Is aging the new disease?

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the phenomenon of aging in relation to Hofmann’s three perspectives on disease including disease, illness and sickness role. We further discuss how the introduction of technology supported elderly care changes our perspectives on aging into becoming more disease focused. Especially, in user situations where technology supported care is introduced in order to prevent and reduce individual risks of prospective elders at risk of becoming wanderers, or who need support in order to avoid- or reduce outcomes of falls. Thus, even if early introduction of technology supported care is recommended in order to realize assistive technology to its potential benefits, we raise critical concerns in how this also can change our view of aging from being a natural process of life into a disease focused phenomenon.