Supporting Informal Dementia Caregivers
Celia Boltansky
Industrial & Interaction Design Thesis Syracuse University Completed May 2020
Supporting Informal Dementia Caregivers
Celia Boltansky celiaboltansky.com cboltansky@gmail.com | 202.288.9348
Contents
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Introduction
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Dedication, about, timeline & thesis question
Dementia & Caregiving
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What is dementia & how do we care for it?
Resources & Barriers
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Current resources and their limited use
Personifying the User
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Primary interviews, survey findings & personas
Insights & Opportunities
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Where are the gaps and what do they look like?
Prototyping & User Testing
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Prototyping, testing & development
Final Design: CareKit
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Mobile application for caregivers
References
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01 Introduction
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Mom, Dad, Isaac, Wolf & Sonya Thank you for the constant love over the past 5 years (and the 18 before). I am beyond lucky to have had you cheering me on, making me laugh, and always excitedly welcoming me home! I love you all very much. The Warehouse Thank you for giving me a place to call home. I am immensely grateful to the professors and to the 5th floor for helping me grow everyday. "Five Years Too Many" I could have never spent 5 years with any other group. Thank you to all 29 of my classmates for sticking though the highs and lows together as an ID family.
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Name: Hometown: Hobby: Favorite food: Best french fry shape:
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Thesis Timeline
August 2019 • September • October • November
Defining the Problem
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Research & Exploration
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January • February • March • April • May 2020
Prototyping & Testing
Designing the Solution
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Thesis Question How might we address the challenges, struggles, and consequences of being an informal dementia caregiver?
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As of September 2019, approximately 50 million people worldwide have dementia. In the next 30 years, this number is estimated to triple by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2019). Dementia is not going anywhere, and neither are the people who provide care to those impacted. It is likely that everyone knows someone who is affected by dementia or another type of memory impairment. With varying degrees of care needed daily, there are individuals who voluntarily spend their time providing this care to their loved ones. With no formal medical or cognitive behavioral training, the majority of this community is providing care on their own time and with no prior experience. These informal caregivers have their own needs and challenges too, as providing care can rapidly become stressful, overwhelming, and draining. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is unlike other types of caregiving. Dementia caregivers not only have to cope with the cognitive decline and behavioral changes of their loved one, but they also have to manage the loss of a relationship as it once was. As the number of people with dementia steadily increases every year, more and more individuals are taking on their loved one’s care. Regardless of why or when someone takes on this role, they put themselves at risk for mental, emotional, and physical challenges as a result of their responsibilities. Fortunately, resources for this community are increasing, but the number of caregivers is rising even faster, along with their needs. Many carers are unaware of what outside help exists, what support is available, and how to access it. Additionally, there is a common belief among caregivers that they are not doing enough or are ineffectively helping their loved one.
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02 Dementia & Caregiving
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It is important to understand what dementia and Alzheimer's are, in order to see the full picture of being a caregiver. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are commonly misused and misunderstood today. By defining these diseases, we are better able to understand what it means to care for someone in this position. The Alzheimer's Association defines dementia on their website by stating: “Dementia is not a single disease; it’s an overall term — like heart disease — that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Disorders grouped under the general term “dementia” are caused by abnormal brain changes. These changes trigger a decline in thinking skills, also known as cognitive abilities, severe enough to impair daily life and independent function. They also affect behavior, feelings and relationships.” (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019)
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“Dementia is not a single disease; it’s an overall term — like heart disease — that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease." (Alzheimer's Association, 2019)
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Alzheimer's accounts for 60-80% of all dementia cases in the U.S. (Alzheimer's Association, 2019)
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Dementia Dementia is an umbrella term that “applies to many disorders and is not the same disease that causes the symptoms.” (Rabins & Mace, 2017) Dementia is a “deterioration of intellect and mental capabilities” that gradually and progressively result in a loss of intellect function and memory, confusion, personality change, impaired judgment and reasoning capabilities, and depression. (Calkins & Arch., 1988) These symptoms can also include memory loss of all kinds, difficulties with planning, keeping track of things such as money or appointments. There are many examples and symptoms that have been linked to different forms of dementia. Dementia is not caused by one thing alone but is the result of a variety of natural causes. Some of these include multiple strokes, heart attacks, thyroid problems, and nutritional deficiencies.
Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes an individual to have problems with their memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms typically develop slowly and worsen over time, usually to the point of interfering with their daily living. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases, and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019) One in every three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, meaning it kills more individuals than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019) On average, an individual with Alzheimer’s disease lives roughly four to eight years after their official diagnosis. However, many people live as long as 20 years after developing symptoms. (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019) With so many people living with this disease, there is an apparent need for care.
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Informal Caregiver "A person who provides some type of unpaid, ongoing assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) to a person with a chronic illness or disability." (Roth, Fredman, & Haley, 2015)
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Caregivers spend 24.45 hours every week caring for their loved one. (Public Policy Institute, 2014)
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What is Informal Caregiving? Informal caregivers are individuals who voluntarily care for their loved one facing illness, disability, or any condition requiring particular attention. (Gérain & Zech, 2019) In 2015, 43.5 million adults in the US “provided unpaid care to an adult or child” during that year. Of those 43.5 million adult caregivers, roughly 34.2 million of them are caring for adults aged 50 and above. (Public Policy Institute, 2014) More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with dementia of all kinds. In 2018, these caregivers provided roughly 18.5 billion hours of care, which was valued at nearly $234 billion. (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019) This unpaid care will continue to be needed for years to come, as more and more individuals age and develop dementia.
Who are Informal Caregivers? It is likely that you, or someone you know, has been a caregiver at some point in their life. While the majority of caregivers are female, 40% of all US caregivers are male, and 85% of these caregivers are providing this unpaid care to a relative. (Public Policy Institute, 2014) Being a caregiver can easily become a full-time role, even though is an unpaid position and often not one people willfully choose. It has been reported that half of all US caregivers answered “no” when asked if they had a choice in being the primary caregiver to their loved one. (Public Policy Institute, 2014) Caregiving is sometimes split between multiple people, while in other instances it’s one person’s full responsibility to care for an individual. On average, caregivers spend 24.45 hours every week caring for their loved one. (Public Policy Institute, 2014) Regardless of how time consuming this role may be, caregivers all share one major goal; to provide support to an individual in need.
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What do Caregivers do? Providing care to someone with dementia requires dedicated time and energy. Most commonly, caregivers spend their time assisting with the daily needs of the individuals. These needs are often referred to as activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). (Llanque et al., 2016) The Alzheimer’s Association defines ADLs as including eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, and going to the toilet. IADLs are important daily living activities such as cooking, shopping, and managing finances. (“Caregiving - Alzheimer’s & Dementia | Alzheimer’s Association,” 2019.) While these daily activities, such as getting out of bed or getting dressed, may seem like simple tasks, they are often extremely physically and emotionally taxing to caregivers. Caring for someone, who may be confused or forget who you are, becomes a difficult task to complete when you have no formal training or education on how to be an effective caregiver.
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The Most Common ADLs
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The reality is being forced to watch a loved one die twice: first in mind and then in body. (Calkins & Arch., 1988)
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Challenges Specific to Dementia Caregiving When it comes to providing care to an individual with dementia, this position is unlike any other type of caretaking. Caregivers of a person with dementia not only have to cope with the cognitive decline and behavioral changes that accompany the progressing condition, but they also have to manage the loss of a relationship with the person as they used to be. (Lloyd, Muers, Patterson, & Marczak, 2019) Caring for someone with a cognitive impairment and behavioral symptoms is more burdensome than caring for someone with a physical disability. (O’Dwyer, Moyle, Zimmer-Gembeck, & De Leo, 2016) This is one of the biggest challenges dementia caregivers face that other caregivers do not. Their reality is being forced to watch a loved one die twice: first in mind and then in body. (Calkins & Arch., 1988) Due to the nature of dementia, these "deaths" happen slowly and progressively. Therefore, dementia caregivers are easily depressive and likely to experience caregiver burden or burnout. (GÊrain & Zech, 2019)
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Emotional Challenges of Caregiving Stress is a feeling everyone has when overwhelmed with impending duties, struggling to balance time, or managing mandatory tasks. Caregiver stress, burnout, and burden are all feelings these individuals have to manage, in addition to the typical everyday stresses.
