Why Products for Older Adults Come Up Short . . . and How We Can Fix it!

Despite the immense promise that new technologies and products have for improving older adults’ lives, many of today’s products are not meeting older adults’ needs. Chris Frank and Jason Kuo of Snowday. Snowday is a research services company specializing in product development for the older adult (55+) markets. 

For more details visit https://www.snowdayinnovations.com/

Chat Transcript (see more chat on the stream at Linkedin)

12:07:13     From  Joan Green : This is Joan Green of Innovative Speech Therapy. www.innovativespeech.com. Joan@innovativespeech.com. I’m so pleased to be here today for this discussion. I’m all about helping people of all ages- especially older adults- to benefit from technology. It can be very challenging since they primarily weren’t developed with seniors in mind. With guidance, accessibility features and options that are built in to some of the devices can be game changers! It can be overwhelming to figure it all out. I offer free 15 minute consults scheduled from my website and provide 1:1 online tech coaching sessions. I also offer a program for ElderTech Advisors and Educators. To get on the waiting list for the next cohort for priority registration go to https://forms.gle/vBa8wJSpdmZVPYpq8.

12:08:15     From  Jenny Pearson : Jenny Pearson- Outreach Coordinator for Relay Services in MD, PA, DC and MA. 443-280-4535 Jenny.Pearson@hamiltonrelay.com

12:08:55     From  Richard Hirsch   to   Hosts and panelists : Happy to be attending this webinar, as well.

12:09:18     From  Richard Hirsch   to   Hosts and panelists : Richard Hirsch - www.unaliwear.com

12:09:37     From  TOM SHIPE : Tom Shipe, Realtor with Long & Foster Realtors

703-946-4844  tom.shipe@LNF.com

Co-Founding: Superior Options For Seniors (SOS)

https://www.superioroptions.org/

12:10:09     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Richard Hirsch to All Panelists 12:09 PM

Happy to be attending this webinar, as well.

Richard Hirsch - www.unaliwear.com

12:11:16     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Spotlight on Innovation for Mobility - Zeen Mobility Device https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/spotlight-on-innovation-for-mobility-zeen-mobility-device

12:12:33     From  Glenna Crooks : I help older adults and/or their adult children build the village they need to age in place. Glad to connect. https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennacrooksphd/

12:13:21     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : To learn more about Jason and Chris' organization see https://www.snowdayinnovations.com/

12:14:10     From  Richard Hirsch : Iphone

12:14:29     From  Richard Hirsch : Sucks for most seniors......

12:14:54     From  Karen Midyet   to   Hosts and panelists : I am a psychologist specializing in Aging Adults. Https://www.drkarenmidyet.com,  https://wwwlcoachingagingadults.com

12:15:08     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Karen Midyet to All Panelists 12:14 PM

I am a psychologist specializing in Aging Adults. Https://www.drkarenmidyet.com,  https://wwwlcoachingagingadults.com

12:15:13     From  Glenna Crooks : I agree. It's not great for seniors.

12:15:34     From  Joan Green : I wish it had a simple mode like the Samsung phone offers.

12:16:15     From  Glenna Crooks : I'd love to have my flip phone and BlackBerry back!

12:17:20     From  Jeanne Bear : changed Usability model (not obvious, not instructions manual): someone has to show you!

12:17:42     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : Products tell us all of the new features and updates, but neglects to tell us how to operate the device.

12:18:20     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : neglect

12:18:36     From  Kenneth Reichardt : 75%

12:18:36     From  Karen Midyet   to   Hosts and panelists : 90

12:18:37     From  Joan Green : 95%

12:18:38     From  Alice Fisher   to   Hosts and panelists : 90%

12:18:39     From  Aileen Klein : 100

12:18:41     From  Samantha Freeman : 100%

12:18:45     From  Ann Katz   to   Hosts and panelists : 80%

12:18:47     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : 98%

12:18:54     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Kathleen Steed to All Panelists 12:18 PM

Products tell us all of the new features and updates, but neglects to tell us how to operate the device.

neglec

12:19:42     From  Ken Silverstein : Good Afternoon Everyone--Ken Silverstein, Friends Club, serving men with early to mid stage memory loss.  Currently meet 3x per week.  Beginning January 2023, adding a fourth day, Tuesdays.  Limited capacity.  To learn more, call me at 301-469-0070 or ken@friendsclubbethesda,org.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

12:20:32     From  Jeanne Bear : And someone has to show you first!

12:20:48     From  Karen Midyet   to   Hosts and panelists : Yes.. Memory is not our forte any more!!!!

12:21:47     From  Jeanne Bear : before you CAN memorize it!

12:23:13     From  Richard Hirsch   to   Hosts and panelists : Galvanic Response. Go Chris!

12:23:17     From  Jeanne Bear : Or it detects finger when you are just trying to aim with a bit of a tremor

12:23:26     From  Joan Green : smart watches

12:23:33     From  Tracey Graham : smart tvs

12:23:35     From  Richard Hirsch : Remote controls.

12:23:46     From  Richard Hirsch : In-car GPS

12:23:46     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : traditional home design!

