Developing eHealth tools for diverse older adults: Lessons learned from the PREPARE for Your Care Program

Area of Science:

• Geriatric care
• Digital health interventions
• Health disparities research

Background:

• Most Electronic Health (eHealth) tools do not cater to the diverse needs of older adults, exacerbating health disparities.
• There is a need for guidance in developing eHealth tools for older populations within geriatric care models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidance for creating eHealth tools tailored to diverse older adults.
• To inform the development of inclusive digital health solutions for geriatric care.

Main Methods:

• Compiled guidance from user design resources and eHealth literature.
• Utilized pragmatic examples from the PREPAREforYourCare.org (PREPARE) eHealth tool.
• Incorporated quantitative feasibility data and qualitative feedback from PREPARE research.

Main Results:

• Key guidance includes: clear objectives, co-creation with users, accessible design (e.g., 5th-grade reading level, closed captions), simple navigation, actionable information for behavior change, aligned materials, and feedback mechanisms.
• PREPARE serves as a case example illustrating the operationalization of these recommendations.

Conclusions:

• eHealth tools can be effectively tailored to the specific needs and preferences of diverse older populations.
• Adhering to user-centered design principles can reduce health disparities and enhance accessibility and cultural appropriateness of eHealth tools for older adults.