Caregiver Stress Caregiver stress is “the unequal exchange of assistance among people who stand in close relationship to one another, which results in perceived tension and fatigue on the caregiver.” (Llanque et al., 2016) The ten identifying symptoms of caregiver stress include denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, sleeplessness, irritability, lack of concentration, and health problems. (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019) However, the defining attribute associated with caregiver stress is the unequal distribution of responsibilities the caregiver takes on as a result of providing care to someone with a prolonged impairment. (Llanque et al., 2016)
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Caregiver Burnout Caregiver burnout is “a tridimensional syndrome in response to the stress that the caregiving context may represent.” (Gérain & Zech, 2019) Burnout is often characterized by being physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. It is accompanied by a change in attitude, anxiety, depression, general fatigue, and a negative outlook on caregiving. Some symptoms of burnout include withdrawal from friends and family, irritability, change in sleeping patterns, frequent sickness, and a desire to hurt oneself or the person they're caring for. In addition, some caregivers feel a sense of guilt if they spend time on themselves as opposed to caring for their loved one. (Family Caregiving Alliance, 2019)
Caregiver Burden Caregiver burden can be defined as “the strain or load borne by a person who care for a chronically ill, disabled, or elderly family member.” (Stucki & Mulvey, 2000) There are three dimensions of caregiving burden. These include the effect on the social and personal life of a caregiver, psychological burden, and feelings of guilt. (Wiley Blackwell, 2013) This burden can easily lead to anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Suicide is not an uncommon thought or outcome for dementia caregivers.
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Who's Caring for the Caregiver? Caregivers experience a range of emotions related to their caretaking responsibilities. Bringing light to the challenges caregivers face is important in ensuring more successful outcomes for these individuals and their experiences caring for their loved ones. Caregivers easily neglect their own needs, both emotionally and physically. Ultimately, there is no one looking out for them day to day. Some clinicians will observe the caregiver for signs of burnout or burden, but there are no formal evaluation tools in assessing this. (Garcia-Ptacek et al., 2019) There needs to be more of an emphasis put on addressing the strenuous challenges that come with being a caretaker. “Clarifying the concept of caregiver stress will not only add strength to the current and future research in nursing research, it is needed for the purpose of affecting healthcare policies in order to increase support for caregivers.� (Llanque et al., 2016) Caregiving will only impact more people as our society ages, so it is vital that more research and interest is devoted to addressing the emotional and physical needs of caregivers.
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Next steps: Research what resources currently exist for caregivers to offer them support with their caregiving responsibilities, as well as with their own physical and mental health
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02 Resources & Barriers
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While there are many resources available to caregivers and their families, there are barriers that prevent individuals from accessing these services. There are countless resources available online, locally, and nationally for caregivers. “Caregiver programs provide services and resources to reduce caregiver stress and improve family quality of life and health.� (Alice Lun, 2018) These resources are meant to be used, but finding them, and finding the right one, can be a difficult process. Unfortunately, just identifying a resource does not always guarantee a caregiver qualifies or has access to it. This section breaks down some of the best resources available to caregivers right now, as well the reasons why they are underutilized.
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Available Resources A few of the resources that exist right now for caregivers to access both locally and nationally.
