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A System That Assists Family Caregivers of Elderly With Dementia
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Why family caregivers of the dementia?
According to WHO, the population of dementia in Taiwan is estimated to be 260,000 and will be doubled by 2030. Usually, members of the family are pushed to take the caring responsibility. However, due to the lack of supporting systems in our community, these family caregivers usually confront with huge pressure both mentally and physically.
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Key user research findings
1. Communication barriers on actual needs and reasons behind emotions:
Elderly with dementia gradually lose the cognitive ability for communication. It has been difficult for caregivers to understand the mood and physical needs of elderly.
2. Constant caring pressure:
Family caregivers undertake huge pressure from the 24-hour and non-stop caring from day to day to know the elderly’s body and safety condition. It’s hard for them to find enough time to relax and to have their own leisure activities in their own time.
3. Gaining strength on exercising and doing what the elderly like:
Our interviewees would do exercise with the elderly to slow down the deterioration. Also, music favored by the elderly are often used as stimuli of simple interaction. These harmonious moments provide the elderly with pleasures and spiritual support for the caregivers.
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“i-Care”, including a Central Panel, i-Wear, and i-Guard, is a smart healthcare solution for emotion, physical, and safety monitoring. With the help of i-Care, caregivers can better understand the dementia elderly’s instant needs during care, and keep track of the elderly when they are not aside. Which, therefore, reduce pressure of family caregivers both physically and mentally.
The solution: i-CARE
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Key finding 1 : Communication barriers on actual needs and reasons behind emotions
Although the elderly lose the ability to express their actual needs and reasons behind emotions, caregivers can still check the central panel to understand the elderly’s real-time physiological measurements, emotion, and safety from i-Wear to overcome the communication barriers.
Key finding 2 : Constant caring pressure
Caregivers can install i-Guard at any position including front door lock and gas knob.
i-Guard detects i-Wear and automatically locks to prevent danger.
Provide caregivers the ability to control elderly's safety immediately when they are out-of-sight and reduce the constant caring pressure.
Key finding 3 : Gaining strength on exercising and doing what the elderly like
Caregivers can set the i-Wear to play music corresponding to the elderly’s body movements and gain spiritual support in these harmonious moments.
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Video
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Poster
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Scenario
