Tips on digital accessibility for older people

Imagine your parents or grandparents want to book a doctor's appointment or buy a gift online - but they fail because of a confusing website with small fonts, confusing navigation and distracting, poorly integrated advertising. For many older people, these obstacles are part of everyday life. With age-friendly web design, you can ensure that no one is excluded and that digital offers are accessible to all generations.

Older people often encounter barriers in the digital world that severely restrict their participation.

In the following, we provide information on age-related challenges, how you can make your website age-friendly and why accessible web design is not only an ethical responsibility, but also an economic opportunity. Finally, we explain what good quality assurance of an age-friendly website must take into account.

Why is age-friendly web design important?

The number of older Internet users is growing steadily: according to a study by the Federal Statistical Office, 84% of people between the ages of 60 and 69 use the Internet regularly, while the figure for the over-70s is 50%.

This target group often has purchasing power and is willing to use digital services - provided they are accessible and easy to use.

Typical barriers for older users in the digital space

Older people often face the following problems when surfing:

1. Visual impairment: difficulty reading small fonts or insufficient color contrast.

2. Hearing loss: Problems with audio content without subtitles or transcripts.

3. Motor impairments: Difficulty operating small click buttons or complex navigation elements.

4. Cognitive changes: Overwhelmed by complex content or confusing layouts.

These limitations make it clear that age-friendly web design is crucial for making digital services accessible to senior citizens.

Best practices for age-friendly web design

1. clear and intuitive navigation

Clear navigation is at the heart of every website - especially for older users. Avoid complex menus and rely on clear structures with clearly visible buttons. Use clear labels such as "Home", "Contact" or "Products" to make it easier to find your way around.

2. customizable content

Offer functions that allow users to individually adjust the font size or contrast. Many older people prefer larger fonts and high color contrast to make content easier to see.

3. reduce distractions

Avoid animations, auto-play videos or flashing elements that could overwhelm older users. A calm and clear design helps to draw attention to the essential content.

4. clear language

Get to the point quickly. Use short sentences and avoid technical jargon or complicated formulations. Clear language makes your content more accessible and easier to understand.

Legal requirements: BFSG and digital accessibility

When theAccessibility Reinforcement Act (BFSG) comes into force on June 28, 2025, accessible web design will become mandatory in Germany. Companies must ensure that their websites are also accessible to people with disabilities - including older users.

Companies must therefore ensure that their websites meet the legal requirementsby June 2025- otherwise they could face fines and damage to their image.

What does this mean in concrete terms?

Among other things, the BFSG requires

• Full website usability via keyboard.

• The provision of alternative content such as subtitles for videos.

• Compliance with the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) and the WCAG guidelines (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which define international standards for accessible web design.

Companies not only have to ensure compliance. They have the unique opportunity to use accessibility to address a growing target group, make their digital offering inclusive and achieve sustainable customer loyalty.

How can TestSolutions help?

TestSolutions offers comprehensive accessibility testing services to ensure your website is age-friendly and accessible. This includes

• Identification of basic problems ("low-hanging fruits") such as missing alt texts or insufficient color contrasts.

• Concrete recommendations for action and suggestions for optimization based on the WCAG guidelines.

• Quality assurance of age-friendliness.

• Supporting development projects relating to web applications and websites as a tester.

• Developing and trackingaccessibility metrics .

• And much more!

Make your website and web applications fit. We can help you with this.

Arrange a non-binding consultation with our accessibility experts now.

Note: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please contact a qualified lawyer to resolve specific legal issues. No liability is assumed for the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the information provided.