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Service Design to Assist Caregivers of Adults With Learning Disabilities

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Research project(7.94 MB)

Date

2021

Authors

Supervisor

Hunting, Amabel
Xu, Yingzi

Item type

Research Project

Degree name

Master of Design

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

This project investigated a design solution to assist the caregivers of adults with learning disabilities (McRae et al.) in Thailand. The problems associated with LDs are increasing annually. The bulk of primary caregivers are individual family members who provide caregiving services without sufficient support from healthcare organisations. The challenge to Thai caregivers is to maintain their career while concurrently providing care to people with LDs. In some instances, they are pressured into quitting their jobs to care for family members with LDs. This research project employed a design thinking methodology, which is a qualitative approach. Based on trial-and-error attempts and proactive practical experience using the design thinking process, this research established that design outcomes must rapidly meet user needs through the product development cycle of prototype and testing. The results of this research offer a service design solution that can be used to provide support groups for caregivers. The design applies a token system (time-based currency) as a medium for group members with which to either provide or acquire caregiving advice and support they support others in the same position by providing caregiving services on rotational basic. These services also provide a venue for caregivers through which they can stay connected while also serving as a learning environment.

Description

Keywords

Service design, Design thinking, Learning disability, Autism, Caregiver, Thai culture, Application design, User-interface, User-experience

Source

DOI

Publisher's version

Rights statement

Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/10292/13914

Collections

Masters Research Projects