Denver's Office on Aging: Re-Design
This project is a work in progress.
Within the midst of the pandemic, in early 2021, I saw a Ted Talk on ageism by Ashton Applewhite. Her talk inspired me, and I immediately ordered her book This Chair Rocks, and read it nearly cover-to-cover. Ashton sparked my continued interest in ageism, a form of discrimination against people who have more years under their belt. I looked for local resources on the topic, and found Janine Venderburg. I took an amazing anti-ageism course with her through her organization Changing the Narrative. Fast forward to now, and I just finished Jennifer Pahlka's book Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. This book awakened a deep interest in the technological tools designed for government use, and the importance of improving our government's digital infrastructure and usability.
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My combination of readings and interest in ageism, the process of aging, and digital government tools inspired me to take an interest in our local government's Office on Aging was Website, and I found myself deeply inspired to create an alternative design that improves the accessibility and experience for elders (and elders in the making) in Denver, Colorado.
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The Current Site
While browsing the website, I found some foundational areas with room for improvement:
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1. Information architecture. While the resources available on the website are admirable, the general structure of the information is somewhat confusing and haphazard.
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2. Design messaging, and the landing page's general focus. There's a strong focus on healthcare, access to tools and resources for abused elders, and elders' need for assistance. These resources are tremendously important, and of course, they should be a main focus of the landing page. However, when pairing the resources offered with the opportunity to add anti-ageist messaging, I believe there are creative ways to focus on the positives of aging, alongside with messaging that respects the intellect, abilities, and tools that elders have at their disposal.
I jumped into Figma and did some site mapping alongside some brainstorming.
Competitive Analysis
I then researched comparable sites, and found San Francisco's department on Aging services to be a great source of inspiration. I decided to start a competitive analysis in the form of a user journey.
User Journeys
For the user journeys, I imagined the experience of an individual seeking dental care. I'll call her Tanya, who goes by she/her/hers, and is aged 62. She makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but she is still struggling to make ends meet. She was told by a friend that the city offers pro-rated dental care for seniors, and is looking to access that care.
User Journey Map for Denver's Office on Aging Dental Resources
User Journey Map for San Francisco's Office on Aging Dental Resources
When envisioning myself as Tanya, I found that San Francisco's site provided a faster and less stressful experience.
Interviews
I reached out to the Office of Aging to interview the folks who head the office about the website, and I was impressed with how quickly they responded! My first interview was with Anna DeRocchi, who is the Office on Aging Program Coordinator. I gathered valuable information from the interview.
I learned that the Office of Aging is one of 12 offices that reside under the Human Rights and Community Partnership arm of Denver's local government. Anna said that she will try to find who designed the website. I found that anyone who works with older adults and knows of the website has the option to point people towards Denver Office of Aging's website. I also learned that Anna is doing her own work to understand how the site is used by installing QR codes that lead to the site at in-person events. She will then track that information. Denver Connect is the main program that Anna runs, and Denver Connect focuses on providing in-person leads to resources for older adults in Denver.
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My talk with Anna gave me valuable information about the purpose of Denver's Office of Aging's website, and how the website fits into the broader network of support and services for Denver's elders.
To more deeply understand the information architecture of the site, I focused on some of the site's copy. When designing the site, it's important to distill the information that, at this point, feels quite heavy and a bit full of jargon. Here's an example of some before and after work on a bit of information about dental care:
Before
After
Understanding the Importance of Dental Health
Good dental health is key to your overall well-being, especially as you age. It's not just about smiles; it's about keeping your whole body healthy!
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What Does Dental Care Involve?
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Routine check-ups, cleaning, and treatments help prevent bigger issues.
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If you face complex dental issues, specialists are there for extra support.
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Getting the Dental Care You Need
Using Medicare:
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Standard Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care.
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For specific, severe dental issues, you might be eligible for coverage.
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Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer extended dental benefits.
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Unsure about your coverage? Just call the number on your insurance card or contact SHIP at 1-888-696-7213 for guidance, especially during enrollment periods.
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Last update 10.25.23
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To be continued...