MindCo
Modern adult offspring often struggle to maintain emotional bonds with elderly stroke patients due to work commitments, limiting their ability to notice signs of distress. A lack of information, misconceptions about stroke, and insufficient attention to mental health increase the risk of post-stroke depression.
To address this, MindCo offers a comprehensive support system connecting patients, families, and healthcare teams, enabling real-time interaction, medical help, and emotional support to improve recovery and reduce negative emotions.
Stroke Fact
Stroke
Worldwide
More than 12 million people globally are expected to experience their first stroke, with 6.5 million resulting in death.
Currently, over 100 million people are living with stroke, with 60% of cases occurring under 70 and 16% under 50.
Stroke
in China
China faces a significant stroke burden, with high incidence and mortality rates.
Contributing factors include hypertension, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, metabolic disorders, aging, and genetics.
After-Effects of a Stroke
Physical and Mental Impact
Stroke sequelae include physical impairments, cognitive dysfunctions, and more, with patients potentially facing issues such as limb paralysis, muscle weakness, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and so on.
Post-stroke depression (PSD)
39%-52% of stroke survivors experience at least one episode of depression within 5 years post-stroke. Among those with post-stroke depression who lack social support, the mortality rate can be as high as 90%.
The Challenges of PSD Patients
Patients with PSD face more challenges
Compared to typical stroke patients, they face greater challenges in mental health, recovery, social support, and quality of life, which can lead to slower rehabilitation and a decline in overall well-being.
Stages and Treatment of PSD
Progression of PSD
Post-stroke depression (PSD) typically develops within the first week to months after a stroke and can persist for years. About 30%-50% of stroke patients experience depressive symptoms within a year, driven by physical disabilities, lack of social support, and fear of the future. Early signs include low mood, anxiety, and insomnia, which can worsen over time, severely impacting quality of life.
Current PSD treatment strategies
Medication Treatment (Antidepressants)
May cause side effects and interact with stroke medications.
Psychotherapy
Long-term treatment is time-consuming with a shortage of specialists.
Family and Social Support
Communication barriers and lack of professional support.
Stakeholders involved in supporting stroke patients throughout recovery
Stroke patients' key stakeholders include family members, medical team. They play key roles in providing medical care, emotional support, and coordinating rehabilitation efforts.
Stakeholders
After-Effects of a Stroke
Physical and Mental Impact
Stroke sequelae include physical impairments, cognitive dysfunctions, and more, with patients potentially facing issues such as limb paralysis, muscle weakness, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and so on.
Post-stroke depression (PSD)
39%-52% of stroke survivors experience at least one episode of depression within 5 years post-stroke. Among those with post-stroke depression who lack social support, the mortality rate can be as high as 90%.
The Challenges of PSD Patients
Patients with
PSD face greater challenges
Compared to typical stroke patients, they face greater challenges in mental health, recovery, social support, and quality of life, which can lead to slower rehabilitation and a decline in overall well-being.
Stages and Treatment of PSD
Progression of PSD
Post-stroke depression (PSD) typically develops within the first week to months after a stroke and can persist for years. Studies show that approximately 30%-50% of stroke patients will experience depressive symptoms within a year. PSD often arises due to physical disabilities post-stroke, lack of social support, and the patient's fear and helplessness about the future. Early symptoms may include low mood, anxiety, and insomnia, which can worsen over time, leading to severe emotional disturbances and a decline in quality of life.
Current PSD treatment strategies
Medication Treatment (Antidepressants)
Side Effects: Includes nausea, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, dry mouth, and weight gain.
Drug interactions: Antidepressants may interact with stroke medications (such as anticoagulants and antihypertensives), potentially increasing side effects or reducing effectiveness.
Psychotherapy
Duration: Long-term therapy can take up significant time and energy from patients.
Lack of Specialists: There is a shortage of mental health professionals, and not all therapists have experience in treating post-stroke depression.
Family and Social Support
Communication Barriers: Lack of effective coordination and communication.
Lack of Expertise: Uncertainty about how to properly support and care for the patient, and not knowing how to seek help.
Stroke Fact
Stroke Worldwide
More than 12 million people globally are expected to experience their first stroke, with 6.5 million resulting in death. Currently, over 100 million people are living with stroke, with 60% of cases occurring under 70 and 16% under 50.
Stroke in China
China faces a significant stroke burden, with high incidence and mortality rates. Contributing factors include hypertension, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, metabolic disorders, aging, and genetics.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders Involved in Stroke Patient Support
Stroke patients' stakeholders include family members, medical team , therapists, caregivers and more. They play key roles in providing medical care, emotional support, and coordinating rehabilitation efforts.
Insights from medical professionals
Interviews were conducted with 3 neurologists and 1 psychologist
They come from different hospitals, managing patients at various stroke care stages. They recommend specialized rehab clinics for better outcomes and stress the importance of early rehab and strong family support for managing expectations and improving emotional well-being.
Blueprint
Using a Blueprint, I organized interview content to highlight pain points and emotional shifts for stroke patients, families, and doctors. Color-coded avatars represent: younger patients (yellow), older patients (pink), doctors (green), and caregivers (blue).
