More and more companies want to reach older users as customers. To engage this audience, accessibility is crucial. Older people often have limited vision, hearing, or motor skills. Small adjustments can greatly improve the user experience. An accessible website also shows respect and professionalism, as it excludes no one. Companies benefit in the long term when they seriously consider and actively accommodate this user group.
1. Improve readability
Choose clear, easily readable fonts and sufficiently large font sizes. Avoid decorative fonts for body text and use sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Google Fonts with high legibility. Good typography is one of the most important factors because it directly affects comprehension. Pay attention to adequate line spacing and line lengths between 45–75 characters. Paragraphs should be clearly structured so that the text doesn’t appear as a block. The clearer and calmer the typography, the more comfortable older users will feel when reading.
2. Allow font size adjustment
Enable users to adjust font size individually. This can be done via browser settings or built-in zoom buttons. Flexible layouts and relative units like em or rem ensure text doesn’t break the layout when enlarged. Many older users only use websites regularly when they can easily enlarge text. Proper implementation signals that you understand this audience’s needs. It’s important that menus, buttons, and form fields scale correctly as well.
3. Contrast and colors
Light text on a light background or vice versa makes reading difficult. Use high contrast and test color combinations for accessibility. Colors should not be the sole information source, e.g., for links or error messages. Older users rely more on clear visual differences, like colored buttons with distinct borders. Tools like WCAG contrast checkers help analyze accessibility. Consider color blindness too, which is often overlooked. Well-chosen contrasts also improve mobile usability by making content visible outdoors.
4. Simple navigation
Clear menus, visible buttons, and logical site structure help older users navigate. Avoid overly nested menus or hidden features. Older users prefer simple and predictable navigation paths, as complex or interactive menus can be confusing. Use clear labels like “Contact,” “Services,” or “About Us.” Breadcrumb navigation can also help. Important: animations should be subtle and non-distracting.
5. Interactive elements
Buttons, links, and form fields should be large enough to click easily. Touch-optimized elements are important for tablets and smartphones. An ideal minimum size is about 44 × 44 pixels to avoid misclicks. Also ensure adequate spacing between buttons. Keep forms as short as possible and provide clear error messages. Accessible forms improve both usability and conversion rates.
6. Multimedia content
Videos should have captions, audio files should have transcripts. Older users benefit from clear visual and auditory cues. Many users in this group prefer calm, well-explained videos rather than fast-cut content. Captions also improve search engine discoverability. Adjustable playback speed can be helpful. Avoid autoplaying videos—they can be distracting or startling.
7. Accessible technology
Use ARIA roles, alt tags for images, and semantic HTML structure so screen readers interpret content correctly. An accessible website is user-friendly and improves SEO. Search engines favor clear structure, semantic code, and complete image descriptions. ARIA roles are especially useful when standard HTML elements are extended. Ensure good keyboard accessibility, as many older users navigate without a mouse.
Conclusion
Websites for older audiences should be readable, well-structured, and accessible. Small adjustments like larger fonts, individual font size adjustments, higher contrast, and simple navigation significantly improve usability. An accessible website is always a professional website that remains accessible to everyone. Accessibility builds trust, enhances SEO, and demonstrates genuine respect. At aurelix, I ensure websites are accessible for all target groups without compromising design.
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