Digital health: successful courses for seniors in Harburg!

Digital health: successful courses for seniors in Harburg!

digitization, especially when it comes to the health sector. In Harburg, IT courses for seniors recently took place who were a complete success. The participants were able to find out more about topics such as the digital patient file (EPA) and the electronic health card (EGK). These initiatives not only offer an insight into the digital health world, but also convey how you can book online doctor dates and recognize digital health risks. The courses impressively show how important it is to continuously deal with digital devices. Sigrid Müller emphasizes that "exercise does the master" and the seniors should stay on the ball in order to be able to live at home independently. Information on reputable health websites is also not neglected. Both online banking and the request of follow-up recipes via the net are so close to the elderly. Donau-Ries currently about it.

But what about digital health for older people in general? Studies show that people between the ages of 75 and 100 in particular often have difficulty keeping pace with the new digital developments. Dr. med. Gordon Weinberg, specialist in internal medicine, found that many older patients did not even have an e-recipe app installed on their smartphone or hear it for the first time. Another look at the numbers: In 2021/22, around 8.5 million people over the age of 60 had never used the Internet, which illustrates the digital catch -up requirement. In Germany, only 28 % of the 65 to 74-year-olds have fundamental digital skills. In comparison, it is 61 %in the Netherlands. Ärzteblatt highlights these challenges.

The role of the digital patient file

An important instrument in the digital health revolution is the electronic patient file (EPA). As the Federal Ministry of Health , the health insurance companies must inform their insured about the functioning of the EPA. These file enables patients to store and manage their health data. You have the right to contradict the storage of your data, especially if it contains potentially discriminatory information. Doctors are also obliged to clarify this right to object and to point out the claim of the patients to have further data in the EPA.

The problem remains, however: the digital participation of older people is often limited. Professor Dr. Uwe Cantner emphasizes that the digital competence of older people is significantly lower compared to younger ones. All the more important are low -threshold offers that offer sensitizations and training especially for this age group. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, the Digital Health Truck enables older people to try digital health treatments.

summarized can be said: Digitization has great potential for older people, especially in the health sector. Nevertheless, it is essential to reduce the hurdles and provide support at an individual level. The IT courses in Harburg seem to make a promising start to make it easier for seniors to access the digital world. It remains to be hoped that such initiatives will be well received not only there, but nationwide and that the digital gap will be closed.