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National Family Caregiver Support Program An excellent organization focused on providing care and resources to caregivers is the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) which was established in 2000. This organization aims to support and empower caregivers of all types by informing individuals of available resources, educating them, and providing grants as needed. These grants go to states to fund various organizations that help informal caregivers care for their loved ones in their home for as long as possible. The five main types of services that a NFCSP grant goes toward “are information to caregivers about available services; assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services; individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training; respite care; and supplemental services on a limited basis.� (Administration for Community Living, 2019)
Rhode Island State Government Education is a vital part of being a knowledgeable and successful caregiver. However, finding the right information and being able to understand what it means and how to use it can be challenging on your own. Organizations will help individuals with expanding their knowledge on how to be the best possible caregiver they can be, but even some states are providing assistance to families. Rhode Island has a "Pocket Manual for Seniors and Adults with Disabilities" available to RI residents. In addition, The Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) provides residents with a "Guide for Caregivers", which offers "tips and resources organized by the age of the patient for whom a person is caring." (Staloff et al., 2018) This can be easily retrieved online, at public libraries, or at any government office and building in Rhode Island. Residents have access to free information that applies directly to their situation and provides them with local services that can help with their caregiving needs.
Family Caregiver Alliance The Family Caregiver Alliance’s website is a hub for caretakers and families to understand and learn about all the different parts of what it means to be a caretaker. Although based in San Francisco, they provide users everywhere with crash courses on caregiving and online caregiver education. This includes explaining what the role entails, specific facts and tip sheets for each part of the process, and how caretakers' responsibilities differ based on who they are taking care of. In addition, the website details the ways in which caregivers can seek outside help through “Caregiver Connect”. Caregiver Connect is “designed to connect caregivers to us, to resources, and most importantly, to each other.” The dedicated web page explores the local and national resources available for caretakers, such as support groups, caregiver stories, and the Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center (CRC). FCA has a variety of social media platforms too, which help with connecting locals, providing daily tips, and inspiring caregivers to take advantage of the resources around them. (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2016)
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The Alzheimer's Association In addition to providing numerous resources for caregivers, the Alzheimer’s Association has an entire web page dedicated to tips on managing stress. These tips include highlighting the importance of consulting a physician on a regular basis when symptoms of stress and burnout begin, as well as a “Community Resource Finder” to locate local resources in an individual's area. In addition, the page details a variety of relaxation techniques and emphasizes the importance of physical activity for at least 10 minutes a day. Often times, putting legal and financial plans in place after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis means the individual themselves can help participate in these plans. It also means that the primary caregiver and their family can have more comfort in knowing that future plans have already been sorted out in advance. This is essential to help alleviate stress before it even occurs. The site provides resources for getting educated on long-term planning and how to be an educated caregiver overall. All of their educational programs help inform individuals so that hopefully when they or someone they know either becomes a caregiver or care receiver, they already have a baseline of knowledge and known terminology. More specifically though, they also hold frequent caregiver programs focused on the various needs of caregivers of those with dementia. Some of these programs include, “Understanding and Responding to Dementia Behaviors”, “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias”, and “Effective Communication Strategies for Caregivers”. (“Alzheimer’s Assoc.,” 2019)
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Barriers to Accessing Support While there are many resources available to caregivers and their families, there are barriers that prevent individuals from accessing these services. Access to many of these resources is based on where an individual resides. In a 2014 study, one in four caregivers reported having difficulty finding affordable services in their loved one’s community that would help with their care. (Public Policy Institute, 2014) Although a number of services are cost free, hiring a formal caregiver comes at a cost many are not able to afford. Due to the expensive reality of having a professional assist with activities of daily living, having a family member be a loved one’s full time caretaker is financially more often than not the only choice. Additionally, because of the nature of the tasks are often intimate and the individual does not want an outside stranger assisting them. (Ducharme, 2018) One of the biggest limitations to accessing care and resources is limited knowledge or education. In a study focused on care among Chinese American Families, a subject shared, “I am curious of what resources are out there…any support groups, group programs, government programs that I can look into…A lot of this we do not know much… resources.” (Alice Lun, 2018) As the study discusses, this response confirmed how some caregivers have not been exposed to what resources are available to US residents.
