Presentation
Understanding Digital Health Accessibility for Older Adults with Vision Impairment
DescriptionBackground:
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates that 6% of older adults (over age 65) have a vision impairment. With the aging of the U.S. population, the number of older Americans with vision impairment is expected to continue to grow. Vision impairment can create barriers to engaging in healthcare activities, from health self-management (e.g., exercise, nutrition) to interacting with healthcare providers and systems. Older adults with vision impairment are likely to experience co-morbid health conditions (e.g., arthritis, diabetes) and age-related declines (e.g., hearing loss, mobility limitations), which can contribute to unique health care challenges. With technology increasingly ingrained in healthcare, it is critical to understand the challenges people aging with vision impairment experience in the realm of digital health. Their insights on issues and opportunity areas are necessary to inform the design of effective, user-centered technology solutions.
Research Design and Methods:
The Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) study utilizes a comprehensive mixed-method approach to explore the daily challenges encountered by individuals aging with long-term disabilities. The present analysis focused on a subgroup of participants with long-term vision impairment (N=60; 63% female; average age = 67, SD = 4.6). Participants completed in-depth, structured interviews assessing their challenges and strategies for a wide range of everyday activities. We analyzed data on a range of healthcare activities, including accessing health information, providing care to others, exercising, getting emergency assistance, attending healthcare provider appointments, managing diet and nutrition, managing medications, and monitoring health. Specifically, we explored participants’ technology challenges with healthcare activities and their use of devices, tools, and technologies. Or goal was to identify effective technology solutions, human factors issues, and opportunities for innovation.
Results:
Across all healthcare activities, participants described using a diverse range of technologies, including apps, devices, and software. Technology-related challenges included inaccessible websites and applications (e.g., not compatible with screen reading software), devices lacking essential audio input/output capabilities, and issues navigating healthcare portals and automated systems (e.g., managing passwords, limited opportunity for human support). We will provide concrete examples of successful technology solutions that were effective in supporting various healthcare activities, while also addressing areas where current technologies fall short, warranting further development and refinement.
Discussion and Implications:
The older adults with vision impairment we interviewed were eager to embrace advanced technologies to support their healthcare. However, we identified critical human-factors issues in existing technologies, which represent opportunities for improvement and innovation. These insights will guide the development of tailored solutions. Digital health technologies hold great promise for older adults with vision impairment, but they also present challenges. The ACCESS study provides crucial insights into leveraging technology to support healthcare activities among older adults with vision impairment. Our data underscore the potential of digital health to enhance their lives while emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and ongoing innovation. This research highlights the importance of user-centered design to drive a healthcare landscape that is accessible and equitable for all, regardless of abilities or impairments.
Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates that 6% of older adults (over age 65) have a vision impairment. With the aging of the U.S. population, the number of older Americans with vision impairment is expected to continue to grow. Vision impairment can create barriers to engaging in healthcare activities, from health self-management (e.g., exercise, nutrition) to interacting with healthcare providers and systems. Older adults with vision impairment are likely to experience co-morbid health conditions (e.g., arthritis, diabetes) and age-related declines (e.g., hearing loss, mobility limitations), which can contribute to unique health care challenges. With technology increasingly ingrained in healthcare, it is critical to understand the challenges people aging with vision impairment experience in the realm of digital health. Their insights on issues and opportunity areas are necessary to inform the design of effective, user-centered technology solutions.
Research Design and Methods:
The Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) study utilizes a comprehensive mixed-method approach to explore the daily challenges encountered by individuals aging with long-term disabilities. The present analysis focused on a subgroup of participants with long-term vision impairment (N=60; 63% female; average age = 67, SD = 4.6). Participants completed in-depth, structured interviews assessing their challenges and strategies for a wide range of everyday activities. We analyzed data on a range of healthcare activities, including accessing health information, providing care to others, exercising, getting emergency assistance, attending healthcare provider appointments, managing diet and nutrition, managing medications, and monitoring health. Specifically, we explored participants’ technology challenges with healthcare activities and their use of devices, tools, and technologies. Or goal was to identify effective technology solutions, human factors issues, and opportunities for innovation.
Results:
Across all healthcare activities, participants described using a diverse range of technologies, including apps, devices, and software. Technology-related challenges included inaccessible websites and applications (e.g., not compatible with screen reading software), devices lacking essential audio input/output capabilities, and issues navigating healthcare portals and automated systems (e.g., managing passwords, limited opportunity for human support). We will provide concrete examples of successful technology solutions that were effective in supporting various healthcare activities, while also addressing areas where current technologies fall short, warranting further development and refinement.
Discussion and Implications:
The older adults with vision impairment we interviewed were eager to embrace advanced technologies to support their healthcare. However, we identified critical human-factors issues in existing technologies, which represent opportunities for improvement and innovation. These insights will guide the development of tailored solutions. Digital health technologies hold great promise for older adults with vision impairment, but they also present challenges. The ACCESS study provides crucial insights into leveraging technology to support healthcare activities among older adults with vision impairment. Our data underscore the potential of digital health to enhance their lives while emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and ongoing innovation. This research highlights the importance of user-centered design to drive a healthcare landscape that is accessible and equitable for all, regardless of abilities or impairments.
Event Type
Oral Presentations
TimeTuesday, March 263:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
LocationSalon A-2
Digital Health