Usability Testing by Older Americans of a Prototype Google Map Web Site To Select Nursing Homes

We report a usability study of a prototype Google Maps web site - the "Nursing Home Screener" (NHS) site - intended for locating quality nursing homes. Usability testing was conducted in April of 2008 at a health-related public library computer training class for older adults. A total of ten older adults between 57-83 years of age that had little computer experience participated in the testing. Data from the interviews, surveys, and observation showed that the Google map page was puzzling to the majority of these older adults, who lacked the knowledge and skills to be effective with it. Age-related declines in vision and fine motor skills and the library setting also contributed to these participants\´ difficulties in using the NHS site. Based on the testing findings, we suggest a number of design and training guidelines that may help to facilitate older adults\´ adoption and use of Web map applications.