Do you know what the world’s most widely circulated magazine is? It’s the AARP magazine, a publication for those over the age of 50!
That is the senior’s power. Elderly people represent a sizable market that is currently neglected by mobile apps. This is a big opportunity for mobile and technology startups. These are the people that have a lot of time AND money on their hands, as well as some particular demands that are well suited to be satisfied by mobile apps.
As a result, the time has come for upheaval in the senior app market. Let’s look at some data to get a sense of the size and potential of this market.
Size and financial standing of the senior’s market:
· According to WHO projections, the number of persons aged 60 and more would exceed 2 billion by 2050.
· According to Pew Research Center, 74% of adults aged 50 to 64 and 42% of those over 65 own a smartphone. A growing number of people, particularly those aged 60 and up, use smartphone apps in different aspects of their lives.
· In 2018, the global market for senior products and services surpassed $436 billion. Forecasts predict that the global financial solvency of adults over 60 will exceed $15 trillion by 2020.
As you can see, there is a lot of room for paying users here. Not only that, but seniors are increasingly responsive to technology, as evidenced by their readiness to acquire mobile phones and the internet React Native for Mobile App Development.
Online habits of seniors
· According to Pew Research, 75% of persons aged 65 and up have used the internet. People aged 50 to 64 had much higher rates.
· One in every four mobile shoppers in the United States is above the age of 55.
· 40% of people over the age of 65 have a Facebook account.
· The percentage of senior persons who utilize information and communication technology (ICT) has climbed 400% in the last decade, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute.
· 25% of adults over the age of 65 use computers or mobile phones to access the internet, with smartphones being the most popular.
· In 2020, 7 out of 10 people (in Spain) aged 65 to 74 accessed the internet, whereas just 1 out of 10 in this age group did so in 2009.
· According to AARP research, there has been a significant increase in older persons acquiring and utilizing technology throughout the epidemic, and many are enthusiastic in using technology to track their health.
Without a question, developing mobile apps for the elderly should take center stage among digital firms because these apps are not only very financially viable, but this may be the market niche that most needs mobile app development Florida to improve their quality of life. Consider the numerous app categories that are most appealing to the elderly and why.
Health apps
mHealth, or mobile health apps, are a rapidly rising industry, and the demographic most in need is unquestionably seniors. Health applications are essential for the elderly population, providing anything from prescription reminders to health tracking, fall detection, online health reports, fitness/exercise, and more.
Apps for connecting to the internet
Seniors frequently utilize video chatting applications, messaging apps, and media sharing apps to stay in touch with family and friends.
According to a study conducted at Oregon Health and Science University, older persons who used video chat applications like Skype and Facetime had nearly half the predicted chance of depressive symptoms as those who used text messaging apps or no apps.
Shopping apps
Mobile ecommerce apps that help older individuals buy groceries, prescriptions, clothes, and other items online are a terrific way to improve their quality of life. Why would people stand in long lines or deal with frustrated counter employees when they can easily shop online?
Apps for entertainment
As you might expect, elderly folks have a lot of free time, yet decent entertainment is difficult to come by. Cable TV provides little comfort, and excellent quality entertainment options are few and far between. Mobile apps that engage seniors with relevant content can significantly improve their daily lives and convert them into repeat clients.
Personal finance
To ensure that their life assets are appropriately managed, older persons, particularly retirees, require solid financial counsel and wealth management. They must be able to strike a healthy balance between saving for future expenditures and living comfortably today.
There is a clear opportunity here to serve our senior population with innovative, simple, and safe apps that can engage them meaningfully while generating a consistent stream of cash.
So, why are seniors using fewer mobile apps?
Modern mobile application delivery fall short of offering value to senior members of society for a variety of reasons, spanning from design to usability and security. Adoption of new technology can often create psychological barriers that must be overcome. For example, older family members may be concerned about their privacy and security when using mobile apps. Or they could simply be having issues navigating the user interface or understanding the font.
Font and screen size
Most recent mobile apps are largely aimed at younger audiences, such as millennials or Generation Z. As a result, the designs are typically clean and simple.
These apps are difficult to use for older persons, who frequently have failing eyesight and hearing as well as cognitive ability.
A study indicated that 76% of respondents deemed small text, screen size, font type, and buttons to be the most problematic reasons for using mobile apps. As a result of these factors, seniors wind up taking a long time to execute a basic task, lowering the value of their experience.
Navigation and Menu
According to 63% of seniors in the aforementioned study, the reason they have difficulties utilizing the apps is due to navigation and menu. According to the survey, older persons are confused, feel lost, and have difficulties accessing menus on mobile apps.
Inadequate awareness and knowledge
Many older folks have a limited understanding of what mobile apps may do for them and how to use them. Because of a lack of awareness, most older folks are unaware of the benefits these apps can provide or are skeptical of utilizing them.
How to develop apps for the elderly?
Answering this question is critical for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, today’s senior citizens deserve better mobile experiences. Second, today’s younger users will be older in a few decades and will have cognitive and vision problems that come with age. However, these customers will continue to expect high-quality user experiences from the mobile apps they have grown accustomed to.
So, how can mobile app developers create better mobile apps that are easier to use by older folks, regardless of how their aging bodies limit them? Here are a few things to bear in mind:
Better design, more readability
Developers of mobile apps must create programs that are easily accessible by seniors, including those with poor vision. It is critical to enlarge fonts and images to accommodate all users.
Many apps today, when zoomed in, push parts of the text outside the screen. Changing the font size requires numerous complex processes. Create extremely responsive apps that keep text inside margins even when elderly users zoom in.
Color palettes that are easy on the eyes and fonts that are plainly legible must be used by designers.
Smoother navigation
Hamburger menus, slider menus, and find-me-if-you-can menus can all be difficult to understand, especially for many younger users. Menus for older individuals should be clearly visible, accessible, and intelligible.
Marketing that is targeted
According to one survey, most seniors have no idea what mobile apps can do for them, how to download them, or how to utilize them. Reaching out to elders with stronger marketing efforts that inform them about what apps are available for their convenience and how to utilize them can assist older consumers in discovering and using apps.
Conclusion
Mobile apps are one of the most significant developments of the twenty-first century. Young, mobile, and perfectly healthy individuals have grown to rely significantly on these apps for all aspects of their everyday lives. It is simple to conclude that, thanks to mobile apps, older folks who frequently suffer from bad health and limited mobility can actually enjoy better and more rewarding lives.
Despite this, mobile app usage is still quite low among persons over the age of 50. This is partly due to the fact that new mobile apps are designed for younger audiences and do not accommodate the particular design and navigation needs of the elderly.