Silver digital patient, a new emerging stakeholder in current healthcare. Proactiveageing: A case study

Abstract

Global ageing has already started to have a strong impact on society and economy. However, most national governments as well as urban and rural populations have not been adequately prepared for that so far. Elderly people are one of the most important category of healthcare consumers due to the degenerative disorders. eHealth can offer tremendous opportunities and facilities for supporting older patients to receive the most appropriate care so that they may lead a healthy, active and dignified life. An increased number of ageing people have become aware of the benefits provided by digital technology. A silver digital patient is an older person that has the skills, knowledge, literacy and willingness to use eHealth tools and services for getting better informed and more involved in managing his/her healthcare. Older patient-centered digital technology must be implemented for a broader acceptance. ProActive Ageing project is an example of that; it has as outcome an integrated platform for online services that provides useful tools for empowering ageing persons to take an even more active role in personal care related decisions and for enabling healthcare specialists to provide instruments for specific strategies, protocols and methods aimed at maintaining an adequate level of control over biologic and social functions of ageing people.