A recent survey by the IT industry group Bitkom shows that most seniors in Germany view digital health services as a significant opportunity. Of the 1,004 participants aged 65 and older who were interviewed by phone in Germany between calendar weeks 38 and 42 of 2025, 92 % reported a positive attitude toward digitization in healthcare. Those over 80 expressed even greater enthusiasm at 95 %, compared with 89 % among the younger 65‑to‑69 age group.
This optimism translates into practical behaviour. Today, half (50 %) of seniors book medical appointments online-a jump from just 18 % five years ago. An additional 23 % say they could foresee doing so in the future. Likewise, 37 % now receive appointment reminders via SMS or e‑mail, up from 18 % five years earlier, and another 47 % consider such reminders a possibility at present. Direct communication with doctors through e‑mail, chat or messenger is already used by 19 % of seniors, while 51 % would be willing to try this mode of contact later on.
Online comparison and review platforms for doctors are increasingly used, with 41 % of seniors reporting usage, compared to 12 % five years prior; another 27 % feel they could make use of these portals in the future.
Telemedicine, particularly video consultations, is still in its early stages: only 6 % of seniors have tried video appointments, up from 2 % five years ago. Nevertheless, 41 % of respondents said they could imagine using video consultations in the future.
These findings reflect the growing acceptance and potential for digital health solutions among Germany’s older population.
