SEHAT SATHI
(HINDI - HEALTH COMPANION)
A Health Tracker for Indian Senior Citizens
pROJECT BRIEF
This product has been meticulously crafted to meet the specific requirements of elderly citizens in India, taking into account the obstacles they often face when utilizing health and fitness tracking applications. By understanding the distinct needs of this demographic, the primary goal is to not just enhance accessibility, but also to foster a culture of consistent health monitoring.

In addressing the challenges prevalent among Indian seniors, such as language barriers, technological complexities, and cultural nuances, our product offers tailored solutions. The aim is to simplify the user experience while incorporating features that resonate with the lifestyles and preferences of elderly users ultimately empowering them to take charge of their health with confidence and ease.

TIMELINE
Nov 2023 - Dec 2023
tools
Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop
My Contribution
Empathy Building, Ideation, Research, UX, Wireframing, UI Design, Prototyping, Usability Testing
collaborators
Ishita Kohli , Utkarsh Verma
pROBLEM STATEMENT

Many Indian elderly users are often encouraged by their children or relatives to adopt healthcare applications or wearables, only to discontinue their usage within a few weeks to a month. This trend persists due to a significant oversight: the majority of mHealth applications currently on the market fail to adequately account for the distinct needs, preferences, and capabilities of elderly users, resulting in low usability among this demographic. Some of these shortcomings are :
01
Lack of motivation
02
Language barriers and/or complex language
03
Lack of accessibility since seniors have own set of impairments that remain unaddressed
04
Limited experience with technology and/or complex interface
why this issue ?
2021
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) [1], Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) (such as heart disease, stroke,
cancer, and diabetes) contribute to 63% of deaths in India, with stroke being the third leading cause of death and the sixth leading cause of disability. In 2019, India reported 1.29 million stroke incidents and nearly 700,000 deaths, with the highest number of first-ever stroke cases occurring between the ages of 60 and 74.
[1] 2021. Stroke incidence and mortality: A report of the population based stroke registries, India.
Retrieved Jan 21, 2022 from https://ncdirindia.org/All_Reports/pbsrbook/
resources/PBSR_Report_2021.pdf
2020
Although there is no specific data on physical activity patterns among Indian older adults, a 2020 survey [2] revealed that 57% of the surveyed population (aged 20 to 70) did not meet the WHO-recommended physical activity levels. This percentage was higher among individuals over 40 (63.4%) compared to those under 40 (51.7%).
[2] Physical activity patterns in India stratified by zones, age, region, BMI and implications for COVID-19: a nationwide study. Annals of Neurosciences 27, 3-4 (2020), 193
Aging increases disease risk and reduces activity levels. Managing health and fitness routines is crucial for older adults' quality of life. Studies highlight the importance of physical fitness, diet, and nutrition for healthy aging. Evidence links inactivity to chronic diseases, emphasizing the benefits of increased activity.

