Unpaid family caregivers balance a lot.
Many experience emotional burnout, financial strain, and a lack of resources.
Cura is a mobile app that eases users into the responsibility of caregiving, by having easily accessible information on the patient’s condition.
EMPATHIZE
Caregivers face daily stresses with limited resources to support their routines, often struggling to stay organized amid emotional and logistical challenges.
We aimed to create a centralized, user-friendly, and intuitive solution to help them manage care more efficiently.
jump to final design
In a 2023 report, individuals in the U.S. provide over $1 trillion worth of unpaid caregiving annually in the U.S (National Partnership for Women & Families).
Our Research Approach
What are the biggest challenges that informal caregivers face when managing day-to-day responsibilities?
We used three key sources to understand caregiver pain points:
Online Videos
Watched “day in the life” content to understand caregiving routines and stressors
Health App Reviews
Evaluated MyChart for UX issues based on our own use and public feedback
Mentor Feedback
Judges and mentors shared perspectives on user needs and design direction
We found these insights...
Caregiving is physically and emotionally overwhelming
“I barely have time to eat between meds, appointments, and paperwork.”
Many caregivers are untrained and feel alone
“No one tells you how to be a caregiver. You just do it.”
Interfaces are cluttered and medical jargon is confusing
“I just want to see my mom’s prescriptions, not scroll through five tabs.”
Focus on caregiver mental health & community
“Most apps center patients. What if you centered the caregiver?”
Emphasis on centralization and ease of use
“A clean dashboard and calm design would make a huge difference.”
DEFINE
Caregiving responsibilities are difficult, stressful, and chaotic. Caregivers are often untrained, isolated, and unsupported.
Existing tools are patient-centric and hard to navigate. Caregivers need something intuitive, centralized, and built for them.
IDEATE
We got inspired by...
MyChart, but fixing its cluttered interface
Baymax from Big Hero 6 – a soft, warm personality
Our own stress using healthcare platforms
DESIGN
Low-Fidelity Concepts
We explored simplified dashboards, onboarding flows, and customizable care plans.
Sketches included:
Emergency checklists
Medication schedule
Daily caregiving journal
“Cura Community” support forum
Welcome!
Login
Sign up
Input caregiver information
Experience/Background
Birthdate
Connection to Patient
Last Name
First Name
Continue
Birthdate
Last Name
Input patient information
First Name
Medications
Conditions
Import MyChart
Clinic
Medical Provider
Primary Care Provider
Address
Phone Number
Continue
Good Morning, Joe
Overview
Today’s schedule
Medication
reminders
Assistance
Call
Medication
Diet Plan
Activities/exercise
Title????
Test results
summary visit
Activities
Highlights
Daily Activity
Get More From CareBear
Hydration
Afternoon Nap
Try light stretching
Breathing Exercises
Test Results
Updates
New test results came through
Get a test now
Contact hospital nearby
Blood sugar level results are now added to the list
Cardiogram aVL
Watch
Watch
Summary Visit
Updates
Appointment Recap
See notes from the most recent visit with doctors or specialists
See notes
See notes
See notes
Dr. Dev Patel
Dr. Dev Patel
Dr. Dev Patel
Cardiologist
Cardiologist
Cardiologist
20 Dec 2024
20 Dec 2024
20 Dec 2024
January
12pm
1 pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
+
Call
January
12pm
1 pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
Medical Visit
Medication Visit
Medication Reminder
Medical Visit
Sat, Jan 25, 2025
Sat, Jan 25, 2025
11:30 AM
1:00 PM
save
Appointment Location
Appt/Available Times:
Primary Doctor/Care Provider
Concerns? Questions?
What are you coming in for?
Create a new medication reminder
Choose which medication you’re logging
Time to take it
Sat, Jan 25, 2025
Sat, Jan 25, 2025
11:30 AM
1:00 PM
Does not repeat
save
+ Add new
Acetaminophen 500 mg
Messages
New Message
Name
Messages
Here’s what you’re taking
Here’s what you’re taking
Medications
Sertraline 100 mg
learn more
Acetaminophen 100 mg
Request refill
Remove
Take 1 tablet (100 mg) by mouth daily.
