Catering to our Aging Population: Increasing the Overall Usability of Financial Information through Personalization
Abstract
Older adults are increasing in numbers nationwide at a higher rate than any other age group because of longer life expectancies. As a result, older populations, or those individuals aged 65 and above, have to make increasingly more difficult financial decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine attitudes regarding financial information among a sample of older adults when compared to a younger group. Findings included that older populations prefer to research financial information on their own rather than seek professional help. Thus, technical communicators must begin working closely with the financial and technology sectors to improve usability of financial information, particularly information that’s geared for older populations. Personalization of information, as well as deliberately improved readability and legibility, will have a positive effect on the usability on financial information. Finally, eye tracking should be used as a future research tool to further increase personalization of online financial information.