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Sponsored by
SafeLink
NFC enabled home security system for dementia care
3 months
Client Liason, UX Researcher
Figma, Generative AI
Overview
SafeLink is a home security system that leverages NFC technology to create a defined safe zone for individuals living with dementia. The system alerts caregivers when a patient leaves the safe zone, enabling timely intervention while preserving patient autonomy. Rather than relying on continuous tracking, SafeLink uses event-based detection to focus attention on safety-critical moments.
THE CHALLENGE
Problem Statement
Caregivers face constant anxiety around wandering incidents, while existing solutions often feel restrictive, invasive, or unreliable. Patients need dignity and independence, and caregivers need immediate, actionable alerts. The challenge was to design a home-based security system that minimizes cognitive load and false alarms while prioritizing missed alert prevention in safety critical scenarios.
DISCOVERY
Research Insights
1. Conducted interviews with family caregivers, professional caregivers, older adults at risk of dementia, and technical experts
2. Identified safety reassurance as the primary caregiver need
3. Found strong resistance to continuous surveillance and high-maintenance devices
4. Learned that passive NFC solutions were preferred for reliability and compliance
5. Expert feedback supported event-based detection at exit points over continuous tracking
APPROACH
Design Process
Discovery & Research
Conducted interviews with family caregivers, professional caregivers, older adults at risk of dementia, and domain experts in NFC, implantable technology, and dementia care. Analyzed caregiver pain points around wandering anxiety, missed alerts, and emotional burden. Synthesized findings into key behavioral, ethical, and safety constraints for a home-based dementia security system.
Ideation and Concepting
Explored multiple safety and monitoring models through sketching and system flow mapping. Reframed the concept from a general medical ID toward a home security safe zone model based on research and expert feedback. Defined core design principles, including autonomy preservation, reliability, minimal intrusion, and alignment with caregiver mental models. Prioritized concepts that balanced safety with dignity and reduced surveillance concerns.
Prototyping
Created early sketches and task flows, followed by structured wireframes in Figma. Designed caregiver-facing flows for safe zone monitoring, alert delivery, acknowledgment, and resolution. Emphasized clarity, urgency, and low cognitive demand to support decision-making during safety-critical moments.
Usability Testing and Iteration
Conducted usability testing with caregivers and facilitated expert reviews with clinicians and technical specialists to validate clarity, feasibility, and risk mitigation. Iterated visual hierarchy, terminology, and alert presentation based on feedback. Refined system status visibility and escalation logic to support trust, confidence, and reliable long-term use.
IMPACT
Outcomes & Results
SafeLink provided caregivers with a reliable way to monitor safety without relying on continuous or intrusive surveillance, helping reduce anxiety while preserving patient autonomy. The design aligned human factors principles with NFC-based home security technology, prioritizing clarity, trust, and low cognitive load in safety-critical situations. This project demonstrated how research-driven Human Factors decisions can shape ethical, usable, and responsible systems for vulnerable populations in real-world care contexts.
Achieved a System Usability Scale score of 86.7 in caregiver testing
Participants successfully completed core alert and resolution tasks with minimal guidance
Validated an event-based safe zone approach as effective and less intrusive than continuous monitoring
Demonstrated a scalable, ethically grounded home security system for dementia care
Demonstrated a scalable, ethically grounded home security system for dementia care
I secured project sponsorship and obtained a set of VivoKey Spark 1 devices for our team as the client liaison after contacting the CEO of VivoKey and Dangerous Things
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