Designing Elder-Friendly Medicine Purchasing on Ele.me: Usability Insights and Solutions

Background

China is moving toward a moderately aged society; in 2020, 18.7% of the population was over 60. Many seniors have chronic conditions that require regular medication, but limited mobility, lack of assistance, and unfamiliarity with digital services hinder their ability to purchase medicines online.

Research Objective

The study aimed to identify usability problems older adults encounter when buying medicines through a mainstream food‑delivery app and to derive age‑friendly design guidelines.

Methodology

Eight participants aged 50–70 were recruited from different cities and genders. Each session began with a warm‑up task (ordering food) followed by two medicine‑related tasks: searching for a specific drug and completing a purchase. The test followed a classic usability protocol (pre‑test planning, observation, post‑test analysis). Sample size was based on Landauer’s model, which predicts that eight users uncover nearly 100 % of usability issues (L≈31 %).

Key Findings

Observations clustered into three problem categories:

Visibility issues : Small fonts and low contrast made text illegible; many participants squinted or needed glasses.

Comprehension issues : Icons and labels were ambiguous; users could not locate the search field or understand “add to cart” symbols.

Interaction constraints : Overly dense screens caused hesitation; most participants abandoned the purchase without assistance.

Design Strategies

1. Visual Adaptation

Increase text size to a minimum of 18 dp/pt and provide a scalable option for larger fonts. Ensure touch targets meet platform guidelines ( iOS ≥ 44 × 44 pt, Android ≥ 48 × 48 dp). Apply WCAG 2.0 AA contrast ratios: text/background ≥ 4.5:1, large bold text ≥ 3:1. Verify contrast with tools such as WebAIM’s Color Contrast Checker.

2. What‑You‑See‑Is‑What‑You‑Get

Replace generic terms with action‑oriented verbs (e.g., change “Search” to “Find Medicine”). Pair text with familiar visual metaphors such as real‑world medicine boxes. Align icons directly with their function to reduce cognitive load.

3. Less Is More

Limit each screen to essential modules (e.g., “Find Medicine” and “Discounts”). Hide non‑critical details. Highlight key data—medicine name, price, delivery fee—while omitting secondary information. Use a consistent card‑based layout with ample spacing to lower visual density and improve recognizability.

Conclusion

The usability study demonstrates that older adults face distinct visual, cognitive, and interaction barriers in a standard medicine‑buying flow. Applying the three strategies—visual scaling, clear action cues, and minimalist layout—substantially improves accessibility. The findings provide concrete design guidelines for age‑friendly e‑commerce interfaces.