Outputs
1) Best Practice Report of Technologies and Tools for Senior Citizens (herein referred to as the Best Practice Report)
As a crucial output of the project, the Best Practice Report is designed to summarize the existing excellent technologies and tools, providing a reference for stakeholders across member economies. It will offer a comprehensive mapping of digital tools and technologies that can enhance connectivity and health services for senior citizens throughout APEC economies. The methodology for this report includes a compilation of desk research, interviews, and case studies conducted across multiple APEC economies, targeting policymakers, technology providers, healthcare professionals, and NGOs working with senior citizens.
The report will present its findings in a detailed format, comprising no less than 30 pages that include an executive summary, methodology, detailed findings, and actionable recommendations, and exclude annexes. This effort will involve engaging representatives from over seven APEC economies to ensure the report benefits from diverse technological insights and has broad applicability. Targeted economies include Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Republic of Korea; Singapore; and the United States, as they are identified as the “super-aged” economies within the next decade.
The finalization of this draft report is scheduled for July 2025. POs' teams along with external researchers will collaborate to conclude the draft, which will detail the findings and propose frameworks for integrating these technologies into the health and connectivity solutions for seniors within participating economies. This structured approach ensures that the report not only provides comprehensive insights but also practical guidelines that can be implemented across APEC regions.
2) One In-Person Seminar in China (here referred to as 3-day Seminar)
The 3-day seminar is tailored specifically to explore and showcase advancements in digital technologies aimed at improving connectivity and health services for senior citizens. This event serves as a critical platform for stakeholders to discuss technological innovations, policy impacts, and future directions in senior care technology.
The seminar will commence with a day of keynote speeches from six industry leaders who will share the latest insights into digital technologies supporting senior citizens. The first day will also include three focused group discussions. These sessions will evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies, address current challenges, and identify opportunities for innovation within the senior care sector. On the second day, the Best Practice Report will be presented, highlighting successful technology implementations and innovations in the care of the elderly. Subgroup discussions will follow, allowing for an in-depth exchange of ideas and experiences among experts and participants. The day will end with a wrap-up session summarizing key policy recommendations and actionable strategies developed during the discussions.
Here is the draft and tentative agenda:
Day 1: Insights and Discussions Morning Session:
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Registration and Welcome Coffee
10:30 AM - 10:50 AM: Opening Remarks
Welcome by the host organization.
Overview of the seminar objectives and schedule.
10:50 AM - 12:10 PM: Keynote Speeches
10:50 AM - 11:10 AM: Keynote 1: "Current Condition of Senior Citizens in APEC"
11:10 AM - 11:30 AM: Keynote 2: "The Role of Digital Technologies in Enhancing Senior Living "
11:30 AM - 11:50 AM: Keynote 3: "Integrating AI and IoT in Senior Healthcare"
11:50 AM - 12:10 PM: Keynote 4: "Ensuring Cybersecurity and Privacy for Senior Digital Users"
12:30 AM - 14:00 PM: Break and lunch Afternoon Session:
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Focused Group Discussions
Group A: Reviewing Gender Equality Issue in Senior Tech
Group B: Addressing Challenges in Accessibility and Usability for Seniors Group C: Identifying Opportunities for Innovation in Senior Care Technologies
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Panel Discussion
Panelists include speakers from the morning sessions and moderators from the focused group discussions.
Topic: "Balancing Innovation and Regulation in Senior Care Technologies"
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Day 1 Wrap-Up
Summary of key points and preparation for Day 2.
Q&A session.
Day 2: Best Practices and Strategy Development Morning Session:
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Presentation of Best Practice Report Introduction to the report findings.
Case studies on successful technology implementations and their impact on senior care.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Subgroup Discussions
Subgroup 1: Practical Implementation of Best Practices in Local Contexts Subgroup 2: Scaling Successful Models Across Different Regions Subgroup 3: Overcoming Barriers to Technology Adoption Among Seniors
12:30 AM - 14:00 PM: Break and lunch Afternoon Session:
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Workshop
Hands-on session with technology demos that were highlighted in the Best Practice Report.
Participants interact with the technologies and discuss with creators and implementers.
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM: Strategy Development Roundtables oFacilitated discussions to develop actionable strategies and policy recommendations based on the seminar's learnings.
Focus on developing a roadmap for integrating new technologies into existing senior care frameworks.
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM: Seminar Closing Session
Presentation of the developed strategies and policy recommendations. Feedback and final thoughts from the participants.
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks
Thanks and appreciation to the participants, speakers, and organizers. Information on post-seminar materials and follow-up actions.
The final day will feature two field visits to local implementations of advanced technologies for senior care, providing practical examples of effective technology usage. These visits will be complemented by round- table discussions on-site, focusing on scaling potential and lessons learned. Names of the potential sites/companies include but are not limited to: JD Health and Qinglei Tech, both of which are pioneers in leveraging technology to improve quality of life for senior citizens. In the morning session, we will visit JD Health, renowned for its significant contributions to digital health services, offering an expansive range of health-related solutions online including senior citizens, which directly align with our project's goals. In the afternoon session, we will visit Qinglei Tech, renowned for its innovations in technology that cater to the elderly, providing practical insights into the application of such technologies in real-world settings. These visits will enable participants to directly observe and engage with the application of these technologies, fostering a deeper understanding and facilitating practical digital and technology capacity building sharing. We anticipate over 30 attendees, including technology firm leaders, healthcare specialists, and policymakers, invited by Project Overseers to ensure a diverse range of perspectives. Special efforts will be made to include a significant number of women speakers to ensure gender inclusivity, targeting at least 40% female participation. Participants will be organized into subgroups based on specific areas such as technology applications, policy impacts, and practical implementation challenges to foster targeted and productive discussions. Additionally, we aim to include at least 10 senior citizens who can provide direct feedback on the technology applications via video. This engagement is essential for gaining a clear understanding of their firsthand experiences and specific needs concerning technology.
