Fact of the Week: Up to 70 Percent of Aging-Society Initiatives in the EU are Enabled by Information Technologies

To tackle the needs of their aging populations, developed economies have ramped up deployment of solutions enabled by information technology (IT). In the EU, up to 70 percent of aging-society initiatives are now enabled by IT. These programs address a range of objectives, from supporting independent living to facilitating health care needs such as preventative medicines, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

For example, Denmark has created a shared IT platform that allows hospitals to exchange patient information with municipalities. This helps discharged patients who may require monitoring and health assistance from home to connect easily with local service providers.

Developed economies will continue to rely on IT-enabled welfare-boosting initiatives as their aging populations grow faster than their workforce. In the EU, the population share of those over 65 will increase 5 percentage points over the next 15 years to 24 percent; in the U.S., share of the population over 65 will increase 6 points over the same period to 21 percent.