Hello Dear – Senior Living App

Hello Dear is a senior-focused mobile application designed to the unique needs of seniors and their caregivers. Our client approached us with the idea of creating an app with a focus on enhancing senior well-being and privacy, as well as prioritizing a user interface to ensure accessibility for all.

Our client realized there was an opportunity in the market for an app that connects seniors with their caregivers or loved ones, and to take preemptive measures based on the senior’s mood. With many caregivers being busy with their own lives, our client saw the need for an app that can help seniors navigate their daily routine. While there are similar apps on the market, they lacked visual appeal due to unattractive design, harsh colours, or were not senior-friendly. Therefore, our client wants an all-in-one-solution that provides all necessary features for senior well-being presented in an accessible interface.

Our team, Hexagon, took our client’s challenge and conducted our own research to gain better insights in the market and to come up with a unique solution. We conducted market and product research to understand our competitors, and user research with older adults in the community to better understand what our primary users’ needs are. A number of themes emerged as a result, but the main recurring theme was the use of mobile devices to communicate with friends and loved ones. This was particularly evident during the pandemic where seniors had to combat isolation and loneliness.

Combining our research with our client’s goal, Hello Dear was formed. We prototyped an app designed to promote senior well-being by enabling caregivers to check in on their mood and offer recommendations. Seniors can communicate their emotional state through the app’s senior-friendly interface, and the app provides recommendations based on their mood. This allows seniors to receive personalized recommendations, tailored to their unique needs at that moment. The app also shares the senior’s mood with the caregiver or family member, providing real-time updates without the need for direct communication. This feature helps caregivers keep track of the senior’s well-being and offer support accordingly. Hello Dear features a “My Circle” or contact list, that is by invitation only. This ensures that only trusted individuals can access the senior’s information, providing an extra layer of security and privacy.

As we developed the app’s features, we began to face the challenge of designing an interface that is user-friendly for our older target users, who may be faced with physical or visual impairments, while also being visually appealing. To achieve this, our team researched studies and accessibility guidelines, and conducted an iterative process of user testing to come up with a simple design accessible for all users and suitable for all levels of technology experience. Hello Dear’s interface features a large text size by default, high contrast on all important elements of the app, and text-to-speech support. All these features are adjustable in the settings of the app to adapt to different user needs. The app also features a simple navigation on the homescreen to reduce information overload, which users can customize by adding or removing features as needed. Interactive components are also sized larger and limited to mostly tap gestures to ensure accessibility for those with physical impairments.

Throughout the development process, we learned a great deal about the unique needs of seniors, accessibility, and the importance of teamwork and communication. When conducting user research, this project has taught us the importance of tailoring our interviews and questions to our target audience, and we gained a deeper understanding of how an often-overlooked demographic struggles with technology. We also found that regular check-ins and updates were essential to keeping everyone on track. By working collaboratively, we were able to address issues as they arose and were able to overcome obstacles and deliver a high-quality product. We believe that the skills and experience we gained throughout the project will serve us well and we look forward to applying them in future projects.

Hello Dear is a mobile application that addresses the unique needs of seniors in both features and its interface. With its accessible-focused interface, personalized recommendations based on the user’s mood, and building stronger communication between seniors and their loved ones, the app provides seniors with the care and attention they deserve while providing caregivers with the peace of mind they need. We are proud to have worked on such an important project, and we hope that Hello Dear will make a positive impact on the lives of seniors and their caregivers.

You are welcomed to view a prototype of Hello Dear here: https://figma.fun/GgkHGC