Understanding Motivations and Barriers to Digital Health Adoption Among Older Adults in Singapore: A Qualitative Multi-Stakeholder Study

Abstract Digital health technologies (DHTs), such as health apps and wearables, can support active aging among older adults, yet adoption in Singapore remains limited despite substantial investment. This qualitative study examined barriers and enablers of DHTs adoption using a multi-level, multi-stakeholder design. Semi-structured interviews with older adults ( n = 10), caregivers ( n = 10), and senior center managers ( n = 7) were analyzed using thematic analysis, identifying four themes: (a) digital skills and confidence, (b) trust and safety, (c) support from family, peers and community, and (d) age-inclusive design. At the technological level, accessible, multilingual and useful designs, together with clear data protection and government-backed credibility, made DHTs feel worthwhile for older adults. At the individual level, digital literacy and health awareness shaped openness to using DHTs, while at the societal level, support from peers, family and community influenced whether older adults tried and sustained use. Older adults prioritized ease of use and everyday utility, caregivers emphasized customizability and monitoring functions, and senior center managers called for sustained education and stronger integration with community and health services. These findings highlight that effective DHTs implementation requires a tripartite strategy: (a) co-designed, age-inclusive technologies, (b) ongoing digital literacy support, and (c) policy-community collaboration to build trust and provide on-the-ground assistance. Future research could examine how these strategies influence the uptake and sustained use of DHTs among diverse older adult populations. This study links micro-level user experiences with broader system-level conditions, offering actionable guidance for digital health and aging policy in Singapore and similar settings.