While mobile interventions offer potential for promoting healthy aging, low adoption rates of health apps among the elderly persist due to design issues. This project aims to improve mobile health app designs to enhance adoption and health outcomes for older users.
THE final Solution
WHAT MAKES SEHAT SATHI UNIQUE?
Personalized Achievements
During the onboarding stage, users are prompted to select their interests, including preferences such as travel destinations. Leveraging this information, the application tailors achievements and awards to align with the user's interests, thereby enhancing motivation and engagement.
* (Vaishnodevi Yatra - Important pilgrimage in India)
Customizable workouts
Not every user will have the same ability to participate in the activities suggested by the application. Therefore, we have implemented a feature that allows users to customize their workouts. This enables them to select exercises based on their fitness levels, preferred exercise types, comfort levels, and other individual factors.
Chatbot and Help
The application includes a help question mark icon on every page. Clicking on this icon redirects the user to a help page, where they can browse through FAQs for additional information on specific topics or interact with a chatbot to receive answers in both audio-visual and text formats, allowing them to seek guidance whenever needed.
Blessings Feature
Indian senior citizens, driven by their compassionate nature, find fulfillment in bestowing blessings upon those in need. With Sehat Sathi, there is no monetary incentive involved. Instead, for every significant achievement on the app, a donation is made in their name to support underprivileged children. This way, using the application becomes a meaningful contribution to a noble cause, enhancing their motivation.
OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE APPLICTION
Simple Onboarding
The app provides a simple and concise onboarding process for first-time users, allowing them to input essential health-related information effortlessly. A deliberate effort has been made to minimize the amount of text entry required from the user.
Home Screen
The home screen boasts a clean layout with minimal options and information, preventing users from feeling overwhelmed. Inspired by the familiar interface of WhatsApp, the design prioritizes simplicity and ease of use.
‍
Click here to view how Whatsapp inspired our design.
Profile Section
Provides all user information in a compact form, allowing users to conveniently access their profile overview, edit personal details and their health provider’s information, and view their awards and blessings.
Tracking features & Analysis
The application enables users to track various health metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, steps, sleep, and stress levels, offering simple and straightforward analysis for each. If users notice any concerning information, they can share this analysis with their healthcare professionals for further evaluation directly from the application.
Community Section
Recognizing that Indian elderly often prefer organized group activities and social interaction, the application introduces a community section. This feature allows users to connect with other elderly individuals in their area and socialize through in-app chat functionality. Once connected, users can compare their progress with others for mutual motivation and support.
Settings Section
Acknowledging the unique impairments and preferences of the elderly, including vision and cognition challenges, as well as language and display preferences, the application offers a range of features for customization. Users can adjust color themes, font style and other aspects of the interface to tailor the user experience according to their individual preferences.
MORE ON THIS PAGE :
Design Process Followed
Summary of Research
User personas
Project goals
Ideation
Information architecture
Final Idea
High fidelity wireframes
Design process followed
The Double Diamond Process was employed to reach an optimal solution.
discover
summary of research process
Interviews and research papers revealed various issues pertaining to the current designs of health tracking applications in relation to elderly users.
01
Detailed endless onboarding stage discouraging user before it even begins
02
Applications had complex interfaces which made users lose interest
03
Users faced language barriers while using the device
04
Users lost motivation to achieve goals
05
Text was not legible making it very difficult for the user to use the product
06
Too many instructions confused the user
07
Lack of social validation to continue using the product
define
User personas
Based on insights gathered from research and interviews we developed three user personas to delve deeper into the needs and motivations of our target audience, providing insights into user needs, goals and frustrations.
DESIGN QUESTION
How might we motivate the Senior Citizen to track their Health and Fitness?
project goals
01
Enhance Accessibility by making it user-friendly considering display factors and navigation
02
Promote Health Monitoring by employing ways promote motivation and continuous training
03
Provide Personalized Support tailored to the individual health needs and preferences of elderly users
04
Foster Social Connection and peer support among elderly users for improved motivation
05
Educate and Empower to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
06
Enhance User Engagement and motivation, encouraging consistent usage of the application for long-term health benefits.
develop
ideation
Interface design strategies
Compared with younger populations, older adults often face additional challenges in using mHealth applications due to limited perceptual, motor, and cognitive capabilities. In particular, the aging process will negatively affect visual and hearing abilities, hand-motor functions, and information processing capacity. To address each of these hurdles, several potential solutions were considered :
01 Vision impairment
Font design
‍
  • Use large font size
  • Use bold font for key points
  • Enable users to customize the font and text properties
Color choice
‍
  • Ensure high contrast
  • Limit number of colors
  • Use basic and distinctive colors
  • Use consistent background colors
  • Use culturally appropriate colors
Provision of audio as alternative to text
  • Provide audio options
  • Ensure loud audio volume
02 Motor coordination problems
Gestural interactions
‍
  • Use simple touchscreen gestures
  • Use large and structured buttons
Minimize text entry
‍
  • Support voice control
  • Button-only/slider interface
03 Cognitive and memory deterioration
Simple & consistent layout
  • Provide a simple and consistent layout
  • Ensure adequate white space between lines and buttons
  • Avoid large blocks of texts
Simple & clear
navigation
  • Place main functions in the home screen
  • Reduce menu options
  • Provide a clear return button and a static menu on every page
Multimedia
presentation
  • Present information in the form of texts, pictures, and videos
Easy-to-understand content
  • Use labeled buttons
  • Organize related topics into groups
  • Use age-appropriate and common languages
Features to improve UX
To foster users commitment and motivation to their wellness journey, various features were considered to enhance the overall user experience :
01 Gamification
Features
‍
  • Challenges and achievements for goal-setting and self-monitoring
  • Leaderboards for peer performance comparison
  • Virtual rewards such as coins or points, for reaching milestones
Benefits
‍
  • Increases user motivation and adherence to health goals.
  • Enhances user engagement through interactive experiences.
  • Fosters a sense of accomplishment, boosting overall wellbeing
02 Personalized interventions
Features
‍
  • Customized health & exercise plans based on user preferences, & goals
  • Personalized feedback and suggestions based on user activities and progress
  • Personalized achievements based on user interests
Benefits
‍
  • Addresses the unique needs and preferences of each user
  • Increases user engagement by offering relevant recommendations
  • Enhances user satisfaction by providing personalized motivation
03 Health Education
Features
‍
  • Educational content like articles, videos, and interactive modules on various health topics
  • Health quizzes or trivia games
  • Expert advice for answering questions and offering guidance
Benefits
‍
  • Empowers users with knowledge about health-related issues
  • Promotes healthy lifestyle choices and behavior change
  • Supports informed decision-making and self-management
04  Social feature
Features
‍
  • Community forums to facilitate peer support and interaction
  • In-app multi-modality messaging allowing personal or group chats
  • Social sharing to share achievements & progress with friends and family
Benefits
‍
  • Reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness
  • Encourages accountability and support
  • Enhances user motivation and engagement through social reinforcement and positive feedback.
05 Reminders
Features
‍
  • Medication reminders for medication intake
  • Activity reminders to engage in physical activity or exercise regularly
  • Health check-up reminders for regular health check-ups or screenings
Benefits
‍
  • Improves medication adherence and treatment for better health outcomes
  • Encourages consistent engagement in healthy behaviors
  • Supports preventive care and early detection of health issues for  overall well-being and longevity
Final Idea
01
Use activities that align with user’s personal goals for better motivation and continuous training
02
Provide FAQs & personalized support with a chatbot to make tracking health and exercising an easy process
03
An in-app social section to interact with similar users as they tend to do similar activities together at this age
04
Using visual and audio interactions to make process easier and keep user engaged
05
Multilingual Interface option

