UX/uI DESIGNThe Family Tree App
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The Family Tree App is designed to support families dealing with Alzheimer's by creating meaningful connections between patients, caregivers, and family members. It provides a platform where users can upload family photos, share cherished memories, and develop personalized care plans that enhance conversations and cognitive engagement. The app aims to improve communication, boost trust, and provide a tool to bridge the gap between clinical care and family involvement.
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Start-up Company. Creating an app
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8 Weeks
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Figma, AI Illustrator, PS Photoshop, Miro
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UX · UI · Research
The brief
CONCEPT
By focusing on personalized care, the app allows users to upload real memories and moments to stimulate conversations with their loved ones affected by Alzheimer's. It promotes stronger relationships between families and caregivers while providing insights into patient care through cognitive exercises and memory-enhancing activities.
BUSINESS GOAL
Use technology to enhance the in-home and caregiver experience, providing a platform that facilitates personalized treatment.
Create a connection between patient and caregiver
Discovery of Problem
Hospitals are often overwhelmed with the time and effort it takes to create personalized treatment plans for Alzheimer's patients. Families, on the other hand, feel helpless as they watch their loved ones’ memories fade. The Family Tree App addresses this by providing a platform that makes personalized care easier to deliver and strengthens family involvement in the treatment process.
Solution:
The app acts as a companion for caregivers and families, offering brain games, personalized photo albums, and an achievement system to track progress and encourage positive interaction. It allows caregivers to build learning programs around real family moments, leading to better communication and improved emotional well-being for patients.
“I always get happy when I look at my family's photos and I'm still holdin' on to somethin.”
Scott Holmes/Patients
“I want to provide the best service I can but it’s difficult to learn about their family and provide the care they need.”
Lina Boylan/Caregiver
I want to trust my caregiver. I wonder if the treatments are really working. I think people can benefit tremendously from really asking why they're doing certain things.
Elizabeth Holmes /Family Member
Target Audience Research
As part of the Family Tree App design process, I researched to understand better the needs of families affected by Alzheimer's. The goal was to uncover insights into how they communicate, what they do to create security for their loved ones, and the challenges they face.
1. How do you best communicate support when discussing Alzheimer’s?
Verbal Communication: 30%
Digital Communication: 60%
Paper Communication: 10%
Insight:
Most respondents prefer digital communication, indicating the need for a platform like the Family Tree App. Families increasingly rely on technology as their primary communication and support.
2. What do you do to create security for your relative?
Daily communication with my caregiver: 60%
External research: 35%
Trust in the process: 5%
Insight:
Frequent communication with caregivers is essential for families to feel secure. The app can strengthen this connection by facilitating real-time updates between families and caregivers, enabling smoother communication and better care coordination.
3. What is the most difficult thing about being a relative of a person with Alzheimer’s?
Loss of connection to memories: 80%
Following doctor’s recommendations: 5%
Lack of information: 15%
Insight:
Families' greatest challenge is losing connection to their loved ones’ memories. The Family Tree App directly addresses this issue by allowing users to upload and share real family photos, helping to rekindle memories and emotional connections.
4. How has your caregiver helped you?
Verbal consultation: 40%
Email documents and important papers: 60%
Paper handouts: 0%
Insight:
Digital tools are the preferred method for receiving important information from caregivers. The app supports this by offering a platform for easily sharing key documents, treatment updates, and personalized care programs.
Through usability testing, it became clear that patients responded best to activities involving real photos of family and friends. These familiar images triggered better emotional and cognitive responses compared to general stock photos. Family members also reported feeling more involved in their loved one’s care, noting higher levels of trust in the doctor’s treatment plan.
The feedback led to several changes that streamlined the user experience, making the app more intuitive and personalized. By connecting family members, caregivers, and patients, the Family Tree App fosters a holistic approach to Alzheimer's care, allowing patients to remain connected to their loved ones in meaningful ways.
Conclusions