Additional Information
Diet
Here’s what you’re eating
Monday Meal Plan
Recommended Foods
Breakfast:
Snacks/Leftovers:
Lunch:
Dinner:
Not Feeling Hungry?
Be alert for danger/emergencies
How to avoid/prepare: read more...
Here’s some possible causes:
How you can help:
Foods to Avoid
Baymax chatbox
Community outreach
Resources
Baymax chatbox
Resources
Ca
Community outreach
Account settings
Patient Information
Caregiver Information
Iterations
Based on feedback, we...
Streamlined navigation with bottom tabs
Added onboarding walkthrough for first-time users
Simplified terminology (e.g., "Care Plan" vs "Medical Routine")
Added emergency shortcut button on home screen
ITERATION
🧪 User Testing
Though we had limited time, we validated our ideas with:
tester
key insights
hackathon mentors
Loved community focus, suggested better onboarding
judges
Encouraged simplification of terminology and stronger hierarchy
peers
Noted appreciation for the soothing interface and mental health inclusion
FINAL DESIGN
Introducing, Cura
My Care Plan
Visual, editable plans for daily caregiving tasks
Good morning, Joe!
Breath the fresh air and review your schedule on Saturday
Today’s Schedule
Morning Walk
9:15 - 9:45
Medical Appointment
10:00 - 10:50
Medication Reminders
Take 1 tablet (40 mg) by mouth daily.
Simvastatin
Medication, Dosage
11:30
Log Symptoms
Log Symptoms
Monday
Breakfast
Hard-boiled egg, toast, sausage
Lunch
BLT sandwich, chicken Caesar salad
Dinner
Roast chicken, blanched vegetables, mashed potatoes
Snack
Orange, low-sodium chips
9:41
Daily Medications
9:41
Medications
Simvastatin
Acetaminophen
40 mg
500 mg
1 tablet max
2 tablet max
Additional information
Additional information
Request refill
Request refill
Remove medications
Remove medications
Daily Meal Plan
Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
Breakfast
Hard-boiled egg, toast, sausage
Lunch
[Placeholder]
Dinner
[Placeholder]
Snack
Orange, low-sodium chips
Meal Plan
9:41
72º
Partly Cloudy
H:88º L:64º
78
50
67
8:29
PM
Mon 10 NYC 12:41 AM
+6 from Reminders, Notes, and Mail
Appointment
Reminder for
Reminder to take Acetaminophen
9:41 AM
Take one (1) 200 mg pill every morning.
My Care Plan
Visual, editable plans for daily caregiving tasks
Good morning, Joe!
Breath the fresh air and review your schedule on Saturday
Today’s Schedule
Morning Walk
9:15 - 9:45
Medical Appointment
10:00 - 10:50
Medication Reminders
Take 1 tablet (40 mg) by mouth daily.
Simvastatin
Medication, Dosage
11:30
Log Symptoms
Log Symptoms
Monday
Breakfast
Hard-boiled egg, toast, sausage
Lunch
BLT sandwich, chicken Caesar salad
Dinner
Roast chicken, blanched vegetables, mashed potatoes
Snack
Orange, low-sodium chips
9:41
Daily Medications
9:41
Medications
Simvastatin
Acetaminophen
40 mg
500 mg
1 tablet max
2 tablet max
Additional information
Additional information
Request refill
Request refill
Remove medications
Remove medications
Daily Meal Plan
Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
Breakfast
Hard-boiled egg, toast, sausage
Lunch
[Placeholder]
Dinner
[Placeholder]
Snack
Orange, low-sodium chips
Meal Plan
9:41
72º
Partly Cloudy
H:88º L:64º
78
50
67
8:29
PM
Mon 10 NYC 12:41 AM
+6 from Reminders, Notes, and Mail
Appointment
Reminder for
Reminder to take Acetaminophen
9:41 AM
Take one (1) 200 mg pill every morning.