Technologies for health and wellness in later life

Abstract

Purpose Having a healthy lifestyle is important for developing and maintaining optimal health across the lifespan and can positively contribute to quality of life and reduced care dependency in later life (Visser et al., 2019). Technology may improve health and wellbeing by enabling individuals to track, monitor and manage their health behaviours. Digital tools (AgeTech) may help older adults remain socially, mentally and physically active in the face of age-related cognitive and physical decline, but also help promote longevity and improve long-term health. Older adults represent a growing segment of the burgeoning digital wellness industry, with the US senior market projected to reach $900 million by 2022 (Consumer Technology Association, 2019). Given the digital health and wellness market’s growth trajectory and evidenced potential for technology in promoting physical and mental wellbeing in later life, there is a need to understand the key emerging trends and opportunities for AgeTech. This poster presents the findings of an environmental scan conducted to identify the potential for AgeTech to promote healthy lifestyles and ageing. Method An environmental scan was conducted between February-June 2022, drawing on academic articles, grey-literature, targeted organization websites and internet searches, to identify digital products, projects and initiatives which promote the following key domains of healthy aging: physical, social, cognitive and mental wellbeing. Data were analysed using a political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) framework applied to explore the forces driving or restricting innovation in the use of AgeTech to support healthy lifestyles and ageing. Results and Discussion Findings of the environmental scan demonstrate how technology can play an important role in supporting individuals to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours and live an engaged and meaningful life. Current and emerging technologies address multiple health domains such as physical and social health outcomes. Despite increased demand from older adults for health and wellness technologies, there are limited age-specific solutions to support healthy aging. Although many commercially available products identified were not specifically designed for older adults, they incorporated features which may promote healthy lifestyles in later life. While there are an increasing number of health and wellness technologies aimed at the senior market, many of these digital solutions are targeted at those with reduced cognitive and physical functioning rather than the ‘healthy old’. There is a need to prioritize AgeTech solutions which focus on this growing market.  

References

Consumer Technology Association (2019) Active Aging Perceptions and Attitudes [Online]. Available at https://www.cta.tech/Resources/i3-Magazine/i3-Issues/2019/May-June/Active-Aging-Perceptions-and-Attitudes (Accessed 14 June 2022).

Visser, M., Wijnhoven, H. A. H., Comijs, H. C., Thomése, F. G. C. F., Twisk, J. W. R. and Deeg, D. J. H. (2019) ‘A Healthy Lifestyle in Old Age and Prospective Change in Four Domains of Functioning’, Journal of Aging and Health, vol. 31, no. 7, pp. 1297–1314 [Online]. DOI: 10.1177/0898264318774430.

Keywords: healthy lifestyles, wellness, Agetech, environmental scan

Address: STAR Institute, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Email: rebecca_white_2@sfu.ca

Acknowledgement This project was funded by AGE-WELL, Canada’s technology and aging network