered by artificial intelligence, can assist elderly people to manage their medications, schedule appointments, prepare important questions for the medical encounter and easily access important health information.
Robotic caregivers are emerging as a viable solution for companionship and assistance with daily tasks such as meal preparation and medication management. These innovations promote independence and enhance the quality of life for elderly people.
Why is it that despite the promising benefits of health innovations, their utilization across EU countries is inhibited?
There is limited access to digital infrastructure and insufficient digital literacy among elderly people that prevents effective utilization of wearables and telemedicine. Concerns about data privacy may deter some elderly people from using wearables and digital heath platforms. The lack of standardized health data exchange frameworks across different healthcare providers and countries complicates integration with existing medical systems. In addition, many EU healthcare systems rely on public funding, and reimbursement models for digital health solutions are still evolving, creating financial barriers for their adoption by health systems. Last, both healthcare professionals and elderly people may remain hesitant to adopt new technologies due to concerns about reliability, ease of use, disruption to traditional care, and concerns about the privacy of data.
What can elderly people do to overcome the barriers and benefit from health innovations?
To enhance their resilience elderly people can be proactive and enjoy the benefits of these health innovations despite the challenges. Elderly people can participate in training programs at community centers or libraries that offer to improve their confidence in using health technologies. Family members, caregivers, and social workers can provide elderly people with guidance on adopting and navigating digital solutions. Wearables are being developed with age-friendly interfaces. Elderly people can explore their insurance coverage for options to reduce the financial burden of acquiring digital tools. Elderly people can participate in studies that healthcare organizations and universities perform to pilot programs, to access new technologies before their widespread implementation.
Empowering Individuals to Use Health Innovations
While systemic barriers exist, individuals can take proactive steps to enhance their resilience and benefit from health innovations. Elderly people can start by gradually incorporating technology into their daily routines, such as using wearable devices to track health metrics or engaging with telemedicine services for convenient healthcare access. Learning to use these technologies may seem daunting, but small, consistent efforts, such as exploring user-friendly health applications with a family member or watching online tutorials can build confidence over time. Staying informed about available health technologies is another essential step. Elderly people can participate in community workshops, attend digital literacy programs, or seek guidance from family members and caregivers to improve their understanding of emerging health solutions.
Many organizations offer free courses designed specifically to help older adults navigate digital healthcare tools effectively. Engaging with peers who have successfully adopted digital health solutions can provide encouragement and motivation. Elderly people can join online forums, senior-focused technology groups, or local meetups to exchange knowledge and experiences. Family members and caregivers can further facilitate this transition by offering hands-on assistance and ensuring accessibility.
Moreover, elderly people should advocate for technologies that prioritize user-friendliness and inclusivity. Many digital health developers consider user feedback in their design processes, so voicing concerns and preferences can lead to improvements in accessibility. When selecting health innovations, elderly people should look for options with simple interfaces, voice-activated features, and personalized settings to make technology more manageable.
Lastly, embracing a mindset of openness to change can significantly enhance the adoption of user-friendly innovations that can enhance life quality and resilience. By taking gradual steps, leveraging support networks, and remaining open to new advancements, elderly people can optimize the benefits of health innovations and improve their overall well-being. Figure 2 summarizes paths for elderly people to overcome barriers.
Conclusion
Health innovations are playing a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of elderly people by enhancing accessibility, promoting proactive care, and improving quality of life. Although implementation, particularly in the EU, requires regulatory harmonization, investment in digital literacy programs, and improved funding models, elderly people can be proactive and integrate some of the existing innovations into their lives to ensure that they live healthier, more independent lives. Proactive elders and their families may overcome the challenges.
Additional Reading
Yunara Y, Efendi F. Technology-and non-technology-based primary healthcare innovations for the elderly: A systematic review. Enfermería Clínica. 2023 Mar 1;33:S60-5.CHATTANT N. CHOOSING HEALTH INNOVATIONS FOR THE ELDERLY IN BANGKOK. Procedia of Multidisciplinary Research. 2024 Jan 12;2(1):4-.SeyedAlinaghi S, Mirzapour P, Khademzadeh S, Rad FF, Zare S, Cheshmekabodi HA, Rasheed MA, Roostaeian N, Mehraeen E, Jahanfar S. New Technologies for Elderly Healthcare: A Review of Recent Evidence. Public Health and Environment. 2024 Nov 11;1(1).
Buzina M, Knežević T, Šefik S. Digital Solutions in Elderly Healthcare: A Literature Review and Research Agenda. IFAC-PapersOnLine. 2024 Jan 1;58(3):232-7.
Chokphukhiao C, Tun WS, Masa S, Chaiayuth S, Loeiyood J, Pongskul C, Patramanon R. Revolutionizing elderly care: Building a healthier aging society through innovative long‐term care systems and assessing the long‐term care acceptance model. Geriatrics & Gerontology International. 2024 May;24(5):477-85.
Chen J. Research on the Design of Smart Elderly Service System Based on Design Perspective. In4th International Conference on Public Administration, Health and Humanity Development (PAHHD 2024) 2024 Oct 21 (pp. 151-156). Atlantis Press.
Yunara Y, Efendi F. Technology-and non-technology-based primary healthcare innovations for the elderly: A systematic review. Enfermería Clínica. 2023 Mar 1;33:S60-5.