Active Phone App Design Model For Diverse Older Adults\u27 Community Volunteer Engagement

The older adult population will increase by nearly 14% in 2010 and by 2030 by 20% to 24% (Mackenzie, 2021). Unfortunately, programs and services have not aimed at the changing population demographics and their needs which is critical to adjust to remarkable efforts to get hold of the underserved minorities. This is why this is a continued study that is extended its concentration to low-SES aging populations in the Chicago area that needs community-based activities with a target population of Hispanic and African American older adults. Research has stated that the critical roles of economic, physical, and social environments strengthen active, healthy, and engaged lives. According to Erikson (1986), older adulthood is a positive opportunity to balance the changes through social activities and caring for others and increase feelings of generativity. The central aim of this research was to create a bilingual flexible ACTIVE phone app and online resource guide (website) concentrating on low SES Hispanic and African-American older adults who can volunteer virtually/in-person or assist in various community events to increase their feelings of generativeness. The relevant study participants were recruited for the app design planning process: n = five independent-living facilities’ activity service coordinators, n = five independent-living older adults age 60 years and older and n = five community service volunteer coordinators. Recruitment of participants was through social media platforms. Participants were given a consent form virtually via Qualtrics to facilitate the signing process. Voice recording equipment was used to record the virtual interviews of participants. They were interviewed by Google and Zoom meetings. Finally, each research participant was emailed a $10 Amazon gift card. To date, the results obtained from participants’ interviews and previous research have given insightful ideas for what should be integrated into ACTIVE app design. The researcher developed the ACTIVE theoretical app by combining fundamental thematic elements from interviews, such as accessibility, user-friendliness, phone app guidance, and recreational and volunteer opportunities options. These essential elements in creating a theoretical app can facilitate using a phone app for older adults to find activities and volunteer opportunities. The app design theoretical model will be presented