In the context of technology use among the elderly, accessibility acts as a fundamental pillar of trustworthy design, a facilitator for independent living and a critical bridge between an individual’s diminishing physical or cognitive abilities. [1]
The Foundation for Trust and Engagement
Accessibility is one of the four foundational pillars, alongside consistency, transparency and security that build user trust. For elderly users, a lack of accessibility leads to cognitive effort, frustration and hesitation, which are major barriers to trust. If users struggle to find information or complete tasks due to poor accessibility, their confidence in the platform diminishes and often leads them to abandon the technology entirely. [1]
Four foundational pillars of trustworthy UX
The four foundational pillars of trustworthy user experience (UX) design are consistency, transparency, security and usability. These elements work in coordination to create a seamless digital experience that helps users feel confident, in control and valued.
Accommodating the “Aging Barriers” (MOLD-US Framework)
Accessibility is the primary method for addressing the physical and functional barriers inherent to the ageing process. The MOLD-US framework identifies four key categories where accessibility is crucial:
- Perception (Vision and Audition): Accessibility features must compensate for the decline in the ability to resolve detail, focus on close objects, and detect contrast. [2]
- Physical Ability: Aging often leads to slower reflexes, stiffer joints and tremors. [2]
- Cognition: Because older adults process fewer bits of information at a time, accessible design requires minimizing friction and reducing the number of steps to complete a task. [2]
- Motivation: If the benefits of a technology are not easily determined through an accessible interface, users become frustrated and unmotivated. [2]
Promoting Independent Living and “Aging in Place”
The primary objective of technology for the elderly is to enable them to continue their daily lives independently for as long as possible. Accessibility plays a vital role here by:
- Resolving Mobility Gaps: For elderly individuals with limited mobility, accessible technology reduces the need for difficult travel for medical treatments. [3]
- Inclusive Design aims to create designs that are flexible enough to be usable by people with various functional limitations, thereby assisting and prolonging independent living.[3]
Influencing Attitudes Toward Specific Technologies
In studies of elderly Austrians, accessibility specifically in the form of functional support was found to drive positive attitudes.
- Support and Health Devices: Technologies such as personal alarms and tracking systems enjoy high acceptance across all age groups because they provide concrete, accessible help for health-threatening situations. [4]
- Compensating for Age Effects: Interestingly, while interest in entertainment technology declines with age, the interest in support and health devices does not. [4]
Sources
[1] Thefinchdesignagency, “Building User Trust in UX Design: Proven Strategies for Better Engagement,” Medium, Feb. 05, 2025. https://medium.com/@thefinchdesignagency/building-user-trust
[2] G. A. Wildenbos, L. Peute, and M. Jaspers, “Aging barriers influencing mobile health usability for older adults: A literature based framework (MOLD-US),” International Journal of Medical Informatics, vol. 114, pp. 66–75, Jun. 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2018.03.012.
[3] Y.-Y. Yap, S.-H. Tan, and S.-W. Choon, “Elderly’s intention to use technologies: A systematic literature review,” Heliyon, vol. 8, no. 1, p. e08765, Jan. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08765.
[4] N. Halmdienst, M. Radhuber, and R. Winter-Ebmer, “Attitudes of elderly Austrians towards new technologies: communication and entertainment versus health and support use,” European Journal of Ageing, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 513–523, Apr. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00508-y.
