Aging and Embracing Technology

Life expectancies continue to increase and we now have the chance to harness technology to support healthy aging. Advanced technologies that humanize technology will offer great promise; especially those that foster person-centric care while giving older adults greater self-agency and creating meaningful connections in this age of data.

Telemedicine and virtual social platforms currently provide remote access to healthcare while alleviating feelings of isolation through regular communication with loved ones. Furthermore, incorporating technology into older adults’ daily lives may lead to enhanced cognitive functioning and memory skills; practicing online puzzles such as sudoku or crosswords daily may increase mental acumen while mastering new technological skills — like browsing the internet or using apps such as TikTok — increases digital literacy.

However, research on these technologies remains limited and many barriers exist that may impede their use among healthy older adults, including unfamiliarity, fear of change and perceived privacy risks. Therefore it is crucial that we gain an understanding of such elements so we can design and evaluate technologies effectively.

Future technologies could use advanced sensors and health data to diagnose and predict health outcomes in an individual-centric manner, providing accurate and personalized information that aids preventative care as well as creating personalized treatment plans with optimal results.