From Disruption to Support? Co-Creating eHealth Tools for Self-Care Among Older Adults with Chronic Illness

Older adults living with chronic illness face persistent challenges in sustaining self-care in daily life, while digital solutions often fail to meet their individual needs and abilities. This study explored how eHealth tools are experienced and can be co-created to enhance self-care among older adults with chronic illness.

A qualitative, co-design approach was used in three iterative steps. Four pairs of older adults co-created and tested self-care exercises using the video feedback tool Move Improve.

Findings reveal that eHealth tools can enhance self-care through feedback and mutual learning but can also create stress or feelings of abandonment when healthcare professional engagement is not involved. Co-creation emerged as essential for ensuring meaningful, sustainable eHealth use and enhanced self-care at home.

eHealth tools can both disrupt and support self-care among older adults, making co-creation essential. Empowerment emerges through eHealth tools that enable relational engagement and learning structures, sustaining motivation, reflection, and meaningful self-care over time.