Nominated by Loughborough University Design school to enter The RSA Student Design Awards
A group project completed by Myself, Oliver Heath, Hal Mills, Haseem Wingfield, and Morgan Faulkner
“How might we improve the lives of older adults and their carers by encouraging and enabling cultures, and higher standards of care?'“
Residents in a care home are not experiencing the pledged standard of care that they deserve, resulting in feelings of isolation and vulnerability. Caregivers find it challenging to grasp the daily needs of the patients. A breakdown in communication ensues, creating an unhealthy disconnect between carer and resident in which both of their needs are negatively impacted on.
Problem
Thorough primary and secondary research was used to analyse and understand the existing challenges faced by both caregivers and residents.
Participants of primary research interviews primarily focused on the miscommunication that happens when the elderly expect a level of support that isn’t always delivered, caused by a poorly managed and overworked workforce. Design development, storyboarding, and experience prototyping focussed on breaking this negative cycle by providing a way to enhance communication efficiency between carer and resident.
Process
Complete Care is a system that is designed to optimize for both carer and resident due to their needs being inextricably linked. This is achieved through an elderly specific device that allows transparency and self-control over their daily lives, and a carer app that facilitates the logistical management of this new care home system.
Proposal
Exploring Problems & Opportunities
The Problem & Research
Research conducted jointly by the group to get to a appropriate solution.
Initial Idea Generation
Conducted by Myself, Oliver Heath & Haseem Wingfield
Product Development
Sketches were conducted mostly by Myself and one by Oliver Heath. Foam model conducted by Haseem Wingfield.
Initially the thinking behind the product was it would be used by both the carer, and the elderly. However as we moved forward we opted for a product that is only used by the elderly and the carer would use an app. Exploring a range of options I came to the decision that a simple pill looking shape which allowed a lanyard to connect to it and hang around the neck was the most suitable. With 4 indented buttons which would ensure simplicity for the elderly that a smart phone simply doesn't provide.
Systems thinking Development
Conducted by Myself
A key area of this project’s success was the system that runs it. I looked at a range of ways of making this system work. Initially, we looked at the carer and the elderly having the same device with slightly different functionality. However, as we moved forward we decided an app for the carer was more suitable and cost-effective as all carers would already have a smart phone. As a result, the elderly device could be as simple as possible to ensure ease of use within the care home. We adopted the number system. The user only ever has the choice of 4 options which are displayed as numbers on the control panel. These would represent different elements depending on where they were in the system and these would be displayed on the screen above.
Systems Thinking
Designed by Myself creating the main basis for the products functionality.
The Complete Care APP
The Complete Care app acts as a logistics, managment, and resident support facilitator behind the scenes. Through it’s communication with the Complete Care device, information about residents and their schedules, requests, entertainment and food choices are stored, managed, and interacted with. Carers are given the support they need within this app to do their job to the highest standard, promoting a modernised culture that prioritises communication and real functional utility. 
Wireframes considered by Myself & Haseem Winfield. The app graphics were created on Figma by Haseem WingfieldThe Product Propoal
Graphics created by Oliver Heath, concept created by the group.
The Final Hero
Final hero page presenting the groups project created by Oliver Heath