Less than half of older adults use health apps

Less than half of adults aged 50 to 80 have ever used a health-related app on their smartphone, tablet or wearable device, according to US research.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that just 44 per cent of older adults had ever used the technology.

Respondents who said they were in poor health, as well as those with lower incomes and with a lower level of education, were far less likely to use health apps.

Half of those who had never used a health app or had stopped using one said they were not interested in doing so.

Meanwhile, just 28 per cent of the respondents currently used one app, with a quarter sharing this information with healthcare providers.

Pearl Lee MD, MS, a geriatrician at Michigan Medicine who worked on the poll report, said:

“Now that most older adults have at least one mobile device, health-related apps can provide an opportunity to support their health-related behaviours, manage their conditions and improve health outcomes.”

Lee and co-authors said the potential of health apps was especially important for older adults with diabetes.

The poll included questions about continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) which enable people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels.

Readings from the monitors can be fed into a mobile app.

Just 11 per cent of respondents with type 2 diabetes were currently using a CGM while half of the respondents said they would be open to using one.

Indria Venkat, Vice President of Consumer Insights at AARP, said:

“AARP’s research has found a sharp increase in older adults purchasing and using technology during the pandemic, and many are interested in using technology to track health measures.

“With more 50+ people owning and using technology, we may start seeing an increase in older adults using apps to monitor their health.”