ROLE

UX Researcher & Designer

TOOLS USED

Figma, Figjam, Adobe Photoshop Beta, Illustrator, Miro, Maze

UX SKILLS

Competitive Analysis, User Interviews, Storyboarding, Usability Testing, Prototype, Project Management, Visual Design

ADVISORS

Marc Hausle, Nick Leake, Kyle Bodt

YEAR

Nov - Dec 2023

Overview

AgeBliss is an app that aims to ensure the older adult community never experience loneliness by promoting enjoyable ways of communicating and meeting people! Not only that, but the project aspires to bridge the gap in elderly care in the near future, fostering a holistic approach that involves not only the elderly themselves but also their families, caregivers and healthcare providers.

This is from my capstone project, which I completed as a final requirement from my masters degree in UX Design at Maryland Institute College of Art.

11%

OF LEBANONS POPULATION
ARE OLDER ADULTS

78/82

78 YEARS - MEN LIFESPAN

82 YEARS - WOMEN LIFESPAN

16

WEEKS WAS THE

PROJECT DURATION

35%

OLDER ADULT INDIVIDUALS

EXPERIENCING LONELINESS

Project Plan Overview

Week 1 - 8

  • Desk Research
  • Defining problem statement
  • Interviews
  • Personas & User flow
  • Wireflows
  • Low & Mid-fidelity Wireframes
  • Defining key features & animations
  • Information architecture

Week 9 - 16

  • Iterating on feedback
  • Usability text script
  • Usability testing
  • Analysis
  • Mid-High fidelity wireframes
  • High fidelity Wireframes
  • Iterate again on more feedback
  • Learnings & next steps in plan

Problem

The fundamental issue at hand is the inadequate love and care provided to older adults, who frequently find themselves taken for granted, isolated, and dependent on family members, caregivers, or nurses to overlook their daily routines, including medication management, watching television, eating, and sleeping.

Justifying the Need

What’s the basic need?

The fundamental issue at hand is the inadequate love and care provided to older adults, who frequently find themselves taken for granted, isolated, and dependent on family members, caregivers, or nurses to overlook their daily routines, including medication management, watching television, eating, and sleeping.

Desired outcome

Families prioritize elderly loved ones’ well-being and happiness. Healthcare institutions aim to improve patient outcomes. Addressing social isolation and emotional needs promotes compassion and inclusivity within.

Desired Benefits & Measurements

Older adult  will have better emotional well-being, leading to a higher quality of life. Families will gain peace of mind knowing their loved ones are receiving better care. Healthcare institutions will see improved patient satisfaction, potentially reducing readmission rates and healthcare costs. The broader community will benefit from increased social cohesion.

Problem Statement

How can we provide support and uplift the well-being of the 35% of older adults in Lebanon who are currently afflicted with loneliness?

As they age, they often find themselves taken for granted, left in isolation, and reliant on their family members, caregivers or nurses to manage their daily routines.

The Context

Demographically

People between the ages of 65 and 95 make up the majority of my userbase. My project's ultimate goal is to deliver aUX/UI interface that proficiently meets the individual requirements yet is very easy to use and understand.

Economically

There are limited retirement benefits and inadequate social support systems which also contribute to seniors' isolation.

Sociocultural & Geographically

Older adults in rural areas face additional challenges due to limited access to community centers and healthcare facilities, worsened by changing family dynamics and individualistic values.

Technology & Politics

Advancements in technology unintentionally worsen the issue as older adults struggle to adapt to the digital world, reducing social interaction. Political instability and lack of government initiatives hinder comprehensive older adults care programs.

Target Audience

Older Adults Individuals

People between the ages of 65 and 95 make up the majority of the userbase. My project's ultimate goal is to deliver an approachable UX/UI interface that proficiently meets the individual requirements yet is very easy to use and understand.

Healthcare Professionals

Professionals in the medical field, such as physicians and nurses, are essential to the elderly's healthcare experience. They play a crucial role in the healthcare industry by advising patients, checking on their health, and overseeing their pharmaceutical regimen. The healthcare providers might benefit from this app by using it to provide the elderly with faster and more personalized care catered to them.

Family Members and Friends

These people are crucial to the elderly's support system. The elderly have many people invested in their care and well-being, including adult children, grandkids, close friends, and caretakers.

The app aims to help this community better communicate and coordinate so everyone feels comfortable while providing better care for their elderly loved ones. By catering to these distinct user segments, the app aspires to bridge the gap in elderly care, fostering a holistic approach that involves not only the elderly themselves but also their families, caregivers and healthcare providers.

User Research & Methods

Research

As main target audience age group is between 65 and 85, conducting surveys wasn’t an option. What I did was interviewed them personally and was able to know more about their life, experiences, and how they feel.