12:23:47     From  Tracey Graham : vehicles

12:23:58     From  Ann Katz   to   Hosts and panelists : Set up routers

12:24:12     From  Karen Midyet   to   Hosts and panelists : Even new kitchen products that are smart.

12:24:22     From  Heather Brooks : Stop with all the updates which create a whole new learning curve

12:25:25     From  Karen Midyet   to   Hosts and panelists : Ageism of the aged

12:25:32     From  Jeanne Bear : hearing aids do not take advantage of the high tech we're used to in other devices!

12:26:03     From  Richard Hirsch   to   Hosts and panelists : Chris. It is actually 7% not 2%.

12:26:40     From  Jeanne Bear : why can't hearing aids look like and function like my earbuds?

12:28:11     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : Jeanne - here is an article about some hearing aids designed to look like earbuds https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2021/05/04/these-new-hearing-aids-look-just-like-regular-earbuds--and-pack-unique-tech/?sh=1f27fcf14a2e

12:28:20     From  Margot McWhirter : lift chairs

12:28:24     From  Margot McWhirter : stairlisfts

12:28:25     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : Door access systems for apartment buildings.  The newest ones here in NYC are so technically sophisticated with cameras and what to push for this and what to push for that in what sequence to contact the resident that I am clueless.

12:28:27     From  Margot McWhirter : stair lifts

12:28:37     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Kathleen Steed to All Panelists 12:28 PM

Door access systems for apartment buildings.  The newest ones here in NYC are so technically sophisticated with cameras and what to push for this and what to push for that in what sequence to contact the resident that I am clueless.

12:28:49     From  Anne Meddis : Some clothing designs

12:28:54     From  Alice Fisher   to   Hosts and panelists : Hearing aids

12:29:03     From  Kenneth Reichardt : Walk in tubs...

12:29:24     From  Richard Hirsch   to   Hosts and panelists : Chris - please don’t advise people with a medical alert neck pendant to put it under their clothes. It invalidates the fall detection algorithm of those devices, unfortunately.

12:30:25     From  Alice Fisher   to   Hosts and panelists : Internalized agism plays a part in dislike of some devices

12:30:32     From  Jeanne Bear : untested assumptions about the users

12:31:09     From  Nancy Karp : teens, walkers, sensible shoes

12:31:20     From  Karen Midyet   to   Hosts and panelists : People shake and can’t do what they even know to try to do

12:31:29     From  Nancy Karp : canes

12:32:20     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : Different kinds of systems in vendors for making payments.  Each requires a different sequence of what needs to be done.

12:33:03     From  Kathleen Steed : Oops — just found “Everyone,” which I did not know existed in a drop-down list.

12:33:25     From  Jason Kuo : ????

12:35:10     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Kathleen Steed to All Panelists 12:32 PM

Different kinds of systems in vendors for making payments.  Each requires a different sequence of what needs to be done.

12:38:51     From  Jeanne Bear : Involve the people who will be teaching or showing the users how to use it.

12:41:04     From  Margot McWhirter : https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2020/07/29/assistive-technologies-it-s-not-for-me-i-m-not-there-yet

12:41:31     From  Marie Brodsky : Do users sometimes react very differently to the theoretical question of "would this product be something you're interested in using?" vs their opinion when they are actually presented with the product? (Do people change their mind - in either direction - after seeing the product itself?) I'm curious how common that is.

12:41:53     From  Tracey Graham : Using Design Thinking you need a multidimensional team to understand future state ideation, development and testing.

12:42:08     From  Jeanne Bear : not just "sometimes" -- frequently!

12:42:25     From  Margot McWhirter : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290075116_Incorporating_or_Resisting_Assistive_Devices_Different_Approaches_to_Achieving_a_Desired_Occupational_Self-Image

12:44:11     From  Kathleen Steed   to   Hosts and panelists : I was relieved to find out all of my difficulties with touch has to do with dry fingers, rather than my faulty technique.  Also, I have minimal ridges on my fingers to use fingerprint identification - insufficient to register a complete fingerprint.

12:44:25     From  Tracey Graham   to   Hosts and panelists : @mmcwhirter - the McMaster Portal offers great info on mobility and optimal aging

12:46:03     From  Richard Hirsch : $3.50

12:46:07     From  Margot McWhirter : $36

12:46:50     From  Kathleen Steed : Why don’t people who write instructions for using items— assuming there are instructions — test the instructions by having seniors attempt to follow what is written or illustrated?

12:47:47     From  Jeanne Bear : Even test your assumption that they WILL read anything?

12:47:57     From  Jeanne Bear : Or will someone show them? who?

12:48:09     From  MC Gee : having worked with older populations and seeing it with my own parents, instructions are not clear and often times, the print is too small to being with.

12:48:13     From  Nancy Karp : so how can we fix it?

12:48:19     From  Richard Hirsch : I unfortunately need to drop off for another call. Chris, great job! If anyone is interested in connecting, please reach out to me at Richard.Hirsch@unaliwear.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/rehirsch/. All the best and have a wonderful weekend.

