Alzheimer's Society issues guidance on creating dementia-friendly websites

Did you know that as vision declines with age, the colour blue is the most difficult to make out? Avoid use of blue on websites for older people, particularly on important interface elements - this is one of the tips given in the Alzheimer's Society's latest guidance on making websites user-friendly for people living with dementia.

two older people using a computer together

There are currently one million people living with dementia in the UK and this is expected to increase to two million by 2050. People with dementia can experience difficulties in the following areas:

  • Confusion
  • Perception and vision
  • Problem solving and thinking speed
  • Judgment
  • Processing and sequencing information
  • Language and words

When a developer, company or designer keeps all potential users in mind, the experience and results are better for everyone: more inclusivity and increased website users.

As big fans of accessible and user-friendly websites, it's great to see Alzheimer's Society offering detailed advice on creating a dementia-friendly site. Earlier in the year, AbilityNet also ran a popular Dementia and Digital Design webinar to assist companies, designers and developers in their efforts in this area.

Here we've included some of Alzheimer's Society's top tips on creating a dementia-friendly website:

1 Work with those living with alzheimer's at all stages of design

You could find people through dementia forums, like Talking Point  or by approaching local services in your area like Dementia Cafes, as well as by using social media or specialist research participant recruiters.

2 Be very clear

Make it completely obvious on every page what your site is and what it is for.

3 Use relevant images

Keep images simple, engaging and meaningful. Make sure they're closely related to content. Images are good for contextual understanding for this audience.

4 Avoid ambiguous words and sentences

Avoid complex jargon or calls to action with no context. Use literal descriptions, clear headlines and don't be ambiguous.

5 Avoid the colour blue

Vision declines with age and most people with dementia are in the older age bracket. Blue can be particularly difficult to see, so avoid this colour, especially for important interface elements.