Translating social support practices into online services for family caregivers

ABSTRACT

The aim of our ongoing research project is to design a platform for family caregivers to help them cope with the burden of daily caregiving. With a view to designing relevant information and communication services, we analyzed the social support practices observed among the members of a group of caregivers, whose spouses were suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Based on interviews and a field survey, we characterized this collective and identified the caregivers' latent and expressed needs. Our approach consists in linking these needs to naturally occurring situations in order to translate them into meaningful functionalities.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
        D.2.10 Design**
            Subjects: Methodologies**

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces
          Subjects: Web-based interaction

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
caregivers' community, design, healthcare network, semi-directive interviews, social support, support group