23 Participants - 4 weeks

I collected insights from a diverse group, mainly individuals aged between 50-75, and some older adults aged between 81-94. I focused on the older adult users, their friends or family members, and 2 geriatric Doctors to better understand the correlation with the healthcare industry.

The process took about 4 weeks and it was ongoing. I had interviewed some participants more than twice just to get more insights and feedback as I structured how I initially wanted the App to be.

High-level Insights

Older Adults Individuals

Feelings of isolation and loneliness due to lack of social interactions and support.

Longing for emotional connection.

Fear of becoming a burden on their families and communities around them.

Longing for emotional connection.

Concerns about their physical and mental health and aging in general - they start thinking about their death.

Healthcare Professionals

Users were always worried about effects of loneliness on the physical and mental health of the older adult patients.

Challenges in keeping records/staying connected with their patients to take their medications and stay on track.

Advocating for community-based support systems and programs for the elderly.

Family Members and Friends

Feelings of guilt and responsibility for not being able to provide constant company and support.

Most of my users were so concerned about the impact of loneliness on the mental and physical well-being of their loved ones.

Interested if the app integrates a “Fall detection bracelet” to the older adults that will help track their loved ones if they fall on the ground.

Older adult Persona

May Wahab

Age: 81
Occupation: Stay at home

About

May is a single elderly individual that lives in her household alone with a helper. The building she lives in is the same building her sons with their family live, too. May might not be the healthiest individual, she has an addiction to food and salt in particular. However, she is the most sociable person who can’t stay alone. She is always surrounded with family and friends 90% of her time. When Corona occurred, she was obliged to stay alone and not be in contact with anyone and for this reason she grew 10 years older.

Pain Points

  • Challenges with technology.
  • Lack of social activities and entertainment. She used to gym with her friends before. (Gym = dance class, swim class, laughter and fun)
  • Physical limitations that hinder mobility.

Needs/Wants

  • Daily social interactions and companionship - May can’t stay alone she gets depressed & sick easily.
  • Opportunities for physical and mental stimulations.
  • Better health balance. (Loose weight = better mobility)

Goals

  • To feel connected & valued.
  • To maintain mental health.
  • To have access to photo galleries/videos of their passed, their grand children, friends, etc.

Motivations/Fears

  • Wanting to have continuous meaningful connections and relationships.
  • Some of her friends are dying (age/sick) - worries her and tries not to think about death.

Healthcare Professional Persona

DR. KAMAL

Age: 38
Occupation: Medical Director and Geriatric specialist.

About

Kamal has always been so caring and loving especially with the elderly generation. He is married to Dr. Sanaa and have 2 children. Kamal has and is always in contact with his parents & grandmother making sure their health conditions is stable & on track. He wishes there’s an app to keep them all connected where he could keep track of all medical tests and important data in there. He is currently living in USA but talks to his grandmother on a daily basis to stay up-to-date.

Pain Points

  • Challenges of limited resources by the healthcare system’s constraints.
  • Failing to address loneliness amongst some individuals.
  • Lack of communication with the “older adults”, considering they are stubborn.

Needs/Wants

  • Support to address holistic needs of his patients.
  • Adequate fundings to provide the ultimate care.
  • Various types of trainings and educational resources on geriatric care pending on the area.

Goals

  • Providing quality care & support to the older adults individuals.
  • Prevent social isolation and improve overall wellbeing of the individuals.

Motivations/Fears

  • Feeling satisfied supporting the elderly and seeing positive improvements.
  • Being limited by the healthcare system’s constraints.

Family Member & Friends Persona

SUHAIR BARBOUR

Age: 53
Occupation: Stay at home wife.

About

Suhair is a wife living with 3 of her children in the same building as her mother-in-law. She has breakfast with her almost every single day and loves to spend quality time chilling with her and gossiping. She worries always about her health, always making sure her health condition is stable. Her only constraint is that she needs to scream the words out loud when talking. Suhair wishes there’s a tool so family members will be notified if their loved ones had fallen off or were hurt.

Pain Points

  • Challenge of the balance between caregiving responsibilities and personal life with family.
  • Sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the caring.
  • Feeling guilty/worried to upset my loved ones.

Needs/Wants

  • Assurance that their loved ones are receiving the ultimate quality care and support they deserve.
  • Access to support groups/caregivers support.
  • A tool to stay connected with their loved ones.

Goals

  • Providing quality care & support to the elderly individuals.
  • Prevent social isolation and improve overall wellbeing of the elderly individuals.

Motivations/Fears

  • Make sure their loved ones are feeling happy and in good health condition state.
  • Making sure they take their medications on time.

Key Trends

Older adults individuals

“Want to feel connected & valued.”

Friends &  family members

“Want to feel assured loved ones are getting care.”

Health professionals

“Want my patients less stubborn & careful.”

Older adults individuals

“Want to have access to photos & videos so I enjoy.”

