Small Steps

The Small Steps Study is a research initiative led by the University of South Australia (UniSA), aiming to help older Australians reduce their risk of dementia through incremental lifestyle changes. The program focuses on improving physical activity and sleep habits, both of which are linked to cognitive health. Working with elderly participants, UniSA researchers co-developed this intervention to ensure it was both engaging and practical, empowering older adults to make meaningful changes in their daily routines.

One of the standout aspects of this project was its collaborative nature. From the outset, we engaged directly with elderly participants in a series of workshop sessions. These sessions allowed us to incorporate feedback from the people who would be using the platform, ensuring that it was easy to use and met their specific needs. This approach allowed us to design a digital experience that participants found enjoyable and intuitive. Their involvement in the process helped shape the platform, from navigation to the inclusion of fun and personalized features like avatars.

We developed the platform using Vue.js for the front-end, with a headless WordPress back-end to ensure ease of content management and future scalability. The feedback from participants made it clear that they enjoyed a platform that was not only functional but also fun to use. That’s why we incorporated elements like user avatars and scattered illustrations, making the experience more engaging and exciting for the elderly users.

These small touches helped keep participants motivated and connected with the study.

The outcome was a platform that’s both robust and engaging. By combining the ease of a headless WordPress setup with the interactive features of a Vue.js web app, we delivered a tool that’s accessible, fun, and valuable for research. The Small Steps Study has proven effective in supporting behavior changes in older adults, helping them improve their activity levels and sleep habits, all while having fun along the way.

This co-designed platform ensures that elderly participants are not just passive users but are actively engaged in shaping the study and their own health outcomes.