Redefining Aging in 2025: Digital Home Healthcare for Dignity, Inclusion, and Rights

Introduction & Context

Each year on October 1, the United Nations observes the International Day of Older Persons, a day to honor the contributions of older adults and highlight the challenges they face. In 2025, the theme is: ‘Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well‑Being, Our Rights.’ This theme emphasizes that older people are not passive recipients of care, but active agents, shaping their own well‑being and contributing to communities.

As populations age, many older people prefer to remain at home rather than be institutionalized. Digital health technologies (remote monitoring, telehealth, home diagnostics) hold promises to support this preference while improving access, reducing stress on health systems, and preserving dignity.

Global & Demographic Context

– The proportion of older persons globally is rising rapidly; the need for age‑friendly health systems is more urgent than ever.
– Older persons often face barriers: limited mobility, chronic illnesses, social isolation, access to care, digital literacy, and ageism.
– The 2025 UN observance underscores that older individuals must be at the center of policy and action to build inclusive and resilient societies.

Why Digital Home Healthcare Is Timely

– Enables continuous monitoring of health parameters without travel.
– Facilitates virtual consultations, reducing the burden of transport.
– Supports early detection of health deterioration.
– Enables integration with caregivers, families, and health systems.

Alignment with the 2025 UN Theme

Aspect of Theme	Digital Home Healthcare Contribution
Aspirations	Gives older persons control, choices, and visibility into their health.
Well‑Being	Improves health outcomes, quality of life, and reduces preventable hospitalizations.
Rights	Ensures access to care, supports non‑discrimination, and respects privacy and dignity.

Design Principles & Enablers

– User‑centered, age‑friendly design
– Low-bandwidth and offline capabilities
– Privacy, security, and consent frameworks
– Digital literacy support
– Partnerships with local health systems
– Sustainable financing models

Call to Action & Conclusion

The 2025 UN theme calls for older people to be central actors in shaping their lives and societies. By deploying digital home healthcare, we can help translate that mission into reality: empowering older adults to live with dignity, promoting health equity, and reinforcing their role in fostering more resilient, inclusive communities.

Did you know?

• The number of people aged 60 years or over has more than doubled, from around 541 million in 1995 to 1.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050. By 2080, people aged 65 or older will outnumber children under 18.
• Global life expectancy reached 73.5 years in 2025, an increase of 8.6 years since 1995. The number of people aged 80 years or over is growing even faster and is projected to surpass the number of infants by the mid-2030s and reach 265 million.
• As populations age, the demand for healthcare and social support has surged, especially for those with conditions like dementia, a major cause of dependency and disability in older adults. Specialized care is now essential to meet these growing needs
• Women, who comprise most care recipients and caregivers, contribute roughly 70% of global informal care hours. This is especially true in low- and middle-income countries with limited care services, making women more vulnerable to poverty in old age.