CareBridge

CareBridge is a medical care system that seeks to rebuild older adults’ trust in public healthcare across East Asia. Inspired by SDG 3.8’s ambition of universal health coverage, we propose that accessibility should encompass psychological confidence alongside geographical reach and affordability. Our concept bridges older adults’ familiar habits and increasingly digital healthcare environments, making care easier to navigate, understand, and trust.

We combined secondary research into demographic trends, healthcare systems, misinformation, and existing solutions with questionnaires, interviews with older adults and experienced healthcare workers, hospital observation, and an elderly role simulation. Our findings highlighted interconnected barriers: confusing procedures, unfamiliar digital tools, inaccessible medical language, missed announcements, physical fatigue, and limited communication. Family members also experienced uncertainty when unable to accompany patients. These insights shaped a system addressing both practical needs and emotional reassurance throughout the healthcare journey.

The design connects digital services, physical products, and hospital spaces. At its core, a Healthcare Service UI Platform links interfaces for older adults, family members, and doctors, bringing together medical records, visit progress, and health information. A Smart Medical Wristband is designed to work with indoor beacons to support navigation and synchronize visit updates with the platform. A Medical Translator converts complex terminology into plain language and produces printed summaries that patients can take home or attach to medication, while retaining digital copies for later reference. Together, these touchpoints support continuity between patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

Beyond the hospital, follow-up services and community outreach introduce healthcare processes and basic health knowledge in familiar everyday settings. Through service blueprints, journey mapping, interface prototypes, and product models, we developed a connected proposal spanning preparation, hospital visits, and ongoing support.

The project’s intended impact is to reduce confusion, strengthen patient autonomy, ease family anxiety, and support clearer communication with healthcare workers. By treating trust as something built through repeated, understandable interactions, we envision a more inclusive healthcare experience that respects older adults’ habits while helping them engage with modern services. The proposal offers a foundation for future testing of usability, continuity, and trust across the complete care journey.