Background: This paper describes the Co-Care-KIT, a reflective toolkit designed to provide insights into the diverse experiences of home-based informal caregivers during the delivery of care to a relative or loved one.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the toolkit, including a custom-designed journal, tools for photography-based experience sampling, and heart rate tracking, which enables caregivers to collect and reflect on their positive and negative daily experiences in situ.Methods: A 2-week field study with informal caregivers (N=7) was conducted to evaluate the Co-Care-KIT and to capture their daily personal emotional experiences. The collected data samples were analyzed and used for collaborative dialogue between theresearcher and caregiver.Results: The results suggest that the toolkit (1) increased caregivers’ awareness of their own well-being through in situ reflection on their experiences; (2) empowered caregivers to share their identities and experiences as a caregiver within their social networks; (3) enabled the capturing of particularly positive experiences; and (4) provided caregivers reassurance with regards to their ownmental health.Conclusion: By enabling capturing and collaborative reflection, the kit helped to gain a new understanding of caregivers’ day-to-day needs and emotional experiences.
Sedentary behavior (SB) is prevalent in workplaces, putting office workers at an increased risk of severe health problems. To help designers and researchers gain a better understanding of office workers’ contextual concerns for physical inactivity (reducing SB and enhancing physical activity (PA)), we have proposed a conceptual framework ACTIVE4. This framework advises designers and researchers to consider four key factors that influence office workers’ physical inactivity: active mind, active behavior, active support, and active environment. We conducted three workshops (N=28 design students) to evaluate the framework. The participants found ACTIVE4 helpful in guiding them towards a more systematic understanding of the environmental influences and office workers’ personal needs for reducing physical inactivity. In future work, we will optimize the ACTIVE4 framework’s learning curve as suggested by participants and conduct an expert study to further discuss design opportunities and requirements for the ACTIVE4-related vitality toolkit.
This toolkit therefore focusses on self-management abilities. That means finding and maintaining effective, positive coping methods in relation to our health. We included many common and frequently discussed topics such as drinking, eating, physical exercise, believing in the future, resilience, preventing loneliness and social participation. Besides some concise background information, we offer you a great diversity of exercises per theme which can help you discuss, assess, change or strengthen your personal state of health. In case you are mentoring or coaching a group of seniors with regards to living a healthy and active life, this toolkit also offers explanations on how to lead a team of peers
