ElderCare
Eldercare presents a solution for medication reminders among seniors. By combining traditional organization tools with modern technology, I offer a simple, effective solution for caregivers to support elderly individuals in their daily medication routines. Informed by thorough research, including contextual inquiries and user feedback, every design decision is meticulously crafted.
Duration
2 months
Year
2024
Tools used
Figma
FigJam
Role:
Responsibilities:
User Research
App Design
Prototyping
The Problem
" How do we ensure the elderly adhere to their medication schedule? "
Overall Process
Contextual Inquiry
Empathy Mapping
Competitor Analysis
User Requirement Prioritisation
User flows
Wireframes
High-fidelity Design
Prototype
Cognitive Walkthrough
Iterations
Research and Analysis
The project was started by creating a research plan to understand the challenges and needs of the users using various research methods. The designed solution was informed using the research data. The user research methods that were implemented and their deliverables are stated below. Ethical considerations were in place for data collection and synthesis due to including sensitive age groups.
Contextual Inquiry
I conducted in-home observations and interviews with 5 groups of elderly participants and their caregivers. Some interesting patterns were observed for medication administration and digital technology usage.
Patterns observed with medication administration:
Memory decline leads to missed medications, particularly among those aged 65+.
Participants aged 61 to 65 demonstrated low to no issues administering medications independently unless they had an underlying condition related to memory.
Forgetting the day of the week was another issue with participants aged 75+.
Using medication organizer boxes was common among participants. This helped them arrange the week's supply of medicines for the elderly. It made it easier for seniors with weak eyesight or motor skills to take their medication without struggling to read prescriptions.
Heavy reliance on caregivers for medication reminders.
Patterns observed with digital technology usage:
All participants, including the elderly and their caregivers, used a smartphone.
The caregivers called their care receiver at least once to check whether they had taken their medication.
Heavy reliance on caregivers for technical help.
Preference for using apps in their local language.
Unfamiliarity with checking notifications and their purpose.
Participants had their most frequently used apps on the home screen.
Empathy Mapping
Competitor Analysis
A competitor analysis was conducted to understand existing medication reminder apps and identify opportunities for the UX of Eldercare.
Unique value propositions
Simplified interface with large buttons and high-contrast colours.
Ensure easy navigation and clear notifications.
Real-time caregiver notifications.
Extensive local language support.
Ideation
User Requirement Prioritisation
User flow
Design
Wireframes
High-fidelity Designs
Accessible OTP-based Authentication
To simplify the login process for elderly users, who may struggle with remembering complex passwords due to cognitive decline, an OTP-based verification is kept in place using their mobile number. This ensures quick and secure access without the need for email or passwords. The mobile number also serves as an alternate way to connect with their caregiver.
Language Selection for User-Friendly Experience
To support elderly users who may struggle with English, our app allows them to select their preferred local language. This feature makes the app more accessible and user-friendly, ensuring they can navigate and use the app with ease and confidence.
Easy QR-based Linking with Caregiver
To make connecting with caregivers straightforward, elderly users receive a QR code during account creation, which can be scanned by the caregiver's app. Alternatively, users can connect by entering each other's registered mobile numbers. This ensures a simple and efficient setup, accommodating elderly users who may have difficulty scanning QR codes due to shaky hands.
Simple and Minimalist Design for User-Friendly Navigation
The app's interface is designed with simplicity in mind to help elderly users avoid getting lost in complex screens. It features large text, clear instructions, and minimal visuals, focusing on essential functions like date and time reminders and medication confirmation. Key elements are highlighted to guide the user's eyes, making navigation easy and intuitive.
Visual and Auditory Cues in the form of widgets and notifications
Widgets are highly beneficial as they reside on the home screen, which elderly users frequently view compared to browsing their phones. Given that elderly individuals may not consistently check notifications, the widget offers a reliable visual cue. Furthermore, integrating persistent notifications with audio cues ensures dual reminders for medication adherence.
Error-Free, Accurate Logging & Timely Notifications for Elderly Care
If doses are missed, caregivers are notified for prompt intervention. This feature reduces errors for elderly users who may struggle with app usage, maintaining simplicity while providing essential functionalities. It empowers caregivers to support medication adherence effectively. Caregivers can accurately log elderly medications and set timeframes for each dose, triggering notifications (audio and visual) to ensure timely consumption.
Medication Tracking Calendar
Caregivers can view a calendar in the app that details daily medication consumption and missed doses, including timestamps for each update by the elderly. This feature enables caregivers to provide accurate reports to doctors about missed doses, identifying any patterns or specific times when medications are forgotten.
Usability Test
A cognitive walkthrough was implemented using a prototype created in Figma to test the design's usability. The iterations and their rationale are addressed in this section.
The results of the usability test highlighted specific areas in the design that needed improvements for accessibility and copywriting. Notably, both elderly individuals and caregivers were able to effortlessly navigate the system and carry out essential tasks, such as modifying reminders, selecting language and the user type, confirming medication intake, and adding elderly/caregivers, etc. Furthermore, incorporating features found in competitors' caregiver interfaces could significantly enhance the product's competitiveness in the market.