Week 6（2）Target Group and Age Research

To address their challenges, an increasing number of elderly individuals are now opting to engage in outdoor activities and socialization. One popular choice among these is visiting museums. This activity not only provides them with a chance to exercise but also facilitates interactions with younger people, thereby enhancing the vibrancy of their lives and improving their overall well-being (Retcho, 2017). Additionally, museum visits keep elderly people updated with contemporary times. while also presenting avenues for them to reconnect with their own and collective cultural histories, facilitating a process of reminiscence and enhancing cognition(Bagnall, 2003).

Age group：45-75+

2018 Research Data

BETWEEN AGE 45-75+ THE ISSUES MAY FACED

How museums are helping socially isolated older adults

Making Museums Accessible to Those With Disabilities

What is Active Ageing and how can Museums help?

Problems encountered by older people in museums:

Considerate of using app interface design to solve these problems

• Lack of Legibility: Older adults, who may have diminished vision and reading capabilities, often struggle with reading display labels or interpretive text. Illegible labels or those in excessively small fonts can prevent them from accurately accessing the information.
  • HOW TO SOLVE:
    1. using AR Camera/VR to show the larger size of artefact information text, and with the sound play button, to read the text for elderly people.
    2. Subtitling options: For audio or video content, provide subtitling options so that older adults with hearing impairments can understand the content.
• Lack of Adequate Seating and Resting Areas: Museums typically involve prolonged periods of walking and standing, posing challenges for less fit older adults. Insufficient seating and resting spaces can lead to fatigue and discomfort.
  • HOW TO SOLVE :
    1. Map feature to help find the nearest seating and lounge areas
• Inadequate Guided Tours: Older adults may have a keen interest in the history and background of displayed objects but often require additional explanation and assistance. A lack of adequate guided tour services, or insufficient help and guidance from staff, can leave them feeling confused and frustrated.
  • HOW TO SOLVE:
    1. Virtual Tour Assistant: A virtual interactive assistant that helps seniors understand the exhibits and answers their questions.
    2. Video commentary: For some key exhibits, video commentary is provided to help the elderly better understand and appreciate the exhibits through the combination of visual and auditory senses.
• Lack of Accessibility: For older individuals with mobility issues or those using assistive devices like wheelchairs and walkers, museum accessibility is crucial. The absence of accessible routes, elevators, escalators, and accessible restrooms can hinder their ability to enter and navigate through exhibits.
  • HOW TO SOLVE:
    1. Map feature： Easy-to-navigate interactive maps to help older people find nearby lifts/ escalators and find staff to help.
• Overcrowded and Noisy Environments: Older adults may find overcrowded and noisy settings problematic. They often prefer quieter, more comfortable environments for viewing exhibits, as noise and crowding can adversely affect their experience.
  • HOW TO SOLVE:
    1. Map feature： help older people know if it’s crowded in the area they want to visit, suggesting the best routes to avoid noisy and crowded areas, including a reminder to go to the area if it’s less crowded

Reference：

Retcho, D.E., 2017. Accessibility to Art Museums and Museum Education Programs for an Elderly Population with Dementia.

Bagnall, G., 2003. Performance and performativity at heritage sites. Museum and society, 1(2), pp.87-103

https://www.theaudienceagency.org/asset/1995#:~:text=Older%20learners%20are%20well%20represented,a%20third%20of%20the%20population.&text=The%20majority%20of%20museum%20visitors%20are%20medium%20or%20high%20cultural%20engagers.

https://www.theaudienceagency.org/asset/1995#:~:text=Museums%20attract%20higher%20proportions%20of,year%20olds%20than%20other%20artforms.&text=Middle%2Daged%20audiences%20are%20slightly,audiences%20than%20for%20other%20artforms.&text=Older%20learners%20are%20well%20represented,a%20third%20of%20the%20population.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/taking-part-201920-museums/museums-taking-part-survey-201920