THE PROBLEM Grandma has mild demential, lives alone, has trouble remembering appointments and following complex instructions. Her daughter tries to help out, but it's important for grandma to maintain her independence. The frustration is putting a strain on their relationship. Digital memory aids exist, but it’s difficult for grandma to learn a new technology.
THE SOLUTION So we built CareBook, a web platform that sends SMS, talking calendar reminders, and video messages straight to grandma’s TV! Her daughter can text a status update, update the calendar with a task, and upload a background feed of messages, music, and family videos. Instant notifications turns the TV on, and the text is automatically read out loud. Future functionality includes importing directly from Dropbox and Google Calendar. Everything else is built.
THE BENEFITS CareBook empowers patients by helping be independent and connected to their social circles. It can reduce anxiety and apathy associated with their memory deficits. For caregivers, CareBook reduces burden by reducing tension within the caregiving relationship.
Our solution has the lowest barrier to adoption. It doesn’t require users to change their behaviour to learn a new technology. Texting and TV skills are likely to be maintained into the moderate phases of dementia.
As the disease progresses, CareBook adapts beautifully to long-term care environment, where 75% of patients have TVs. Care messages from loved ones, music and videos can reduce isolation and alleviate behavioural symptoms. Calendar updates from staff will promote engagement with their long-term care community and activities, ultimately improving quality of life.
CONCLUSION Our philosophy is simple: seniors will not flock to technology. We’re bring technology to their homes, to devices they already use. CareBook is designed with their limitations in mind, and modular to adapt to changing needs. To see CareBook in action, text a reminder to 647-496-4502.
Built With
- chromecast
- ruby-on-rails
- twilio
- web
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