The entire seminar will be recorded for archival and review purposes, ensuring that the content can be revisited and utilized for future reference. To assess the effectiveness of the seminar and the applicability of the strategies discussed, a post-event evaluation will be conducted through surveys distributed to all participants and speakers.
3) Project Summary Report
The project report with at least 30 pages excluding annexes will serve as a critical comprehensive document to encapsulate the findings and insights gathered throughout the project. This project summary report is structured into three main sections, each designed to provide a detailed overview and analysis of the efforts aimed at improving the digital connectivity and health services for senior citizens. We will ensure to include contributions and case studies from at least 7 different APEC economies to reflect a range of environments and technological maturity levels, generated from the Best Practice Report.
- Summary report of seminar: The summary report will provide an overview of the seminar activities. It will include key points from keynote speeches, summaries of the panel discussions, and briefings on discussions regarding policy incentives and regulatory exchanges relevant to senior citizen care.
- Best practice report: This section will elaborate on the best practice study, detailing successful implementations and innovations in technology that significantly enhance senior citizens’ lives. This part will highlight practical examples and case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of digital solutions in real-world settings, offering actionable information that can be used by policymakers and stakeholders across the APEC economies.
- Recommendations for enhancing senior citizen support: The final section of the report will focus on strategic recommendations aimed at improving support structures for senior citizens through digital innovations, including:
- Policy incentives recommendations: This will outline policy measures that could foster the adoption of beneficial technologies for senior citizens. oRegulatory framework suggestions: This will propose frameworks that support the seamless integration of new technologies in senior care, ensuring that they are accessible, ethical, and effective.
- We aim at finalizing the Project Summary Report by October 2025 to be disseminated among APEC members and relevant stakeholders for implementation and further research. The project summary report will be published as APEC Publication.
Outcomes
1) Increased awareness of technological impact on senior citizens: Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how the digital divide affects the health and social inclusion of senior citizens. This awareness will highlight the importance of developing policies and technologies that ensure senior citizens are not left behind in the digital age. The progress in achieving this outcome will be measured by self-reported scores in the post-event participant survey, focusing on participants' recognition of these issues and their commitment to address them.
2) Enhanced skills and knowledge in senior-focused digital solutions: The seminar will equip participants from the public and private sectors, with improved knowledge of existing gaps in digital solutions that address the needs of senior citizens. Participants will learn about the latest technological innovations that enhance connectivity and health services for the elderly, which will aid them in identifying near-term demands for such solutions in their respective sectors. Progress on this outcome will also be monitored through self-reported scores in the post- event survey, assessing participants' confidence in applying the learned skills and knowledge.
3) Policy development and institutional enhancement: Policymakers and institutional leaders attending the seminar are expected to gain insights that could lead to the development of more inclusive policies and the strengthening of institutional structures supporting senior citizens' digital inclusion. This could manifest as new guidelines, regulations, or even pilot projects aimed at enhancing the integration of senior citizens into the digital world.
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries:
The primary beneficiaries of this project will be the participants of the seminar, which includes a diverse group from the public and private sectors, healthcare professionals, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The public sector participants will be policymakers from Ministries of Health, Social Services, and Technology from various APEC economies who are in positions to influence or make policy decisions. From the private sector, we anticipate participation from company leaders and strategic managers specializing in healthcare and eldercare technologies. These individuals will have significant experience, generally over five years, in their fields.
Healthcare professionals attending will come from various institutions, likely including hospitals and senior care facilities, and will range from frontline workers to facility managers and strategists specializing in geriatrics and digital health innovations.
Potential NGOs such as Gerontechnology Platform in Hong Kong, China, Wellness Initiative for Senior Education in the USA, known for their direct work with senior communities, will also be integral participants. These organizations are crucial for grounding the seminar’s outcomes in practical, actionable strategies.
Secondary Beneficiaries:
Senior citizens stand as the central secondary beneficiaries, as they are the ultimate focus of the project's outcomes. The project specifically targets seniors who are either active users of technology or those who stand to benefit significantly from enhanced digital services, like those receiving home care or using telehealth services.
Healthcare professionals who do not attend the seminar will also benefit from the research findings and best practice guidelines that will be disseminated widely to inform and improve practices and policies.
Additionally, the general public and various community services that support senior citizens will gain from improved strategies and tools that enhance the quality of life for the elderly. These benefits will be delivered through partnerships with NGOs, healthcare organizations, and through public sector programs aimed at maximizing the reach and implementation of the project's outputs.
Participants will be invited to the research and the seminar, contributing to the best practice report and the summary report. Government policymakers, especially from ageing economies, are the primary target beneficiaries, supporting them in reviewing their policies and upskilling their capacities. Meanwhile, private sectors, particularly with proven technologies and digital tools, will be the sustained beneficiaries, exchanging insights with other stakeholders to enhance dialogues and partnerships between the public and private sectors. The voices of senior citizens, including women and persons with disabilities, and caregivers, will be included. 
