How We Want to Age: Aging Services Management Prepares Us for the Challenges of an Aging Society
Society is aging—and with it, many aspects of life are changing: from health care to housing to technology. The bachelor’s program in Aging Services Management (ASBA) addresses precisely these issues. In this interview, program director MMag.a Tanja Adamcik discusses the importance of the program, the opportunities presented by digitalization, and the future of aging.
“The population is aging—in Austria as well as around the world,” saysTanja Adamcik. “This raises the question: How can we, as a society, shape aging in a positive way?” The bachelor’s program in Aging Services Management provides answers to this question through a combination of health sciences, gerontology, social sciences, and economics, with a focus on technologies designed to support older adults.
“It’s about keeping an eye not only on the individual but also on the system—that is, organizations, structures, technical capabilities, and financial conditions,” said the ASBA program director, explaining the broad scope and focus of the bachelor’s program. As a result, graduates are well-prepared to drive change in a wide variety of professional fields: from health promotion to social innovation to urban development.
Digitalization and Aging—A Contradiction?
On the contrary—Adamcik also emphasizes: “Digitalization and aging do not have to be at odds with one another.” Rather, the challenge lies in designing technologies in such a way that they actually make everyday life easier for older adults: accessible, practical for daily use, and tailored to individual needs. Whether smart assistance systems, digital learning platforms, or telemedicine—when used correctly, such tools can help maintain autonomy and social participation.
According to the health scientist, actively involving users is also important: “Technologies should not overwhelm people, but rather empower them; that is why digital education and participatory development are also necessary.”
Theory and practice go hand in hand
A particular benefit of this distance learning program lies in the diversity of its students. “Our students come from a wide variety of professional fields—such as healthcare and social services, technology, administration, and business,” says Adamcik. Many students already have extensive professional experience and can immediately apply what they learn in the program to their work. This close connection between theory and everyday professional practice is a central element of the program.
“Our students also make a significant impact during their professional internships—whether in nursing and care facilities, in municipal health departments, or at health promotion organizations,” said Tanja Adamcik. This often leads to concrete projects that are implemented directly in the respective practical settings.
A Look into the Future: Rethinking Aging
Demographic change will not only drive technological innovation in the coming years, but will also necessitate structural changes in the health and social care systems. Adamcik identifies several areas that will be particularly relevant in this context:
- a greater focus onprevention and health promotionin later life
- the expansion ofage-appropriate care structures, such as through community-based and interprofessional models
- Digitalization in the daily lives of older adults, using smart tools and AI-based applications
- newforms of housing and care that enable self-determination and social participation
- as well as an in-depthsocial and ethical discussionabout perceptions of aging, equal opportunity, and quality of life
“Aging is an issue that affects us all,” Adamcik points out. “And that is precisely why we need people who are courageous, who think outside the box—and who want to play an active role in shaping the future of aging.”
You can find all the information about the bachelor's programhere.
