Digital Capabilities of Older People and Uptake of Online Healthy Ageing Interventions: An Australian Study

The promise of digital health interventions is tempered by the realities of digital capabilities and infrastructure, especially for older persons. This paper critically examines learnings from a rapid evidence review of digital information tools along with a study evaluating the uptake of a digitally-based healthy ageing intervention by 53 older Australians. Findings suggest that digital literacy is an important precursor to engagement with digital information tools, and that digital information tools must be designed with digital literacy in mind. To achieve digital health equity and realise the potential outcomes that digital tools offer, it may well be necessary to support consumers with the basics of mastering digital platforms.