Co-Designing a Fall Prevention Exercise Website to Meet Aged Care Community Needs

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Digital Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Falls are a major health concern for older adults, with exercise being a key preventative measure.
• Many older adults do not meet physical activity guidelines, highlighting a need for accessible interventions.
• Digital health platforms offer potential for improved access to fall prevention programs, but user needs must be addressed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design a website for delivering the "Targeting Older People's Understanding of Prevention" (TOP UP) program using co-design principles.
• To explore older adults' experiences participating in the co-design process for a digital fall prevention tool.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase co-design study involving older adults, care staff, and physiotherapists.
• Utilized interviews, focus groups, heuristic evaluation, and think-aloud usability testing.
• Iterative prototype refinement based on user feedback and usability assessments.

Main Results:

• Eight key design themes emerged, emphasizing simplicity, accessibility, relatability, safety, customization, and engaging features.
• User feedback led to improvements in website readability, navigation, and credibility.
• Participants reported positive experiences and valued their contribution to developing a digital fall prevention resource.

Conclusions:

• Co-design is an effective method for creating user-centered digital health solutions in aged care.
• Aligning digital platforms with older adults' needs is crucial for enhancing accessibility, engagement, and scalability.
• The developed website supports the implementation of fall prevention programs like TOP UP in aged care settings.