Facilitating the Adoption of Digital Health Technologies by Older Adults to Support Their Health

Introduction

In 2019, the world population included 703 million people aged 65 years or over; by 2050 this number is projected to double (United Nations, 2019). With this increase, there will be more people managing chronic health conditions, namely, “conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 77% have at least two (National Council on Aging, n.d.). Factors contributing to acquiring a chronic condition lie within one's health behaviors, such as diet and physical activity. Health behaviors are “actions taken by individuals that affect health or mortality” (Short & Mollborn, 2015; p. 2) and should be considered broadly to ensure that the various aspects of aging are considered (Ziegelmann & Knoll, 2015). Consequently, supporting health self-management of chronic conditions reduces healthcare costs and improves health outcomes (Bodenheimer et al., 2002; Wheeler et al., 2003). Technology interventions that can support health self-management are promising.