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ACIDO Rocket Finalist
Pal: A smart home system that supports informal caregivers caring for loved ones with dementia.
Currently, the healthcare system lacks a focus on informal caregivers and doesn’t support their needs.
Pal is a system that supports informal caregivers of loved ones with dementia by keeping them informed about what their loved one is doing, without always needing to be present in the home.
The system has two components: in-home sensors and a data visualization platform. Sensors monitor the person with dementia by collecting information about irregular behaviors and position. The visualization platform presents data to the caregiver, so they can understand what is happening at home. Notifications from the system inform the caregiver if irregular behaviors persist, so they can take action.
Pal provides visual and auditory reminders to the person with dementia, to help them maintain a healthy, independent lifestyle. Overall, Pal increases the caregiver’s confidence that their loved one is safe and reduces the caregiving burden because they can attend to other tasks.
Pal: A smart home system that supports informal caregivers caring for loved ones with dementia.
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About the Designer
Allison Kachala, Carleton University
Allison is a human-centered designer from Carleton University who strives for positive impact through design. She’s a problem-solver who values multi-disciplinary and systems thinking approaches for tackling complex problems to develop products that fit seamlessly into users’ lives and improve their experiences.