As part of the research, older people were shown town scenes and pedestrian routes and gave feedback on signposting, ease of navigation and general impressions. Their heart rates were measured to monitor stress levels. Participants were also taken to a town centre to walk through the same routes in person.Initial findings show:
- Signs are of limited use even in unfamiliar new areas - they were often positioned incorrectly or too high, and without indicating the distance to the destination;
- Designing outdoor spaces that are more easily navigable and walkable are important in making the environment less stressful and anxiety-inducing;
- Buildings and landmarks are particularly important as navigational aids, especially churches.
Sounds like they need a Universal Design viewpoint.