Healthy aging is a topic that concerns many people, especially in the modern world where life expectancy is increasing and the population is aging. 
What does it mean to age healthily? 
How can we prevent or delay the onset of age-related diseases and disabilities? 
What are the factors that influence our physical and mental well-being as we grow older? 
These are some of the questions that this contribution will explore, based on the latest scientific research and evidence. The main goal of this essay is to provide some useful tips and recommendations on how to achieve and maintain a healthy aging process, and to highlight the benefits and challenges of aging in the 21st century.

The impact of digitalization on the health of seniors.

Digitalization is the process of transforming information and communication into digital formats, using technologies such as computers, smartphones, internet, and social media. Digitalization has many advantages, such as increasing efficiency, productivity, accessibility, and innovation. 
But keep in mind that the digital world is advancing at a rapid pace and needs to be updated almost daily.

However, digitalization also poses some challenges and risks, especially for seniors, who may face difficulties in adapting to the digital world and may experience negative effects on their health and well-being.

In this essay, I will discuss the impact of digitalization on the health of seniors, both physical and mental. I will also suggest some possible solutions and recommendations to promote digital inclusion and empowerment for seniors, and to prevent or mitigate the potential harms of digitalization.

Physical health - Digitalization

Digitalization can have both positive and negative impacts on the physical health of seniors. On the one hand, digitalization can provide seniors with more opportunities to access health information, services, and resources online, such as telemedicine, e-health, and dossier access. These can improve the quality, efficiency, and convenience of health care delivery, and can empower seniors to monitor and manage their own health conditions. For example, seniors can use online platforms to book appointments, consult doctors, order prescriptions, access medical records, and receive reminders and feedback. Seniors can also use wearable devices, sensors, and apps to track their vital signs, physical activity, nutrition, and medication adherence, and to receive personalized advice and alerts. Furthermore, digitalization can enable seniors to participate in online health promotion and prevention programs, such as physical exercise, mental stimulation, and social support. These can enhance the physical fitness, cognitive function, and emotional well-being of seniors, and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia.

On the other hand, digitalization can also pose some threats and challenges to the physical health of seniors. One of the main challenges is the digital divide, which refers to the gap between those who have access to and use digital technologies, and those who do not. The digital divide can be influenced by factors such as age, education, income, location, and disability. Seniors are more likely to experience digital exclusion, due to their lower levels of digital literacy, skills, confidence, and motivation, and due to their higher levels of physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments. Digital exclusion can limit the opportunities and benefits that seniors can obtain from digitalization, and can increase their vulnerability and isolation. For example, seniors who are digitally excluded may face difficulties in accessing online health information and services, and may miss out on important health updates and recommendations. Seniors who are digitally excluded may also have less access to online health promotion and prevention programs, and may have lower levels of physical activity, mental stimulation, and social support. These can negatively affect the physical health and well-being of seniors, and can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality.

Another challenge that digitalization can pose to the physical health of seniors is the potential harm of excessive or inappropriate use of digital technologies. Seniors who use digital technologies excessively or inappropriately may experience adverse effects on their sleep quality, posture, vision, hearing, and musculoskeletal health. For example, seniors who use digital devices for long hours or at night may suffer from insomnia, eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. Seniors who use digital devices without proper ergonomics or breaks may develop neck, back, shoulder, and wrist pain, and may increase the risk of repetitive strain injuries. Seniors who use digital devices with high volume or without hearing protection may damage their hearing and increase the risk of hearing loss. Moreover, seniors who use digital technologies excessively or inappropriately may also neglect their physical activity, nutrition, and medication adherence, and may compromise their overall health and well-being.

Mental health – Digitalization                                          

Digitalization can also have both positive and negative impacts on the mental health of seniors. On the one hand, digitalization can provide seniors with more opportunities to access mental health information, services, and resources online, such as online counseling, therapy, and self-help. These can improve the accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness of mental health care, and can empower seniors to cope with and overcome their mental health issues. For example, seniors can use online platforms to seek professional help, receive psychological interventions, and access peer support. Seniors can also use online tools, such as apps, games, and virtual reality, to enhance their mood, cognition, and resilience, and to reduce their stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, digitalization can enable seniors to maintain and expand their social networks, and to engage in meaningful and enjoyable activities online, such as chatting, video calling, sharing, learning, and gaming. These can increase the social connectedness, satisfaction, and happiness of seniors, and can protect them from loneliness, isolation, and boredom.

