How to design interfaces for older patients
Bridge team · November 6, 2026 · 2 min read
For older patients an interface should be large, high-contrast and predictable: body text from 18–20 px, text contrast of at least 4.5:1, tap targets from 44×44 px, one action per screen and clear labels instead of icon-only buttons. And always — testing with people 60+.
Why it matters in healthcare
Older people book doctors, get prescriptions and test results more often than others. At the same time their eyesight, motor precision and short-term memory are more likely to decline. If an interface is complicated, people simply call reception — and the digital service fails its purpose.
Text and contrast
- Body text — at least 18–20 px, important data even larger.
- Text-to-background contrast — at least 4.5:1 per WCAG, ideally higher. Grey text on white is a common mistake.
- Support for system text scaling up to 200% without clipped lines or buttons.
- Simple sans-serif fonts and enough line spacing — about 1.5.
Buttons and navigation
- Tap targets — from 44×44 px, with enough space between them.
- Icons always come with a label: “Book a visit”, not just “+”.
- One main action per screen and a visible “Back” button.
- No gestures people have to guess: swipes and long presses only as an extra option.
Flows and copy
- Split long forms into short steps with progress: “Step 2 of 3”.
- Write in plain words, without medical or technical jargon.
- Confirm every important action: “You’re booked with the doctor for March 12, 10:30”.
- Make errors easy to fix instead of starting over.
How to check
No checklist replaces testing. Ask 5–7 people aged 60+ to complete the key flows on a prototype and watch where they get stuck. Most problems usually show up after the first round.