Digital Health for Aging Populations
Growing life expectancy poses important societal challenges, placing an increasing burden on ever more strained health systems. Digital technologies offer tremendous potential for shifting from traditional medical routines to remote medicine and transforming our ability to manage health and independence in aging populations. In this Perspective, we summarize the current progress toward, and challenges and future opportunities of, harnessing digital technologies for effective geriatric care.
The Role of Wearable Devices in Health Monitoring
Special attention is given to the role of wearables in assisting older adults to monitor their health and maintain independence at home. Mobile devices and health systems represent a significant shift in how we approach care. Research focuses on the monitoring of vital signs with flexible and wearable medical devices to ensure safety and well-being.
Current developments include the following technologies and methodologies:
- Remote health monitoring of elderly through wearable sensors.
- Flexible wearable sensors for cardiovascular health monitoring.
- Real-time alerting system for COVID-19 and other stress events using wearable data.
- Electrochemical glucose sensors in diabetes management.
- Bio-integrated wearable systems.
Current Landscape of Geriatric Healthcare
The landscape of current wearable devices for health monitoring in older adults is rapidly evolving. This includes exploring the impact of digital distrust on user resistance to e-health services among older adults: the moderating effect of anticipated regret. Furthermore, we must look toward the future of geriatric healthcare in the home setting to address the needs of an aging society.
| Technology / Research Area | Focus Component |
|---|---|
| Wearable biosensors | Healthcare monitoring |
| Flexible wearable sensors | Cardiovascular health monitoring |
| Electrochemical sensors | Diabetes management |
| IoT Systems | Health monitoring system for vital signs |
Bridging the Digital Divide
Challenges to the widespread future use of digital technologies in this population will be discussed, along with a vision for how such technologies will shape the future of healthy aging. A primary concern remains empowering older adults: bridging the digital divide in online health information seeking. By navigating the challenges of an aging society, we can improve the implementation of digital health care for older adults.