What is the relationship between the over 60s and the world of e-commerce? More than one in two shop online. This is not an occasional circumstance, but rather a well-rooted habit in their purchasing methods, given that in almost one out of three cases purchases take place often or even always online, and there is another 46.6% who it carries out them at least 4-5 times a year. What do they buy? Above all products for health, well-being, technology, animal care, motivated by the convenience of purchasing with home delivery and economic convenience, but also by the great choice and easy availability of products. This is the scenario of the relationship between seniors and online purchases, which emerges from the data of a survey by the Centro Studi Senior Italia FederAnziani, released today on the occasion of the presentation of “lamiafarma.it”, the new e-commerce platform in measure of seniors, designed to combine a healthy lifestyle with the safeguarding of the purchasing power of seniors.
“Today’s seniors are increasingly digital”, declares the Senior President of Italy FederAnziani Eleonora Selvi, “and more and more inclined to purchase online. Many, during the isolation of the pandemic, have approached digital tools making them experts on a par with their grandchildren. It is essential to support them in this increasing confidence with the web, to respond to their needs and to offer them reliable channels. The more their interest in these purchasing methods grows, in fact, the more their exposure to the risks that too often the ‘jungle’ of the web hides. All the more so when their need is often that of products related to well-being, nutraceuticals, self-care “.
The project, conceived by VIMGOttaviani SpA, is carried out by Farmalife srl in partnership with Senior Italia FederAnziani, Sispen – Italian Pensioners’ Health Union, Fimmg – Italian Federation of General Practitioners and Sumai Assoprof – Single Union of Italian Outpatient Medicine and Healthcare Professionalism . “It is good that in the panorama of sites that offer products for wellness and health online, there may be a synergy between health professionals, which can determine not only a commercial profile but also a professional profile”, declares the National Deputy Secretary Fimmg Pier Luigi Bartoletti.
The e-commerce platform is the first time that it is specifically aimed at the world of seniors, with attention to their needs, responding to their request for health and more, and also designed with a language suitable for seniors. “The last two years have been particularly difficult for seniors: the Covid 19 pandemic has deeply affected their lifestyle in terms of social distancing and the current increases, also linked to the dramatic international context, have ended up further exacerbating their position of fragile subjects. But today’s seniors have proven to be one of the most vital components of our society. In fact, during the isolation of the pandemic, thanks to their patience and tenacity, they naturally approached the world of the web, resulting particularly skilled in the use of digital tools. The ‘lamiafarma’ project was born from this ‘transformation’. The goal is to meet, through the e-commerce platform ‘lamiafarma’, the interests and needs of Seniors, aimed at their health and well-being, also considering the care of their pets, a true antidote to loneliness and ally of a active aging ”, declares Vincenzo Monetti, Sole Director of VIMGOttaviani SpA and Farmalife srl.
The site will provide information on ailments and diseases, always referring to the general practitioner for the prescription of drugs. In fact, on the platform you can find only the products that according to the Italian legislation allows you to sell with the e-commerce method. “This project represents an excellent opportunity offered to citizens, elderly and not, to easily and advantageously access various products including those for health”, declares Giorgio Lodolini, Provincial Secretary Sumai Assoprof Rome. “It is an example of how the web can be used in a virtuous way. The task of health workers in this case is to know how to guide patients to choose products suited to their needs, minimizing the possible harmful effects of self-medication “.
“With this project”, declares the National Secretary General Sispen Roberto Messina, “we want to meet the specific needs of our seniors, supporting them in following a healthy lifestyle, but also safeguarding their purchasing power, even more so in this moment of crisis that on several fronts affects the most fragile categories. Helping them in the world of online purchases means guaranteeing aspects such as the availability of products, the reduction of costs, knowing their needs, both in terms of purchasing methods and what they are looking for, for example by offering products for the care of themselves, those for the care of their pets, in a virtuous circuit that supports a healthy lifestyle with great benefits for their health “.
“When this new project was illustrated to us, we were struck by the determination with which we intend to combine a healthy lifestyle with the safeguarding of purchasing power by the most vulnerable, who can run into scams or fake news on the Internet. health care, to the disadvantage of the historical relationship of trust with all of us health professionals ”, declares Cosimo Cicia, National Vice President of Fnopi.
“This project represents the real continuation of what Vitattiva has done in recent years together with Federanziani”, declares Alfonso Rossi, President of Vitattiva. “In fact, the first approach with tablets to computerize those attending the elderly centers, represented a first step, which then led them to take possession of the iPhone and during the look down communicate on the Zoom platform and everything that navigates around it. We consider this latest initiative a real step with the current times for the Over world “.