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1 in 4 caregivers reported having difficulty finding affordable services in their loved one's community. (Public Policy Institute, 2014)
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Next steps: Understand who the user is, what resources they access, and build personas based on their experiences and insights
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03 Personifying the User
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Anyone can be a caregiver. There is no set image, as you can become a caregiver at any point in life under any set of circumstances. This section explores who the caregiver, on an individual basis, really is. Through primary research and person creation, it is evident that caregivers share as many similarities as they do differences. One of the biggest commonalities among this population though, is how they cope with the emotional and physical realities of being a caregiver. These challenges impact everyone, no matter the stage someone is at in their caregiving journey. It is important for caregivers, their family's, and healthcare providers to understand the warning signs of these challenges, as caregivers need to be cared for too.
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Primary Research Interviews Six individuals shared their personal caregiving experiences. Formal caregivers, informal caregivers, and educators were spoken to. (September - November 2019)
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Caregiver Questionnaire Six additional caregivers participated in an online survey about their experiences, backgrounds, and insights on caregiving. (November 2019)
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"It's a marathon, pace yourself, and allow yourself to accept help from others." (Questionnaire Participant, November 2019)
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Questionnaire Findings Insights • Caregivers do not typically choose to be in this role, but are usually the default option or only option • There is a learning curve — how to take care of someone else, yourself, and what support is out there • Everyone finds someone to lean on
Opportunities • Provide sense of community to individuals • Give caregivers an easy outlet to relieve stress, anger, feelings of guilt, and sadness • Reassure caregivers of their value, quality, and need
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Overall Research Insights • Caregivers generally feel overwhelmed, spread thin, and alone • While they know there is outside help, they don’t know how to access it or do not have enough time to form the connections • Resources exist, but there are countless barriers and limitations preventing caregivers from accessing them • Caregivers often feel guilty and disappointed in their perceived quality of care • There is a sense of isolation within this community, despite how large it is • It’s hard for caregivers to want to / find the time to spend caring for themselves
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Personas were created based off the experiences shared in primary interviews and findings from secondary research.
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Personas Common Themes • Users feel overwhelmed, spread thin, and inadequate in their ability to care for their loved one • Caregivers often struggle to balance their work requirements, family, and caregiving responsibilities • Personal needs and self-care are generally pushed to the side
Insights & Differences • Age, location, and distance are vital factors in understanding what a caregiver needs • Every caregiver has different personal needs, as well as caregiving needs • Some caregivers rely entirely on themselves to help their loved on, while others ask other family members or outside resources for help • Caring for a family member vs spouse is a very different experience — One is not more difficult than the other, but they require different types of care and help
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Next steps: Apply the knowledge learned about caregivers and the personas created based off them to additional research and ideation
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04 Insights & Opportunities
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Designing for Personas Priya, John, and Emily are the three caregivers to design for.
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Once the personas were created, it became about understanding how they work, react, and feel in different scenarios, and ultimately learn how to best design for them. While they do not represent every possible caregiver, they do cover the majority of situations caregivers are in based on the primary and secondary research findings. Priya, John, and Emily are here to personify the design process and ensure whatever is being created is truly fit for the person it is ideally being designed for. The situations used in the journey map and service blueprints are based on experiences discussed during interviews with caregivers or found during secondary research. They are intended to help play out the ways in which this service could intervene and provide alternatives for the user in a more tangible or realistic way.
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Journey Map Insights • Some attributes are clearly more beneficial to personas than others — Both in frequency of use and impact while using • The service needs to seamlessly and quietly “intervene”, without disrupting the caregivers daily life in an inconvenient way • There are multiple points throughout the day/process of dealing with their loved one that a caregiver could use additional support and outside resources • Age, location, and distance are vital factors in understanding what the caregiver does/does not need • Design should take into account when the user wants support and when they need support
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The service needs to seamlessly and quietly "intervene" without disrupting the caregivers daily life.
