Mobile Health Applications to Promote Active and Healthy Ageing

Abstract

The European population is ageing, and there is a need for health solutions that keep older adults independent longer. With increasing access to mobile technology, such as smartphones and smartwatches, the development and use of mobile health applications is rapidly growing. To meet the societal challenge of changing demography, mobile health solutions are warranted that support older adults to stay healthy and active and that can prevent or delay functional decline. This paper reviews the literature on mobile technology, in particular wearable technology, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and wristbands, presenting new ideas on how this technology can be used to encourage an active lifestyle, and discusses the way forward in order further to advance development and practice in the field of mobile technology for active, healthy ageing.

Wearables for independent living in older adults: Gait and falls

“…Smartphone-based devices contain a range of sensors to assist mobile/ubiquitous health (mHealth/uHealth) and have been discussed as suitable platforms for delivering healthcare services, but remain in their infancy with a range of methodological and privacy issues [68]. To date, failings of smart devices as wearables can be attributed to deficiencies in applications (apps) [68,69]. While data collection technologies have advanced (i.e.…”

“…This facilitates a sustainable use of technology, rather than the ad-hoc creation of bespoke devices facilitating a cost effective, viable and scalable solution to penetrate healthcare structures [67]. Smartphone-based devices contain a range of sensors to assist mobile/ubiquitous health (mHealth/uHealth) and have been discussed as suitable platforms for delivering healthcare services, but remain in their infancy with a range of methodological and privacy issues [68]. To date, failings of smart devices as wearables can be attributed to deficiencies in applications (apps) [68,69].…”

Design and development of a mobile exercise application for home care aides and older adult medicaid home and community-based clients

“…These findings are congruent with other qualitative work with older adults that finds time is a primary barrier to physical activity, while social support facilitates accomplishing physical activity goals (Gothe & Kendall, 2016). Our incorporation of motivational prompts in the app mirrors the best-practice recommendation to provide users feedback on behavior and motivation in order to promote behavior change (Helbostad et al, 2017). We did not anticipate the strong client concerns about losing HCA care services with the addition of an exercise program or the view of the HCA as a caretaker versus healthcare team member.…”

m-SFT: A Novel Mobile Health System to Assess the Elderly Physical Condition

“…Therefore, there is an imperative need to develop innovative solutions that enable the aging generation continue independent longer and to make them responsible of their own health habits and physical function. That implies a shift, from treatment towards prevention, in the public health care paradigm with regards to the age-related diseases [6].…”