Development Of A Management And Monitoring Mobile Application For Elderly Caregiving In Damoca Nursing Homes

Abstract

Background: The field of elderly caregiving is of utmost importance as the aging population continues to grow. The management and monitoring of elderly individuals in nursing homes present various challenges for caregivers, including tracking medication usage, recording activities, and providing updates to family members. To address these challenges and improve the overall caregiving process, the development of a mobile application specifically designed for elderly caregiving is necessary. Methods: This research project aimed to develop a comprehensive management and monitoring mobile application, titled "Care Connect," for nursing home caregivers. The project involved conducting user interviews at Damoca nursing homes to identify the specific needs and requirements of caregivers. Based on the collected information, a user centric design approach was adopted, and wireframes and user flows were created using Figma. The application was developed using Zalo Mini App Development tools, incorporating both front-end and back-end components. Results: The developed "Care Connect'' application successfully addressed the identified challenges in elderly caregiving. Caregivers were able to login and update resident information, including daily health status, activities, and medication usage. Family members were also provided with dedicated accounts to track and receive updates on their loved ones. Usability testing with nursing home staff yielded positive results, with 75% of users rating the application as easy to use. The application's practicality and effectiveness in addressing real-life caregiving needs were highly appreciated by all users. Conclusion: The "Care Connect" mobile application has successfully addressed the challenges faced in elderly caregiving by providing an efficient and user-friendly platform for managing and monitoring residents in nursing homes. Through its innovative features, such as real-time updates, communication channels, and medication/activity tracking, the application has significantly improved the caregiving process and enhanced the care quality. The positive feedbacks from family members and nursing homes’ staff, along with the high usability ratings, indicate the success and potential impact of the application in the field of elderly nursing. The development of "Care Connect” app highlights the importance of technology in transforming and optimizing caregiving practices, setting the stage for future advancements in this domain.