Designing for Elderly Users

Who is a senior user?

It’s not easy to create a definition about who senior users are.

It is easy to say that senior users are over 65 years old. But is never so simple. The ageing process starts when we are 20 years old and by 40s, we already have reduced vision and we require larger font. As people age, there are certain physiological and cognitive changes that are almost inevitable.

In order to accommodate both physiological and cognitive changes, to create comfort while using technology for our elderly users (and not only), we are designing using accessibility principles.

What are the main age-related challenges faced by elderly users?

Vision loss

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of loss of vision in people over 65 years of age.

For many older people, it gets difficult to read web pages and apps that use small fonts or low-contrast elements. The main issues reported are reduced contrast sensitivity, reduced color perception, and weaker near focus. Text and button sizes should be kept large. Basically, anything that’s meant to be read or clicked should be scaled up. Fonts should be a minimum of 16px

Icons are another area of special concern for older adults. Icons should be labeled with text whenever possible.

Physical and cognitive ability

Reduced dexterity and fine motor control can be challenging after a specific age. The speed of processing of information slows down. Navigating websites and completing online tasks usually takes longer than before. Memory and concentration can become challenges leading to difficulty/incapability in completing the tasks.

Hearing

At some point, a person may start experiencing difficulty with hearing high-pitched sounds and separating sounds. Receiving and processing clear auditory input starts to be problematic, especially with interfering background music.

Motivation

Elderly people are using technology in a different way. If an app is not useful for a senior, the app will be neglected regardless the notifications. If they see benefits in using the app/website, the users will be motivated to use it consistently. For most of the senior users, technology is a tool. They want technology to help them in their life and for example, that’s why the medical apps/webs are so popular among seniors.

Devices

Older people tend to prefer tablets to smartphones. According to some studies, older adults are the primary users of tablets and adopted them earlier than younger users. Bigger screen sizes are easier to read and navigate.

Security and trust

Seniors are much more cautious about security and data privacy than younger users. Gaining their trust can be more challenging, so it’s crucial to make any registration process as simple and transparent as possible and ask only for the most essential data.

On the other hand, elderly users may accidentally share information publicly without realising it. Any app they use should protect them from sharing sensitive data by accident.

" Technology may change rapidly, but people change slowly. The principles [of design] come from understanding of people. They remain true forever. " (Don Norman)

How to create a senior-friendly design?

Vision

• Keep a high contrast text - background.

• Keep text and button sizes large - make the button bigger then the tip of the finger

• Fonts should be a minimum of 16px.

• Enable customisable font sizes.

• Use clear fonts for higher on-screen readability.

• Label icons with text whenever possible.

• Ensure that icons are easy to understand by everyone (avoid using memes, GIFs).

• Add subtitles to videos.

• Avoid using captcha — low contrast can be hard to read.

Interaction

• Consider increasing the dimensions of UI elements (such as buttons).

• Keep the “recommended” size and distance as an absolute minimum (Human Interface Guidelines/Material Design).

• Keep gestures simple to perform (horizontal, vertical, diagonal movements are okay).

• Avoid complex gestures that require both hands or more than two fingers.

• Avoid time limitations for performing necessary tasks (for elderly users, one minute to perform an action might not be sufficient).

Memory and concentration

• Gradually introduce information and avoid information overload (progressive disclosure)

• Use self-explanatory labels on buttons (this will also help screen reader users).

• Keep your design minimalistic.

• Keep the amount of information/tasks visible at once as low as possible.

• Provide clear feedback - keep the user informed about the progress and the end goal (to avoid memory-related issues).

• Include easy-to-find tooltips and reminders.

• Speak the user’s language - keep in mind that they might not be familiar with digital vocabulary like “drop-down” etc.

• Allow the user to complete tasks at their own speed - avoid anything that would push the user to take action faster.

Security and privacy

• Make sure the registration and onboarding flow is simple and transparent.

• Ask only for essential data.

• Make sure that users are well informed if they are to share anything (mostly in case of social apps).

• Avoid using passwords or PIN codes as older users might forget them - consider using their phone number as a confirmation code.

Many senior users got accustomed to video calls, online news, social platforms, digital banking, and online purchases.

Digital products should be accessible to all, not just the digitally fluent users.