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

Falls among older people are a significant health issue. Exercise reduces falls, yet many older people do not meet physical activity guidelines. Digital health platforms may improve access to fall prevention programs, but limited research has explored how these platforms meet older people's needs. This study aimed to use co-design principles to develop a website supporting delivery of the TOP UP program in aged care. A secondary aim explored older people's experiences of participating in the co-design process.

A three-phase co-design study was conducted. Phase 1 used interviews, focus groups and heuristic evaluation to inform development of a prototype website. Participants included 14 older people receiving aged care services (median age 84 years), 10 care staff and six physiotherapists. Phase 2 used think-aloud usability interviews with 11 older people, including Likert scale ratings, to assess navigation, clarity and functionality and refine the prototype. Phase 3 explored participants' experiences of the co-design process.

Thematic analysis identified eight design themes highlighting priorities related to simplicity, accessibility, relatability, safety, customisation and engaging features that supported motivation while minimising staff burden. Feedback on the website was positive and informed improvements in readability, navigation and credibility. Participants reported positive co-design experiences and valued contributing to the development of a digital fall prevention resource.

Co-design is valuable in developing user-centred digital health solutions for aged care. Findings highlight the importance of aligning digital platforms with older people's needs to improve accessibility, engagement and scalability, supporting implementation of programs such as TOP UP.