Wecare: Care for Elderly Mental Well-being at a Distance

The global population is rapidly aging, leading to an increase in the number of elderly individuals requiring care and support. Meanwhile, the birth rates in many countries are declining, which means a relative decrease in the number of young caregivers while the demand increases. The One-Child Policy limited many Chinese families to single-child households from 1980 to 2016, creating a shortage of caregiving for the elderly. The elderly in need of care have fewer children to ‘guard against old age,’ as per a Chinese proverb. Consequently, the One-Child Policy burdened adult children who cared for their aging parents and grandparents. This research addresses common mental illness care concerns impacting elderly individuals in families facing these circumstances and explores ways to support their younger caregivers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the issue of remote care, heightening the sensitivity of the elderly and intensifying their sense of loss due to physical decline with age. As a result, the demand for accessible and barrier-free design has become increasingly critical. To address this complex issue, this research employs participatory and interview methods to investigate the factors contributing to psychological changes in elderly individuals. The scope of the research includes interviews with professionals and adult children as caregivers, conducting autoethnographic research, journaling and observations to gain further insights into the psychological challenges currently faced by the elderly. The project aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the changes experienced by the elderly and clarify the social and cultural factors associated with these changes. The ultimate goal of the research is to support a digital mental health tool designed for distant caregivers who often find themselves under immense pressure while caring for the elderly, addressing the critical need to proactively understand and tackle potential mental well-being issues in elderly individuals. This digital mental health tool is named “Wecare” - it is tailored to address the specific needs and challenges with the aim of enhancing mental well-being, facilitating communication between caregivers and the elderly, providing education to users, and preventing potential mental illness.