Empowering Adults Through Digital Wellbeing: A Spanish Success Story with STARS-Health

Empowering Adults
In the heart of Spain’s vibrant digital transformation, one initiative stands out for its human-centered approach to technology: the STARS-Health Project, a European collaboration with strong Spanish participation, aimed at empowering older adults through digital health literacy.

What Is STARS-Health?
STARS-Health is part of the broader STARS EU framework and involves institutions from across Europe, including Universidad de La Laguna and SESCS (Servicio Canario de la Salud) in Spain. The project’s mission is clear: reduce health inequalities by improving digital inclusion among older adults.

Why It Matters
As Spain’s population ages, many seniors face challenges accessing digital health services. STARS-Health tackles this by:

Analyzing real-life barriers faced by older adults and caregivers.
Co-creating digital environments with users and professionals to ensure usability.
Training healthcare professionals and students to guide seniors in using digital tools.

This isn’t just about teaching tech—it’s about building confidence, autonomy, and connection.

A Human-Centered Approach
What makes STARS-Health unique is its co-creation model. Older adults aren’t passive recipients—they’re active participants in selecting and shaping the digital tools they’ll use. This ensures relevance and boosts engagement.

Learning by Doing
Students from participating universities help identify and classify apps, making the process collaborative and educational. It’s a win-win: seniors gain access, and students gain empathy and experience.

Broader Impact
This initiative aligns with Spain’s Digital Spain 2025 strategy, which emphasizes inclusion, digital skills, and public sector transformation. It’s a shining example of how policy meets practice to create meaningful change.

Key Takeaway
Digital wellbeing isn’t just about screen time—it’s about empowering people to live healthier, more connected lives. STARS-Health shows how Spain is leading the way in making digital transformation inclusive, especially for those who need it most.

Link to practice in Spanish: https://sescs.es/en/stars-health-kick-off-roadmap-sescs-participation/