Researchers in South Korea developed and evaluated WELSH, an age-friendly mobile application linked directly to senior welfare centers, after COVID-19 closures severed older adults from in-person programming and social contact. The application was built through a structured instructional design process (analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation) with usability and acceptability assessed in the target population. The work addresses a modifiable determinant of late-life health: sustained social and institutional connection when physical access is interrupted.
Key Points
- Center closures during COVID-19 isolated older adults from structured support
- WELSH app built via systematic ADDIE design and evaluation process
- Age-friendly interface links users directly to their welfare institution
Longevity Analysis
Social disconnection in older adults carries measurable consequences for cognition, mood regulation, and stress physiology, and prolonged isolation accelerates functional decline. Technology designed around the sensory and cognitive realities of aging — rather than retrofitted from general consumer platforms — removes a practical barrier to participation and preserves the continuity of care relationships that institutions provide. The governing variable is adherence: a well-designed interface only matters if daily use is sustained long enough for the social and behavioral benefits to register.
Original published by SAGE Research on Aging, by Soondool Chung, Ahyoung Lee, Hajin Lee1Department of Social Welfare, 26717Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea2Ewha Institute for Age Integration Research, 26717Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea3Department of Social Welfare, 26727Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea.