User-friendly technology to help family carers cope.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• The growing elderly population necessitates innovative solutions to support independent living and quality of life.
• Modern technology offers opportunities to enhance communication and access to health information for older adults and their family caregivers.
• Family caregivers require accessible information, advice, and psychological support to manage caregiving roles effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usability of a multimedia software application designed for family caregivers of the elderly or disabled.
• To assess the application's potential to improve caregiver coping capacity through information, advice, and psychological support.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage usability evaluation was conducted, involving user trials and questionnaires for refinement and appraisal.
• The software included an information package on psychological health and coping strategies.
• A carer self-assessment instrument was integrated to help evaluate coping levels.

Main Results:

• The majority of users found the multimedia software usable and informative.
• Specific areas for navigation improvement were identified.
• The self-assessment tool provided valuable insights for caregivers.

Conclusions:

• The multimedia software application demonstrates potential for supporting family caregivers of the elderly and disabled.
• Further refinement of the software's navigation is recommended to maximize its utility.
• The application can serve as a valuable resource for home-based caregiving.