An mHealth Design Framework for Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health

Background:

• Older adults face unique challenges with mobile health (mHealth) technology, including cognitive, physical, and motivational barriers.
• Existing mHealth applications often lack age-specific design considerations, leading to poor engagement and usability.
• There is a growing need for evidence-based frameworks to guide the development of mHealth tools for the aging population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive mHealth Design Framework specifically for older adults.
• To identify and synthesize design guidelines that address age-related barriers in mHealth application development.
• To enhance the engagement and usability of mHealth applications for aging populations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
• Searches were performed across Ovid MEDLINE®, IEEE Xplore®, and Web of Science® databases.
• Studies published between 2010 and 2025 were included, with 23 meeting the final criteria from 161 screened records.

Main Results:

• An mHealth Design Framework was developed, comprising guidelines for designing age-friendly mobile applications.
• The framework is structured around three key categories: design approaches, age-related barriers, and a design checklist.
• Key considerations were identified to address cognitive, physical, and motivational challenges faced by older adults.

Conclusions:

• The developed mHealth Design Framework provides a foundational resource for creating more effective and user-friendly mobile health applications for older adults.
• Implementing the framework's guidelines can significantly improve the engagement and usability of mHealth tools for the aging demographic.
• This framework supports the advancement of digital health solutions tailored to the specific needs of the growing elderly population.