Crafting the ideal multidimensional active ageing intervention with wearables for older adults: insights from a qualitative study

Some Italian regions have the oldest population and considering the European ageing trend, it is necessary to foster active ageing interventions that could help the population age in a more active way. This study aimed to gather older adults’ preferences and expectations about a multidisciplinary health intervention, also adopting a wearable device. Health domains such as physical activity, diet and mental health were addressed. Online individual interviews using a semi-structured protocol were conducted between April 12 and 30, 2024. Participants were eligible if older adults (+60), and no other restrictions were set. At the beginning of each interview, a detailed multidimensional health intervention was described to the participant and then questions were asked about it. The Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach was adopted to analyse data. Twenty volunteers were interviewed (mean age±SD: 71,2±5,3 years; men/women: 6/14) and from their transcriptions, 4 themes were created: 1) “Empower to Flourish: Senior-Defined Key Focus Areas for Active Ageing Programs”, 2) “Silver Expectations: Revealing the Needs and Desires of Seniors for Active Ageing”, 3) “Optimal Setup: Best Practices for Designing and Implementing Senior Active Ageing Programs” and 4) “Tech-Enabled Ageing: Wearables Impact on Senior Health”. A practical guide for crafting and developing the ideal active ageing intervention for older adults, adopting a wearable device was created. Interventions should address health spheres (e.g., physical activity, sleep, social aspects), hobbies and cultural aspects, emphasising long-lasting cooperation with local institutions to have sustainable and effective interventions. Moreover, adopting a completely autonomous wearable device could enhance the intervention’s effectiveness.