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Service Blueprint for Emily at Work
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Service Blueprint Findings Like most caregivers, Emily is not able to commit 100% of her day to caring for her loved one. She has to balance the demands of her job in addition to the responsibility of being her grandmother's primary caregiver. Ideally, this service would intervene when necessary and when Emily is unable to juggle her caregiving responsibilities and formal job. Emily would receive reassurance when she is at her lowest, while also receiving productive research findings that address her caregiving concerns.
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Next steps: Prototype and test designs that address these insights and accomplish the overall goals, as well as test analogue vs digital solutions
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05 Prototyping & User Testing
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What is at the intersection of education, self-care, and resources? To address caregivers' needs, several rounds of prototyping and testing took place to ensure the best possible solution was designed. The first round of testing was on "The Caregiver Kit", which focused on addressing all apparent needs in one small box. Ultimately, it was found through testing that it would instead be best to center the design around a few select actions. These actions were "Care" and "Connect" and informed the designs moving forward.
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The Caregiver Kit What is it? • Accessible, at home “kit” for caregivers needs • Helps with self-care, daily affirmations, and reassurance • Suspend reality — “magical”, conceptual items to help with larger areas of need
Goals • To relieve/manage stress of caregivers • Help caregivers better understand their worth — Confidence, affirmation, reassurance • Improve and strengthen caregivers knowledge on how to be a caregiver without burnout
Guiding Questions • How can I engage caregivers? • What would make a caregiver want to spend time on themselves? — How do I get a caregiver to care about themselves? • What would improve a caregivers day-to-day stressors and tasks?
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The Caregiver Kit What's inside? 1. “5 Minute Moves” — pick a random card to do a quick physical activity, doesn’t take very much time or additional effort 2. “Resource Finder” — magical magnifying class that helps users easily and readily find services that can help them with their caregiving needs 3. “Self-Care Roll” — directions linked to the dice, directs users which self-care activity they will be doing 4. “Self-Care Dice” — dice used to roll in determining the self-care activity 5. “Daily Journal” — private journal for caregivers to capture and keep track of their daily self-care rolls, troubles they’re having, and feelings overall 6. “Daily Reminders” — mirror with velcro attachment for daily affirmations specifically written for caregivers by the National Institute on Aging
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Caregiver Kit: Inspiration Subscription box services • delivered right to your door • branded to make you feel special, deserving, and excited to open • content is custom picked for you
"Baby Box" in Finland • given by government to all mothers-to-be • includes basic supplies for new baby • option for mothers to opt out for cash instead, 95% take the box over 140€ (Lee, 2013)
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User Testing Findings • Initial misunderstanding as to what the goal of this kit is — to help the caregiver with the person they’re caring for, or for the caregiver themselves? • The “Resource Finder” had the most positive response — users felt this would be the most helpful • Users liked that all of these items could be solved with an app, but instead were designed as tangible products — made the experience feel more special
Insights • “These kits should already be exposed to potential users, not a new concept or something they have to find... For example in a pharmacy or hospital.” • “I like the self-care dice and journal part, because it left self-care up to chance as opposed to the person having to decide what to do on their own.” • “It would be hard to want to follow the dice, you’re gonna do what you want. At 55 you just know what you need.”
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Ideation How might we design for addressing the “care” and “connect” caregivers need? Service, tangible product, partnership with existing company? Analogue, digital, or both? What does it look like to combine all these ideas?
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Is there a way to combine these ideas? the caregiver at home kit resource finder self-care tool
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Mobile App / Service —> a caregiver for the caregiver
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Pocket Caregiver Mobile App What is it? • • • •
Mobile application for caregivers to more easily connect and ask for help Resource finder — find local support and opportunities via map Connect with a community of caregivers Content picked specifically for the user somehow
Goals • To relieve/manage stress of caregivers • Help caregivers better understand their worth — Confidence, affirmation, reassurance • Improve and strengthen caregivers knowledge on how to be a caregiver without burnout
Guiding Questions • Why would someone download this? • What would make a caregiver exit out mid-way through using the app? • How could the app predict/choose content custom to the user?
