Adaptation of Packaging for the Elderly Population: Challenges and Opportunities of Inclusive Design

European society is facing demographic changes that require the adaptation of products and services for the elderly population. Many people, especially individuals with sensory impairments, are unable to participate equally in important social activities and aspects of society, as environments, products, and services are often not designed to meet their needs. European societies have a duty to adequately address the specific requirements of the growing number of individuals with impairments and the increasing elderly population. As part of the research conducted within the project "Improvement of Packaging Products by Application of Eco-Friendly Materials and Inclusive Design" the study analyzed how packaging design impacts the experience of users with sensory impairments, primarily visual impairments - a limitation widely present in the elderly population. The data collection method was a telephone survey, using a questionnaire as the research instrument. The questionnaire included closed-ended, open-ended, and scale-based questions, incorporating sociodemographic indicators (independent variables) and other questions (dependent variables) aligned with the research objectives and purpose. The results show that 40% of respondents believe that packaging is not sufficiently adapted for elderly individuals and people with disabilities, while 57% of respondents have never heard of products with improved packaging for individuals with visual impairments. This study identifies the most usual challenges that individuals with visual impairments face when using packaging. Based on the data analysis, guidelines have been proposed to enhance visual recognition and accessibility of information on packaging, with the goal of improving the quality of life for elderly individuals.