Inclusive tech for better healthcare outcomes!

When I arrived for a routine medical procedure, I was glad I had checked in online. Yet, registration still took over 30 minutes. Why? The lobby was full of older adults checking in the "old-fashioned way."

When I arrived for a routine medical procedure, I was glad I had checked in online. Yet registration still took 30 minutes. Why? The lobby was full of older adults checking in the traditional way.

Many assume older adults aren't tech-savvy, but here's what I actually saw: everyone had a smartphone, and most were using their devices while they waited.

So, are healthcare apps truly meeting the needs of these users?

The numbers are telling. According to Pew Research Center, 91% of adults aged 50–64 and 79% of those aged 65 and older now own smartphones. The University of Michigan's Healthy Aging Poll found that nearly 30% of adults aged 50–80 already use at least one mobile health app, most commonly for tracking physical activity, nutrition, or weight.

The real issue isn't access—it's design. Even with high rates of smartphone and app use, many healthcare apps are builtfor younger, healthier adults and overlook important aspects like readability, ease of use, and relevance for older users.This results in missed opportunities to streamline care and support the people who need it most.

Imagine the impact if we designed with inclusivity in mind: intuitive navigation, larger fonts, and features tailored to the unique health journeys of older adults. We could speed up care, lower administrative costs, and truly empower patients.

It's time for designers to rethink their approach and actively involve older adults in the design process.

If you design healthcare apps, now is the moment to prioritize inclusivity. Tech can transform healthcare—but only if it's built for everyone.

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