Glossary

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Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs(also: Maslow's Hierarchy, Hierarchy of Needs)

A motivational theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow that organises human needs into a hierarchical pyramid, from basic physiological needs at the base through safety, social belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation at the top. The theory proposes that lower-level…

Medication Management(also: Medication Adherence, Medication Compliance)

The process of overseeing and managing the medications prescribed to an individual, including remembering to take medications at the correct times, in the correct doses, and tracking what has been taken. Medication management is a significant challenge for older adults and…

Memory Impairment(also: Memory Loss, Memory Deficit)

A reduction in the ability to encode, store, or retrieve information, ranging from mild forgetfulness associated with normal ageing to severe deficits caused by conditions such as dementia or traumatic brain injury. Memory impairment affects digital accessibility in multiple…

Mini-Mental State Examination(also: MMSE, Mini-Mental State Exam, Folstein Test)

A widely used brief screening tool for cognitive impairment, originally developed in 1975. The MMSE assesses orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills through a series of questions and tasks, yielding a score out of 30. Scores below 24 typically indicate…

Multi-Layered Interface(also: ML Interface, Layered Interface, Training Wheels Interface)

An interface design approach where novice users start with a reduced-functionality layer containing only basic features, then progress to more complex layers as they become comfortable. This technique reduces cognitive load during initial learning by limiting the number of…

Multimorbidity(also: Multiple Long-term Conditions, Co-occurring Conditions)

Multimorbidity is the presence of two or more chronic health conditions or long-term impairments in a single individual. It is especially prevalent among older adults and is a major factor in the complexity of accessibility needs. Research shows that multimorbidity is the norm…

Multisensory Integration

The neural and perceptual process by which the brain combines information from different sensory modalities — sight, hearing, touch, proprioception — into a unified percept. Integration relies on temporal and spatial binding windows that widen with age: older adults tolerate…

Multisensory Stimulation(also: MSS)

A therapeutic and design approach that intentionally coordinates multiple sensory modalities — visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and kinetic — to support affective well-being, cognitive engagement, and behavioral regulation. MSS has a long clinical history in dementia care…

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