On the other hand, digitalization can also pose some threats and challenges to the mental health of seniors. One of the main challenges is the digital gap, which refers to the difference between the actual and desired use of digital technologies. The digital gap can be influenced by factors such as personal preferences, expectations, attitudes, and values. Seniors may experience digital dissatisfaction, frustration, or anxiety, if they feel that they are not using digital technologies as much or as well as they want or need, or if they feel that they are not receiving the benefits or outcomes that they expect or desire. For example, seniors may feel dissatisfied, frustrated, or anxious, if they encounter technical difficulties, usability issues, or compatibility problems when using digital technologies, or if they face barriers, such as cost, privacy, security, or reliability, when accessing online information and services. Seniors may also feel dissatisfied, frustrated, or anxious, if they perceive that they are missing out on important or valuable online opportunities and experiences, or if they compare themselves unfavorably with others who use digital technologies more or better.

Another challenge that digitalization can pose to the mental health of seniors is the potential harm of cyberbullying, cybercrime, and cyberaddiction. Seniors who use digital technologies may be exposed to online risks, such as harassment, abuse, fraud, and identity theft, and may become victims of cyberbullying or cybercrime. These can cause psychological distress, fear, anger, and trauma, and can damage the self-esteem, trust, and safety of seniors. Seniors who use digital technologies may also develop unhealthy or compulsive patterns of use, and may become addicted to digital technologies. These can cause psychological dependence, withdrawal, and craving, and can impair the functioning, relationships, and quality of life of seniors.

Solutions and recommendations

To address the challenges and risks of digitalization for the health of seniors, and to enhance the opportunities and benefits of digitalization for the health of seniors, I suggest the following solutions and recommendations:

• Promote digital literacy and skills for seniors, by providing them with adequate and appropriate education, training, and support, and by designing and developing user-friendly and accessible digital technologies and services for seniors.
• Promote digital inclusion and empowerment for seniors, by ensuring that they have affordable and reliable access to digital technologies and services, and by involving and engaging them in the design, development, and evaluation of digital technologies and services for seniors.
• Promote digital awareness and responsibility for seniors, by informing and educating them about the potential harms and benefits of digital technologies and services, and by encouraging and empowering them to use digital technologies and services safely, responsibly, and moderately.
• Promote digital collaboration and innovation for seniors, by fostering and facilitating the cooperation and communication among seniors, caregivers, health professionals, and digital technology providers, and by creating and implementing new and improved digital technologies and services for seniors.

Conclusion

Digitalization is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that has profound and diverse impacts on the health of seniors, both physical and mental. Digitalization can offer many advantages and opportunities for seniors, such as improving their health care, health promotion, and health prevention, and enhancing their social connectedness, satisfaction, and happiness. However, digitalization can also pose many challenges and risks for seniors, such as creating digital exclusion, digital gap, and digital harm, and affecting their sleep quality, posture, vision, hearing, and musculoskeletal health. Therefore, it is important to promote digital literacy, inclusion, empowerment, awareness, responsibility, collaboration, and innovation for seniors, and to balance the positive and negative effects of digitalization for the health of seniors.

Dangers of over-digitalization in Belgium (and other countries).

Digitalization is a hot topic, 'the more the merrier', according to some government ICT engineers. However, it is forgotten that a large part of the population does not have the resources or the knowledge to use them or the internet.

In some cities, 15% of the population is illiterate! Another 25 to 30% is of foreign origin and do not have sufficient language skills to use the apps. The layout of digital forms sometimes leaves much to be desired, is chaotic and unclear, which keeps many people from using them and pushes them into uncertainty.

Many seniors and people from the poorer population do not have the means to use all these digital forms, do not have a PC, do not have a modern smartphone or tablet or simply do not have the financial means to use such devices or to buy a new one every two to three years because of outdated software.

The ticket counters should remain open for all those people, where human-to-human communication can take place, not through a robot or call center. We should not attempt to transform an 80 or 90-year-old person into an IT specialist. That is simply impossible. The promises to provide assistance are like an empty box. Many elderly individuals are no longer be able to travel to a service center where the promised help might be provided.

This also applies to the medical field. Who besides medical professionals can understand the specific medical terminology used by physicians, communicated through various digital channels to which patients are referred? It’s still better to have a personal conversation with the doctor in a language that the patient can understand

By Med. Camelia Sava Hihtast NGO Ghent

Erasmus + Project  A Healthy Digital Europe

Adapted for Belgium by Roland Van Holderbeke Hiht@st NGO Ghent