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Wireframe Sketches
Digital Wireframes
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Wireframe Workflow
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Next steps: Create a style guide to drive the overall design of the app and finalize the UI/UX direction
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06 CareKit
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What is CareKit? CareKit: Tools for the Caregiver, is a mobile application that addresses the daily challenges of a dementia caregiver.
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Caregivers are easily able to access the help and support they need right from their phone. Many caregivers are unable to find the time or energy to spend on themselves. CareKit is designed with their time constraints and personal needs at its’ core. By telling the application how you feel, the user is presented with content specific to their situation and how they feel right now.
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Information Architecture How will the user move through this application and what content does it consist of? What information will the user be confronted with first, second, third? How to set up the structure of this app around the two main actions, caring and connecting?
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UI Workflow Overview
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Workflow Closeup: Log In & Join
Users are prompted to log in once they open the app. If they are new and instead select the "What is CareKit?" option, then users are welcomed to the app with six introduction slides explaining what CareKit is. They are then able to join and enter their information (who they are, who they're caring for, what they hope to learn, etc). After either logging in or joining, users are then asked, "How are you doing?", and they subsequently select all relevant emotions. Once submitted, their home screen will load with content specific to their situation and how they are feeling.
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Workflow Closeup: Connect
In the bottom left of the navigation bar, there is a button with the Alzheimer's Association symbol on it. This is home to the "Connect" page. Users are able to find support groups, local programs, or local events, all held and organized by the Alzheimer's Association. After finding an opportunity that interests them, users are able to learn more about this event by clicking a button. The "Learn More" button links users to the ALZ.org website where they can find out more details and directly register.
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Branding & Style Guide The Alzheimer’s Association® is the leading organization in search of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Many people do not know the resources this organization provides to caregivers. The organization states on their website,
“Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia often involves a team of people. Whether you provide daily caregiving, participate in decision making, or simply care about a person with the disease — we have resources to help” (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
The Alzheimer’s Association has created a brand caregivers trust, recognize, and look to for answers. Therefore, this application would be branded and distributed by the Alzheimer’s Association if it were to exist. With the same goal and brand, CareKit would fit seamlessly into the existing system the Alzheimer’s Association has created, but with complete focus on the caregiver.
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RES OU R
self self connect
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A CARE toolkit
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your mask on first “ Put before assisting others.
Davis Sans Light Davis Sans Regular Davis Sans Medium Davis Sans Bold
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Alzheimer's Association x CareKit ®
CareKit is an extension of the Alzheimer's Association resources, with a focus on providing self-care, as well as easily connecting users with outside support and opportunities. Caregivers can record daily affirmations, read words of reassurance, and listen to quick 3-minute podcasts and guided meditations selected just for them. CareKit gives these individuals the opportunity to learn about local programs, events, and support groups. By finding a sense of community, caregivers are able to seek the outside support and reassurance they need to keep going. The application connects users with immediate access to the Alzheimer’s Associations’ 24/7 helplines, so they are never alone even when they feel otherwise. At times of need, CareKit is right in your pocket with the tools to help you succeed.
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All logos, branding, and information regrading The Alzheimer's Association owned by © 2020 Alzheimer's Association®
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What can CareKit do? • Listen to quick 3-minute podcasts and guided meditations • Track your daily check-ins, view your patterns, and receive helpful tips to address these trends • Learn about local programs, events, and support groups • Easily signup for these Alzheimer's Association programs • Record daily affirmations picked for you, or record your own • Read words of reassurance custom to your situation • View your saved collection of content you want to come back to • Connect instantly with the Alzheimer’s Associations’ 24/7 helplines
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CareKit Prototype Click through the working prototype by scanning the QR code below with your phone's camera:
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Video Walkthrough Watch a 2 minute video showing CareKit in use by scanning the QR code below with your phone's camera:
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07 References
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