Friends &  family members

“Want to make sure they are taking medicines on time.”

Health professionals

“Want an app to connect with patients & track their health.”

Older adults individuals

“Don’t want to stay alone, I’ll only remember my past.”

Older adults individuals

“Want someone to help me not think of “death”...

Friends &  family members

“I wish I manage a bracelet they wear to know if they fall.”

Friends & family members

“Wish there’s a smart tool tohelp see them on Video.”

Competitive Analysis Matrix

Competitive SWOT Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

Risk Analysis Matrix

Information Diagram

The Prototype

The mobile application prototype that I will be designing for older adults aims to address the user-friendly interface which takes into consideration the specific needs and limitations of older adults, ensuring easy navigation, clear icons, and simple controls. To protect sensitive user information, a secure authentication system is implemented. There are multiple features I aim to include in my prototype that caters to specific points I want to tackle.

By implementing these features, the mobile application prototype aims to significantly reduce feelings of loneliness among older adults in Lebanon, enhancing their overall quality of life.

I will be testing my prototype on every stage with multiple participants to ensure they are understanding and knowing what to do which will determine how successful my prototype is.

User Flows

ONBOARDING

Gather initial data to understand user’s background and identify user preference.

SOCIALIZE (SWIPE TINDER EFFECT)

Identify patterns from user’s ability to use this interaction to socialize.

CHATBOX

Identify insights on how users can chat, call, and un-match with a user.

HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT

Gather insights on how imp. health management is.

PODCAST

Identify key trends of users creating their pod, and interacting with each other.

Usability Testing

No issues were found in the onboarding flow

The results were positive and participants all knew where to click and what to do.

A bit of confusion is found in the socializing flow

The results were somewhat positive and most participants knew where to click however I must iterate the dashboard to guide them better.

A bit of confusion is found in the chat flow

The results were somewhat positive and most participants knew where to click however I will iterate the chat flow to make it easier for users to understand how to un-match.

Design System

Lo-fidelity Prototype

Onboarding Screen
Sign In
Complete profile
Health Dashboard
Health page

Hi-fidelity Prototype

Onboarding Screen
Sign In
Complete profile
Dashboard
Socializing / Swipe

AgeBliss Prototype

The Next Steps

Challenges faced:

  • Interviewing Healthcare professionals.
  • Feasibility of features.
  • It’s not easy understanding my users. (Older adults)

Next Steps:

  • Completing the chat flow till the end.
  • To test again & iterate.
  • To focus on my other flows (Health, Podcast) and also integrate TikTok plug in so users could browse videos.
  • Iterate the swiping feature again.
  • Enhance my animations and entire flow.

Appendix

Ong, Shernis. What Causes Elderly Depression. carecorner.org.sg, 21 Aug. 2023, www.carecorner.org.sg/resource/what-causes-elderly-depression/?gclid=CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaEkidDlTJQfSgNhSXFOOCygz4sQty5q7eIKvCEltq2WiLATCh5azklhoC2tUQAvD_BwE.

Bjerkan, J., Valderaune,  V.,  &  Olsen, R.M.(2021). Patient safety through nursing documentation: Barriers identified by healthcare professionals and students. Frontiers in Computer Science, 3,624555.

Costa Stutzel, M., Filippo, M. P., Sztajnberg, A., da Costa, R. M. E., Brites, A. D. S., da Motta,L. B., & Caldas, C. P. (2019). Multi-part quality evaluation of a customized mobile application   for   monitoring   elderly   patients   with   functional   loss   and   helping caregivers. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 19(1), 1-18.

Hitti, E., Hadid, D., Melki, J., Kaddoura, R., & Alameddine, M. (2021). Mobile device use among emergency department healthcare professionals: prevalence, utilization, andattitudes. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1917.

Khoury, R., & Karam, G. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on mental healthcare of older adults:insights from Lebanon (Middle East). International Psychogeriatrics, 32(10), 1177-1180.

Li, L., & Lee, Y. (2020). Caregiving choice and caregiver-receiver relation: Effects on psychological well-being of family caregivers in Canada. Canadian Journal on Aging/LaRevue Canadienne du Vieillissement, 39(4), 634-646.

Mirvis, P. H., Sales, A. L., & Hackett, E. J. (1991). The implementation and adoption of new technology in organizations: The impact on work, people, and culture. Human ResourceManagement, 30(1), 113-139.

Sakr, S., Ghaddar, A., Sheet, I., Eid, A. H., & Hamam, B. (2021). Knowledge, attitude and practices   related   to   COVID-19   among   young   Lebanese   population. BMC   PublicHealth, 21(1), 1-11.

Strong, J., Varady, C., Chahda, N., Doocy, S., & Burnham, G. (2015). Health status and health needs of older refugees from Syria in Lebanon. Conflict and health, 9, 1-10.