Blueprint and Pain Points
Pain Points Summary
In the early stages, lack of stroke knowledge and information leads to emotional distress for patients and inadequate support from families. As rehabilitation progresses, misunderstandings and communication barriers persist, with later stages focusing on reintegration into society.
Younger stroke patients
They focus on career recovery and rebuilding their lives, with caregivers typically being parents or partners.
Older patients
Senior patients focus on long-term care, independence, and chronic condition management, with their children often acting as caregivers.
Research & Interviews
Research and interviews focused on the patients
Their negative emotions during rehabilitation
The main sources of negative emotions in stroke patients are functional impairments, denial of reality, and slow recovery.
Family's level of concern
Family members do not care enough about the patient's emotional changes and focus mainly on how to treat the stroke and stroke rehabilitation.
Patient requests
Stroke patients and their families often lack understanding of stroke, leading to treatment delays and incorrect rehabilitation. They seek more care and support, and healthcare teams need to provide additional assistance while enhancing stroke education for early awareness and prevention.
Research and interviews focused on the medical team
Interviews were conducted with 3 neurologists and 1 psychologist
They come from different hospitals and are responsible for patients at various stages of stroke care. They suggest that specialized rehabilitation clinics lead to better outcomes, and emphasize that starting rehab early with strong family support is crucial for managing expectations and improving emotional well-being.
Blueprint and Pain Points
Research and interviews focused on the medical team
Blueprint
Using a Blueprint to organize interview content, I detail the pain points and emotional shifts faced by stroke patients, their families, and doctors at different stages. Yellow avatars represent younger patients, pink avatars represent older patients, green represents doctors, and blue represents caregivers.
There are notable differences in pain points between younger and older patients.
Younger patients worry about recovery and returning to work, leading to emotional breakdowns and needing ongoing support from parents. Older patients, facing more physical challenges, require more care and attention from their children.
Pain points summary
In the early stages, patients and families lack stroke knowledge, with insufficient information as a key pain point. Patients may lose motivation for rehabilitation due to emotional distress, while families, lacking information, often fail to provide proper support or understand the patient's emotions.
Misunderstandings about rehabilitation can worsen the patient’s pessimism. Communication challenges further prevent families from grasping the patient's condition.
In the later stages, focus shifts to reintegration into society.
The pain points of patients and their families vary across different age groups.
Younger stroke patients
Young patients focus on career recovery and rebuilding their lives, with caregivers typically being parents or partners.
Older patients
Senior patients prioritize long-term care, maintaining independence and managing chronic conditions, with caregivers usually being their children.
Target Group
Stroke patients aged 55 and above
In China, the average age of stroke onset is 66 years. Stroke remains a common condition among middle-aged and elderly populations. Given the significant differences in rehabilitation needs and challenges between retired individuals and those still working, as well as their varying family structures, the target demographic is focused on those aged 55 and above.
For elderly patients:
They require more rehabilitation and medical services.
Their ability to access information and learn new skills is limited.
There are fewer products available to them.
They need more assistance from family members.
Final Concept
Joint participation in rehabilitation
The concept centers on collaboration between patients, families, and doctors.
Family members can remotely support elderly patients by accessing health data and tracking progress. Patients log their status, while doctors offer feedback and counseling—ensuring holistic support through connected care.
Workflow
Workflow and Low-Fidelity Interfaces
The workflow showcases different user interfaces and key features. Users can choose to conduct the BEFAST test and follow emergency procedures, or navigate to the Caregiver(family members) or Care recipient(stroke patients) interface as needed.
Brand Design
The design concept centers on family support, collaboration, and social connections, aiming to create a supportive ecosystem for stroke patients and their families. The brand name "MindCo" reflects this vision, with "Co" representing Connect, Cooperate, and Collaborate, encapsulating my brand's core values.
Final Design
<Onboarding Screens and Sign Up>
The onboarding highlights four key features:
Family-patient linking, health tracking, stroke education, and rehab planning—designed for quick navigation and a smooth first-time experience. Registration allows families to instantly link patient accounts.
Personas
Mr. Zhou and his Family
Mr. Zhou's family is in a poor economic situation, which makes him prone to feelings of pessimism and anxiety. Due to symptoms of depression, he often feels low in energy, which affects his rehabilitation progress. When he notices slow progress in his recovery, he frequently feels disappointed, and his family is concerned about increasing his stress.
Mrs. Li and her Family
Mrs. Li represents an older age group. At 68 years old, she experiences emotional instability after her stroke, often losing her temper over minor issues, which affects her relationship with her son. Her rehabilitation progress is slow, and she has lost motivation and interest, developing resistance to rehabilitation exercises and even considering giving up.
Target Group
In China, the average stroke onset age is 66, making it common among those 55 and older.
For elderly patients:
They need more rehabilitation and medical services.
Their ability to access information and learn is limited.
Fewer products are available for them.
They require more family support.
Stroke patients aged 55 and above
Personas
Mr. Zhou, 58, his financial struggles heighten his anxiety and depression, slowing his recovery.