‍
06
Improving text legibility with large font size and high contrast interface
‍
07
Explaining complex information in simpler language
‍
08
Keeping only necessary information to declutter & prevent user from getting overwhelmed
‍
Information Architecture
wireframe
guidelines followed
To enhance user-friendliness, the app's user interface (UI) has been designed with a familiar layout, drawing inspiration from WhatsApp. This choice is informed by the widespread use of WhatsApp among Indian senior citizens, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience for them.
deliver
high fidelity wireframes
Register/Login Screen
Onboarding Screens
Home Screen
Tracking features & Analysis
Achievements Screen
Exercise Screens
Profile Screen
Community Screens
Help Page
Settings Screens
IMPACt
This application empowers elderly users by enhancing accessibility, promoting health monitoring, providing personalized support, fostering social connection, and educating and empowering them. In addition to this it fosters social engagement among senior citizens and allows them to seamlessly incorporate their cultural practices into the act of giving back. Through donations and blessings, they play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter future for the next generation. This holistic approach ensures that they are not only able to track and manage their health better but also allows them stay socially active and derive immense satisfaction from contributing to their community and preserving cherished traditions.
future scope
During the ideation stage of the project, many ideas were explored but couldn't make it to the final design due to the limited project timeline. Hence, we listed them as a part of the future development of the product
01
Introducing games to build memory and mental health
02
Using gathered data to monitor the health of senior citizens and for research on effective healthcare outcomes for this demographic.
03
Medication and health check up reminders for overall well-being, preventive care & early detection of health issues for longevity.
04
Tracking nutrition promoting better health outcomes
reflections and takeaways
Engaging in this task has not only expanded my professional horizons but has also deepened my sensitivity towards understanding users, particularly in the context of cultural nuances. It has underscored the profound impact that a seemingly straightforward application can have in reshaping user experiences. This experience has reinforced my belief in the transformative power of thoughtful design and innovation.
Like my work?
Let's build something amazing together!
I’m always down to collaborate . I'm hoping to further my career by disrupting the social product space.
Let's get in touch ✌️
LinkedInBehanceEmailResume
©2023 by Ishita Kohli - All rights reserved
Website best viewed on desktop