We know that family caregiving can be rewarding. But we also know that it is hard work. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting. It can have financial, social and health consequences for people who do it. It can be 24/7. Now caregivers can contribute to building a rich experience database by participating in this new research project here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We're building an Atlas of Caregiving to understand the actual, lived experience of daily caregiving. Family Caregiver Alliance is undertaking this novel research project, led by Rajiv Mehta of Bhageera, Inc. and Hugh Dubberly of Dubberly Design Office, to look deeply into a family's day and map the life of a caregiver. Using both traditional caregiver interviews alongside new wearable technologies that can track activities and physiological signals such as heart rate and movement in real time, we will collect data from a diverse group of families in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We will analyze that data and seek to answer: Who is involved in family caregiving? What do they do? What are the impacts of these activities? This information will be gathered into an Atlas of Caregiving: a collection of stories, diagrams, data and models: that exposes the day-to-day realities of caregiving and provides rich insights into the challenges caregivers face.

We are seeking people actively involved (more than 2 hours per day) in the day-to-day care of a family member or friend. Participants may also be taking care of their own health needs. By "care" we mean anything you do to help the other person due to their illness, disability or aging - medical activities, household chores, keeping company, etc.

We are seeking a diverse group of families, with a variety of health conditions, social backgrounds, and family situations. Families should be in the San Francisco/ Silicon Valley area (generally the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara). People do not need to be "tech-savvy" to participate. However, they need to be able to communicate clearly, in-person and via email. And, they need to be able to wear and take on/off a watch-like device.

What will I be asked to do? Your participation will include a survey, two interviews (at your home), and tracking your care activities for a day using a log and wearable technologies. Each caregiver participating in the study will receive a $200. For more information visit the project website atlasofcaregiving.com. And for more information and to be a part of this project please contact Rajiv Mehta, the Project Director for the Atlas of Caregiving Pilot at (650) 823-3274.
 

We would like to take a moment to extend a warm thank you to the many generous supporters who make the work we do possible through thoughtful donations to Family Caregiver Alliance.