CareKey
SMART LOCK FOR INCREASED HOME LIFE INDEPENDENCE WITH DEMENTIA PATIENTS.
The role
Product Manager
The Problem
As the lifespan of the global population increases, so too does the number of patients diagnosed with dementia. Individuals with early to moderate stage of dementia are faced with decreased independence while their caretakers, typically relatives or their adult children, have increased responsibility.
How do we help caregivers of individuals with dementia reduce in-home risks to dementia patients, and help patients maintain independence as dementia progresses?
The MVP
My team and I started looking for the answer by conducting a competitive analysis to see what the current solutions were, and to look at how doctors treated early to moderate stage dementia patients.
Solutions were manual and expensive. With the rise of smart homes, we identified an opportunity to create a customized, safety experience that was integrated in the entire home.
Challenges
Understanding the viewpoint of patients with early-to-mid stage dementia, and the risks involved when patients are affected with an episode of confusion. We consulted with a neuroscientist who specialized in the area, and I created storyboards of different users to better empathize.
How can we assess individuals at home with reasonable accuracy and within a short period of time? Our research provided us with a short assessment doctors use in exams with patients, and we adopted it into our product.
Drawing the line between overthinking and assessing potential risks. I asked questions relating to timeline, solvability, and level of risk to categorize between the two.
The Solution
CareKey is a smart home system that adds a layer of protection for residents with dementia in high risk areas of the home, such as the kitchen stove or the front door. By recognizing the resident and issuing a mini cognitive status test, CareKey determines whether or not the resident is in a proper state of mind to gain access to high risk areas.
The Takeaway
Team members had misaligned goals, and this caused a lack of progress in the beginning. After diagnosing the issue, I aligned individual goals with project goals, resulting in more effective and efficient work - we achieved the MVP one month earlier than planned and were able to explore more product features.
There are extensive opportunities for innovation with individuals who have alternative needs and those supporting them, from aiding in transitioning life experiences to increased ease in performing daily tasks.
Planning for a product as part of a whole system can give a product manager foresight into future products. By viewing CareKey as part of a system in the ideation phase of development, the team was able to brainstorm potential applications beyond a door lock for the home. After achieving the MVP, we moved to integrate stove access into the system.