Digital Social Innovation for Active Aging: TrentinoSalute+, a Case Study of Participatory Health Promotion
摘要
The progressive aging of the population poses major challenges for healthcare systems, particularly in rural and mountainous areas where access to services is limited. Digital Social Innovation (DSI) offers new opportunities to address these challenges by combining technological tools with participatory and collaborative approaches. This chapter presents TrentinoSalute+, a case study of DSI in the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy), aimed at promoting active and healthy aging through the co-design and implementation of the Salute+ mobile application. The project, developed within the TrentinoSalute4.0 Competence Center, adopts a participatory governance model that integrates public institutions, health authorities, research centers, local associations, and citizens. The Salute+ app provides personalized health pathways, self-assessment tools, and behavior-change “challenges,” supported by a dual incentive system that combines individual rewards with the funding of community-based health and social initiatives. Pilot testing in the Val di Sole Valley demonstrated the app’s potential to foster citizen empowerment, encourage healthier lifestyles, and generate shared social value, while also strengthening community cohesion and local heritage valorization. Findings highlight both the opportunities and challenges of DSI in healthcare. While the project successfully engaged citizens and created socio-health benefits, issues such as the digital divide, sustaining long-term motivation, administrative complexity, and scalability remain critical. The case of TrentinoSalute+ illustrates how DSI can evolve from theory to practice, offering operational insights for the development of citizen-centered, technology-enabled health promotion models that enhance well-being and social inclusion in aging societies.