Elder Tree

David H. Gustafson PhDCenter for Health Enhancement Systems Studies

University of Wisconsin-Madison

CHESS

Staying Alive:

The Elder Tree Story

Waukesha County

Richland County

Milwaukee County

Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies

Loneliness

Funded by the Agency for Healthcare

Policy & Research

How to address lack of Trust? • Fear the scam – keep promises; no sales• Invest in deeply understanding the customer– Walkthroughs– What’s it like interviews– Involve in design

Gustafson, D.H., & Hundt, A.S. (1995). Findings of innovation research applied to quality management principles for health care. Health Care Management Rev., 20(2), 16-33.

Study DeploymentAsset-Based Community Development (ABCD)

• Geographic area selected• Strategy Team formed• 300 Conversations & asset-mapping• Top assets & challenges identified• Harvest Festival• Mobilization – connect the assets to the challenges

AARC County Advisory Committees• ADRC Advisory Board• Learn about, provide feedback on study activities, findings and

technology development• Quarterly updates; “show & tell” of technology prototypes

Adopt a broad definition of healthNot just medical care.

Elders• Loneliness• Meaning in life• Local events &

transport

Clinicians• Falls• Adherence• Dementia• Depression

Outcomes• Stay in home• Less admissions• Quality of life

Asset Based Community Development

Elder Tree (ET)…

• Goal: Independence: improving transport, meds, &

reducing loneliness, falls, transport, CG burnout.

• Designed with elders

• For: elders and framilies, health systems, libraries,

congregations, etc.

• Easy to use

• Works on tablet, laptop, and desktop.

Elder Tree:

• Honors strengths & limitations of elders & families.

• Make technology accessible to all

• Make it secure - within a “walled garden”

• Improve outcomes including costs

• Reduce re-admissions

What mTech adaptations for elderly?

–Meet us where we are• Our hands tremble

• We forget

• Our eyes are dimmer

• Our filters go away – manage communication

– So:• Maybe not mobile

• Keep it simple

• Training and incentivize to use.

• Automate data collection

ACHESS: too complex• Monitoring and alerts• Reminders• Autonomous motivation• Assertive outreach• Care coordination• Medication reminders• Peer & family support• Relaxation• Locations tracking• Contact with professionals• Information

Keep it simple

Developmental Issues

–Meet people where they are:

–Make it easy to use

–Minimize typing, reading

–Audio & powerpoint

–Monitoring & feedback

–GPS tracking

–Caregivers

David H. Gustafson U of Wisconsin 2011

Design and Look of Phone: Other Design Considerations

• Integrate into every day life

• Walled garden

• Video clips of others with same problem

• Push information to users

• Connect to care manager

• New stuff every day (e.g. gait monitor)