Use of health technologies by older adults with chronic disease: an umbrella review of evidence synthesis

The rapid aging of the global population is driving up chronic disease prevalence and long-term care demands, making digital health tools like telemedicine and wearables increasingly vital for enhancing autonomy and health outcomes. However, adoption and continuous engagement among older individuals remain hindered by barriers across socioeconomic, health, dispositional, technological, and social domains, particularly limited digital literacy, low motivation, costs, and lack of support. While user friendly design, perceived usefulness, and sustained technical training foster adoption, disparities related to gender, income, and living location persist, highlighting the necessity of a unified umbrella review to synthesize these factors and ensure equitable implementation strategies.