When technology becomes a bridge, not a barrier

Ryman Healthcare had spent decades creating vibrant village communities for New Zealand's seniors. But there was a disconnect. Their residents wanted to stay connected with village life, access information easily, and maintain their independence. The challenge wasn't just building an app \- it was creating technology that 75-year-olds would actually want to use every day.

01 The Challenge

The statistics were confronting. 50% of residents aged 75 and older felt lonely or isolated. 75% found most apps difficult to navigate due to poor design. 70% felt they lacked the skills to use modern technology effectively. Meanwhile, 90% were taking at least one medication daily and needed easy management systems.

To build an intuitive app that encouraged connection and engagement with Ryman village life meant solving a fundamental design challenge: how do you create technology that works for people with vision impairments, arthritis, and varying levels of digital literacy? The interface had to be simple enough for someone who'd never used a smartphone, yet sophisticated enough to handle complex scheduling and medication management.

02 How We Approached It

We didn't start with technology. We started with people.

Our approach involved over 300 hours of interviews, user testing, and co-design sessions. More than 200 independent residents participated in app research, and we conducted 50+ assessments to understand cognitive and physical limitations. We ran over 30 sessions focused specifically on aged user accessibility requirements.

The breakthrough came when we realised this wasn't about making a "simple" app. It was about making an assistive app. We developed what we called "Assistive UI" \- an approach that presented essential information using three modes of communication: pictorial, verbal, and tactile.

03 What Made It Special

We implemented the Braille Institute's award-winning font designed specifically for people with low vision. We increased text and touch areas to help users with vision and physical impairments. Most importantly, we made sure residents could navigate the entire app using voice commands, large touch targets, or audio feedback.

But the real innovation was treating medication management, activity booking, and community connection as equally important features. This wasn't just a calendar app with accessibility features bolted on. It was a comprehensive life management tool designed from the ground up for older adults.

04 The Reality

The results speak to something much bigger than app adoption statistics. We created technology that genuinely improved quality of life.

• 76% of all independent resident households have active accounts, showing widespread acceptance across the community

• 98% of residents use the app weekly, averaging 7.2 sessions each, demonstrating genuine daily value

• 88% customer satisfaction score with a Net Promoter Score of 57

• $6 million in referrals generated in just one month during a trial referral scheme