Mrs. Li, 68, faces emotional instability and a lack of motivation, affecting her rehabilitation and family relationships. Both experience slow progress and emotional distress, requiring support and motivation to improve.
Mind Map
Mind Map
To address issues such as insufficient communication during stroke rehabilitation, low patient engagement, and lack of understanding about stroke, potential solutions and sketches have been proposed. These include enhancing real-time communication between doctors, patients, and their families, offering tools to visualize rehabilitation progress and health metrics, and boosting patient motivation and sense of achievement through personalized rehabilitation plans and knowledge sharing.
To address poor communication, low engagement, and limited stroke awareness, proposed solutions include real-time doctor-family-patient interaction, visual rehab tracking, and personalized, educational plans to boost motivation.
Emotional Struggles from Impairments and Slow Recovery
Family Focus on Physical Care Over Emotional Support
Limited Awareness Causes Delays and Poor Outcomes
Research & Interviews
Voices of stroke patients
Final Concept
Joint participation in rehabilitation
The overall concept is based on collaboration between patients, family members, and doctors.
Elderly patients may struggle with digital services and need family assistance. Family members can remotely access patient information, track recovery progress, and provide support.
Patients can record their health status and share data with doctors or family members.
Doctors offer diagnosis, feedback, and psychological counseling to support patient recovery. This three-way collaboration ensures comprehensive care for the patient's physical and mental health.
Workflow
Workflow and Low-Fidelity Interfaces
The workflow showcases different user interfaces and key features. Users can choose to conduct the BEFAST test and follow emergency procedures, or navigate to the Caregiver(family members) or Care recipient(stroke patients) interface as needed.
Brand Design
The design concept integrates the ideas of family support, collaboration, and social support, aiming to create an ecosystem of mutual support and shared growth for the middle-aged and elderly stroke population and their families. I chose "MindCo" as the brand name, where "Co" stands for Connect, Cooperate, and Collaborate, perfectly encapsulating the brand's core concept.
Here are some of the design components. The family interface is purple, while the patient interface is green. The patient side features larger font sizes and spacing. Considering that middle-aged and elderly patients may not be familiar with icons, text labels have been added, such as a "back" button. Compared to the family interface, the patient interface also includes more images.
Final Design - Onboarding Screens and Sign Up
The onboarding screens provide a brief introduction across four pages, showcasing the app's four core features: linking family and patient accounts, tracking health status, learning about stroke, and participating in rehabilitation plans. This helps users quickly get started and smoothly enter the app, enhancing the initial experience and building anticipation.
During registration, family members can directly register and link accounts for patients.
Final Design - Home Page Emotional Interaction
The homepage's standout feature is an interactive mood circle that visually reflects the patient's emotional state. It also allows family members to send supportive emojis and messages, such as "miss you, mom" with a heart emoji, providing real-time emotional support. This fosters a closer connection, offering patients instant encouragement from their loved ones. The feature enhances emotional well-being through simple yet meaningful interactions.
Final Design - Health Page
The health page allows family members to easily track the patient's psychological and physical data, with daily and weekly details and alerts for abnormal readings.
For patients, the interface is simplified for easy use, enabling mood updates that are shared with family members. A quick-contact feature lets patients reach doctors if any issues arise, enhancing both monitoring and support for a more proactive care experience.
Final Design - Community
The explore page provides a rich collection of Q&A posts about stroke, helping family members learn more about the condition. Daily community topics encourage sharing rehabilitation experiences with other families. It also offers quick access to essential features like finding doctors and hospitals.
Final Design - Plan Page
A visualized rehabilitation plan was designed to help patients manage pessimistic emotions and plan their recovery. It includes real-time updates on medication reminders, exercises like gait and balance training, and occasional treatments like acupuncture.
The patient's rehabilitation journey is symbolized by mountain climbing.
Additionally, patients can plan their own activities, such as participating in plant cultivation events at the rehabilitation center. Support for meditation and AI tools is also provided to help patients relieve emotional stress.
<Home Page>
Emotional Interaction
The homepage features an interactive mood circle and lets family members send supportive emojis and messages, like "miss you, mom" with a heart. This real-time emotional support fosters closer connections and boosts patient well-being through simple, meaningful interactions.
<Health Page>
The health page allows family members to easily track the patient's psychological and physical data, with daily and weekly details and alerts for abnormal readings.
For patients, the interface is simplified for easy use, enabling mood updates that are shared with family members. A quick-contact feature lets patients reach doctors if any issues arise, enhancing both monitoring and support for a more proactive care experience.
<Community>
The explore page provides a rich collection of Q&A posts about stroke, helping family members learn more about the condition. Daily community topics encourage sharing rehabilitation experiences with other families. It also offers quick access to essential features like finding doctors and hospitals.
<Plan Page>
A visualized rehabilitation plan was designed to help patients manage emotions and track their progress. Patients can view real-time plans, including medication reminders, rehabilitation exercises like gait and balance training, and treatments such as acupuncture. The patient's rehabilitation journey uses a mountain climbing metaphor to depict the recovery journey. Patients can also schedule activities, like plant cultivation, and use meditation or AI tools to relieve emotional stress.