By Linda Kim
According to studies done by SeniorNet, the second most common thing
internet
users over 50 years old do online is to research, especially about
issues
relevant to their age group like health. In light of this, it is imperative
for health-related sites to be useful and accommodating to senior
citizens.
The official U.S. government's site for Medicare information at
www.medicare.gov is appropriately
directed towards their target audience,
Medicare members, who are usually 65 years of age and older. Medicare
members, or those interested in enrolling, can get information about
coverage,
eligibility, plan choices, and different programs available through
Medicare.
The content of the site includes general health information relevant
to any
senior citizen, on Medicare or not, such as cancer, diabetes, and
osteoporosis, with updates and news features. Other health-related
information
like nursing homes, publications, and helpful contact information
are also on
the Medicare website.
In addition to providing plentiful information about seniors' health
and how
to get help, Medicare's website is presented so it is relatively easy
for
older adults to use. The color contrast is good and the text is sufficiently
sized for most senior citizens who may have vision problems. One of
the first
lines visible on the site is a link to "Important Information
to Best View
this Site." There are also alternate versions of the site layout
and language
to better serve the diverse needs of the elderly. No distracting visuals
clutter the layout, and most of the text is sufficiently spaced yet
only needs
a little scrolling to view completely.
The Medicare site is also relatively easy to navigate through. Alternative
ways of viewing the site are at the top of the homepage. Popular and
useful
topics have links on the left or at the top (Frequently Asked Questions,
Help,
Index, etc.). A 1-800 phone number is also presented at the top for
easy
finding in case internet users have additional questions. The links
are
helpfully labeled, although they are all underlined, which may be
difficult
for some visually impaired seniors. Most of the information available
on the
site has a direct link from the homepage. However, there is also a
search
option available if the user cannot find exactly what he is looking
for under
a topic on the homepage.
Seniors can find comprehensive content on the Medicare site about
health and
health-related issues, but there is little or no mode of communication
through
the website with other seniors or Medicare staff. They can send questions
via
email, but these questions will not be answered back. The questions
are used
only to update the FAQ section. Seniors can subscribe to the Medicare
mailing
list, in which they will be sent new information about specific health
topics
via email. There is no basis for community to be built around the
Medicare
website for Medicare members and other seniors or even between seniors
and
Medicare staff.
The Medicare site does a good job providing lots of relevant information
for
senior citizens who are researching health issues or have questions
about
Medicare and other medical resources. The site is even presented and
organized
well for easy use by the elderly. However, the site can greatly enhance
relations with its target audience by opening more forms of communication
through their website, or allowing for more contributions to the content
of
the website by its users. More interaction and feedback between staff
and
internet users would make the Medicare site more than just an updated
pamphlet
on the web.