Technology and Cognitive Empowerment for Healthy Elderly: The Link between Cognitive Skills Acquisition and Well-Being

The progressive growth of the ageing population represents opportunities as well as challenges. Consistently,\r\nthe identification of effective cognitive empowerment programs in elderly population is now a worldwide\r\nhealth policy priority, specially for their preventive effect. In this chapter, within the paradigm of Positive\r\nTechnology, the main focus will be on the use advanced technologies as effective tools for a new class\r\nof applications aimed at improving the traditional cognitive empowerment in elderly. Specifically, the\r\nattention will be devoted on how advanced technologies may be used to support elderly in reaching\r\nengaging and self-actualizing experiences. On the basis of the most recent evidence in literature, it will\r\nbe discussed the possible advantages in using such advanced technologies for improving well-being in\r\nfrail elderly: coupled with an increase in cognitive skills acquisition, the advantages may range increased\r\nself-efficacy and decreased subjective weakness, with a consequent improvement in both physical and\r\ncognitive performance.