12:48:46     From  Tracey Graham   to   Hosts and panelists : It is true in all design - its why @ www.HCM2.com our process includes everyone from vendors, to end users and is inclusive of all that touch interiors, spaces we design. Its also why we have clinical and operational experts on our architecture teams.

12:49:08     From  Karen Midyet : If you know how people learn, it is multi-model.  Not everything works for everyone… Kinetic,, etc.

12:49:18     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Community : From Tracey Graham to All Panelists 12:48 PM

It is true in all design - its why @ www.HCM2.com our process includes everyone from vendors, to end users and is inclusive of all that touch interiors, spaces we design. Its also why we have clinical and operational experts on our architecture teams.

12:49:36     From  MC Gee : also, need to consider the literacy of the intended user, not just reading level, but also health literacy, adeptness with technology,  native language

12:51:20     From  Margot McWhirter : Fall detection on Apple Watch is not as advertised. I have several examples of older clients where it didn't actually detect the fall. Yikes!

12:51:21     From  Marie Brodsky : Thanks so much for the presentation!

12:51:33     From  Tracey Graham   to   Hosts and panelists : Let me know if you want to connect tgraham@hcm2.com

12:52:37     From  Tracey Graham   to   Hosts and panelists : can we get a list of attendees ?

12:53:47     From  Jeanne Bear : Youngsters have more people to SHOW them how.

12:53:49     From  Margot McWhirter : https://techcoaches.ca/

12:53:51     From  Nancy Karp : fall detection service on lively products is not reliable.

12:54:35     From  Kerry Ann Sandsmark : Fabulous points for research and knowing your audience when designing. Lots of things to consider for an elder population, but not impossible. Thank you - great presentation!

12:55:06     From  Anne Meddis : Aside from  veggie peelers, what in your opinion are some examples of well-designed products for older people?

12:55:08     From  Tracey Graham : if anyone has comments or insights of pro aging design of spaces and environments of living or care please reach our to me @ tgraham@hcm2.com (Hord Coplan Macht is the second largest designer of senior living facilities in USA)  - thanks all!

12:56:47     From  MC Gee : universal design is a good start but also recognizing that typically there isn't going to be one solution for everyone. someone may need help with visual contrast vs someone who needs tactile input, etc.

12:57:05     From  Kathleen Steed : Do I recall correctly that by 2030 the percentage of older people in the population will have doubled?

12:57:50     From  Tracey Graham : How do you think the trend of multigenerational living may impact your concepts

12:58:31     From  Tracey Graham : also there are medical conditions that need adaptive equipment (arthritis, artificial lims) etc.

12:58:32     From  Jeanne Bear : for example, I'm nearly a digital native though over 70. worked in tech usability in the 70s

12:59:27     From  Kerry Ann Sandsmark : @ Tracy Graham - there's a place here in Indiana called: North Woods Village of Edison Lakes in Mishawaka, Indiana 46545    It was built as a business model for memory care as I understand it.

12:59:55     From  Margot McWhirter : There are a number of books that profile inclusively designed products. I'm not remembering the titles or authors but they're out there.

13:00:10     From  Nancy Karp : put a rubber band around a glass jar cap. works perfectly.

13:00:30     From  Margot McWhirter : Good design is good design for everyone. Not population specific.

13:00:43     From  Jeanne Bear : Specific disabilities may be the point, not the age.

13:01:22     From  Kathleen Steed : Is there a source for the most usuable products?

13:01:41     From  Margot McWhirter : Exactly, Steve! Accessibility and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive!

13:01:57     From  Karen Midyet : Also, the marketing messages about this being cool for all…and  older adults friendly

13:02:22     From  Margot McWhirter : Check out The Universal Design Project. They do product reviews.

13:02:33     From  Nancy Karp : consumer report articles talk about usability

13:02:45     From  Tara Ballman : The National Aging in Place Council is working on something now to recognize such products!

13:02:50     From  Margot McWhirter : I believe AARP also has user panels for product reviews.

13:03:07     From  Glenna Crooks : I like the idea, Steve. A "User's Choice" Award for Positive Aging!

13:03:25     From  Margot McWhirter : The Canadian Association of OTs also has product recognition, but not necessarily user auditted.

13:03:52     From  Marie Brodsky : If anyone's interested in staying in the loop, my team of university students is working on designing an accessible online platform for older adults. Our project is called WISE Cities, www.wisecities.us/stay-updated! Would absolutely love to hear from you.

13:03:52     From  Kathleen Steed : What is your LinkedIn site?

13:04:14     From  Margot McWhirter : https://universaldesign.org/

13:04:38     From  Margot McWhirter : https://caot.ca/site/saa/caotprodrecognitionprog?nav=sidebar

13:05:00     From  Kathleen Steed : Thank you all!

13:05:47     From  Tracey Graham : https://www.hcm2.com/studios/senior-living/

13:06:05     From  Margot McWhirter : https://agewell-nce.ca/

13:06:41     From  Jeanne Bear : designers should be very clear on your learning model: instructions, obvious intuitive design, or needing someone to show you the hidden features (Apple using the latter).

13:08:08     From  Kathleen Steed : Outstanding!

13:08:24     From  MC Gee : great conversation! thanks so much