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Writer's pictureAdelina Jembere

Webinar recap: writing with older adults in mind

Updated: Sep 24

This Clear Language Lab webinar took place on January 11, 2024 as part of the Plain Language Foundations series. Check out the notes below or access the webinar recording and slides.


Understanding our audience

  • Older adults refers to a cohort of people experiencing similar life stages, such as retirement, health changes, changes to their support network, and navigating a fixed-income.

  • As people age, it’s normal to experience changes in hearing, vision, and mobility. Many older adults also experience changes in memory, information processing speed, and difficulty concentrating.

  • Using a universal design approach is one way to help reduce stigma around aging.



Writing for older adults

Communicate clearly

  • Put your main idea and purpose at the beginning

  • Use the language your audience prefers

  • Avoid jargon or technical language

  • Have clear, easy to follow action steps

  • Stick to one topic per paragraph

  • Make it easy to ask questions and get support (but don’t assume people need help)


Design for accessibility 

  • Use easy to read fonts

  • Size 14 font minimum

  • Have strong contrast

  • Text & Background

  • Headings & Body text

  • Leave plenty of space to white space

  • Use helpful visuals


Think about processes early and often

  • How are people going to get to this information?

  • What skills do they need to access and use this information? 

  • How often will this information change? Is there a system for updating it?

  • How can you use multiple mediums to share this information and give your audience choices for engagement? 


In-person considerations

  • Provide good lighting and clear signage

  • Allow for additional processing time

  • Reduce distractions and background noise 



Resources

General plain language


Writing for older adults


Accessibility



Interested in learning more about professional development at Clear Language Lab? Check out other past webinars, find upcoming events on our training page, or contact Sarah Glazer, Sr. Program Manager, at sarah@litworks.org to learn more about our offerings.


© 2024 Literacy Works


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