Overview

This was a concept project centered around Bay Alarm Medical, which provides emergency alert devices for elderly or those at high risk for a medical emergency (i.e. falling). Their wearable emergency buttons work in tandem with operators who send emergency help and notify designated emergency contacts when needed.

Timeline

2 weeks

Team

3 UX Designers

My Role

Lead Research, Project Management, Content Strategy

Tools

Sketch, InVision, Google Forms, Paper & Pen

The Problem

Find a digital solution to better engage users with Bay Alarm Medical.

Bay Alarm Medical’s emergency alert devices and services are being overtaken by other technology on the market. They need to amp up their value to users without completely overhauling their business model. Right now, they For many users, this feels like a costly and awkward way to insure against the absolute worst-case scenario, while failing to resolve so many of the other fears and concerns of elderly care.

The Solution

An iOS app to put information at caregivers fingertips and make Bay Alarm an invaluable support.

We created a mobile app that allows caregivers to receive real-time alerts from Bay Alarm's operators in the case of an emergency. Additionally, it serves as a platform for multiple caregivers to coordinate with each other, and quickly access medical information and history that may be needed for effective medical care. Our solution is designed to help Bay Alarm increase engagement and provide more value for users, without radically changing their business model. Bay Alarm operators liable for more information or drowning them in additional work.

Caregivers as Users

Focusing on caregivers to make the biggest impact.

We determined from our preliminary research that we could make the biggest impact with minimal change to their business model by focusing on family caregivers. They are pivotal in terms of decisions regarding elderly care, so while they were likely to be managing a subscriber’s account and services, they were the least served by Bay Alarm’s model. And while there are apps available to support caretakers, most aren’t doing it well, and they aren’t leveraging the kind of services that Bay Alarm Medical offers.

6

Interviews with Caregivers

20

Survey Respondents

Key Findings

More Information + Easier Communication = Less Anxiety and Distress

There are myriad ways that family can be involved as caregivers. In most cases, they need to communicate with other caregivers and decision-makers when faced with an emergency or healthcare decision. How they communicate and receive information about their loved one is often a form of stress: there aren't consistent updates; phone calls are distressing for those who are on alert for emergencies and bad news; it's difficult to coordinate for various reasons (time zones, being busy with work and family, etc.).

Hypothesis

If we can improve the communication loop between caregivers, patients, and emergency responders, then we can reduce caregiver stress and improve patient care because everyone will have timely access to critical information.