Identifying solutions to meet unmet needs of family caregivers using human-centered design
Issued Date
2022-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
14712318
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85124060232
Pubmed ID
35109822
Journal Title
BMC Geriatrics
Volume
22
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Geriatrics Vol.22 No.1 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Termglinchan V., Daswani S., Duangtaweesub P., Assavapokee T., Milstein A., Schulman K. Identifying solutions to meet unmet needs of family caregivers using human-centered design. BMC Geriatrics Vol.22 No.1 (2022). doi:10.1186/s12877-022-02790-5 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87201
Title
Identifying solutions to meet unmet needs of family caregivers using human-centered design
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Given the rapidly aging society, shrinking workforce, and reducing dependency ratio, there is an increasing challenge for family members to provide care for older adults. While a broad understanding of caregiver burden and its consequences have been studied across various contexts, there is a need to better understand this challenge among family caregivers in Asian societies. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 20 dyads of community-based older adults, who required assistance with at least one activities of daily living, and family caregivers in Thailand participated in the study. We used the first three stages out of five stages of human-centered design: empathize, define, and ideate. Results: On average caregivers were 59.2 years old, with 43% still employed. Of the older adult participants, 10 were interviewed, the others had moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment. Based on the analysis, six caregiver personas (i.e. semi-fictional characters) are identified. Caregiver personas of “The 2-Jober” and “My Life Purpose” has the highest caregiver burden score whereas “The Spouse” has the lowest. Based on the specific needs of the caregiver persona “My Life Purpose”, the team brainstormed more than 80 potential solutions which were classified into three categories of solutions that satisfied the metrics of desirability, feasibility and viability: distributed medical care system, technology-charged care network, and community gathering for rest and recuperation. Conclusions: These solutions are culturally sensitive given that they are built around established behavioral patterns. This is an illustration of a method of innovation that can be applied to bring a culturally specific understanding, and to develop products and services to enable further independent aging.