Care Trainr – STARTUPCare management in one place, built around the people who give it
PRODUCT STRATEGY, RESEARCH, BRAND, UI/UX– 2021
introductionPackemWMS
In-home caregivers handle some of the most personal tasks imaginable—preparing meals, giving medication, helping with hygiene, and keeping households steady. Yet the systems supporting this work are often scraps of paper, text chains, or phone calls. Important details slip through the cracks, leaving caregivers stressed and families uncertain.
I set out to create a mobile-first way to bring order to these daily routines. If CareTrainr succeeded, it could ease the burden on caregivers, give families peace of mind, and open the door to a scalable business in the fragmented caregiving market.
2021 – 2022 FOUNDING PRODUCT DESIGNERoverviewThe challenge of coordinating care.
At its core, it’s the ability to keep track of routines like medication schedules, meal prep, or daily hygiene without missing a beat. It’s making sure the right details reach the right people at the right time.
CareTrainr was built to centralize these details in one place. The approach had to respect the realities of in-home care: a caregiver holding groceries in one hand and their phone in the other, or needing to log a medication update before rushing to the next task.
THE ASK“
How might we create a mobile-first platform that simplifies caregiving, builds trust with families, and eases the daily load for caregivers—while creating a solution that can grow into a sustainable business?
problemCaregivers and families had no shared system for managing day-to-day care. Meal prep instructions might be written on sticky notes, medicine times remembered from memory, and hygiene routines passed along verbally. With no central record, small mistakes led to stress, confusion, and breakdowns in trust.
HYPOTHESISThe hypothesis was simple: if caregivers had a quick, mobile way to log and share updates on meals, medications, and routines, families would feel more confident in the care being provided.
I believed the solution had to feel like a natural expansion of the work agencies and families already require of caregivers. Existing methods were manual and catered to agencies, not for the caregiver trying to record a medication update while standing in the kitchen. Designing for moments of care—not dashboards—would make the difference.
Research To understand the problem deeply, I combined observation, interviews, and testing.
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Observed how meal logs, medication charts, and daily notes were kept on paper or in binders. These artifacts were inconsistent and time-consuming, often forcing caregivers to duplicate work.
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Families wanted reassurance: Was mom’s medication given on time? Did dad eat lunch? They described anxiety from not knowing, even when care was happening.
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Found that most were agency-first, poorly suited for real caregiving routines, and overly complex.
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Validated which features fit naturally into care and which added friction, guiding feature prioritization.
InsightsCaregivers often flagged friction in button placement and flow speed; families confirmed what level of detail felt useful.
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Caregivers needed tools that worked as quickly as they did. If logging a meal or shower took more than a few taps, the system wouldn’t be used.
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Prototype testing showed the importance of micro-details: placing buttons within thumb reach, minimizing typing, and ensuring updates synced instantly.
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Families valued simple, visible updates. A note saying “lunch prepared at 12:30, ate half” or “medication taken with water” did more to build trust than complex charts.
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How might we provide visibility of core warehouse operations in a consumer-grade user experience.
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Market tools weren’t designed for these frontline tasks. By focusing on routines—meals, meds, hygiene—the opportunity was to build something fit for everyday caregiving.
PrinciplesMy father lives at home with the support of rotating caregivers. As his daughter, I manage his care remotely while balancing a full-time job. I need a way to stay informed about his meals, medications, and hygiene without constantly calling or texting the caregiver.
Clarity over complexity — tasks like meals or medication should be logged in seconds.
Trust through transparency — families should see care routines without asking.
Respect caregiver time — updates must fit naturally into active shifts.
Designed for accessibility and ease — interfaces are intuitive, with large touch targets, simple language, and minimal steps, ensuring that even older adults or less tech-savvy users can engage without friction.
split calendar viewSplit Calendar View to separate daily routines—like morning meds or evening showers—from appointments such as doctor visits. This gave both caregivers and families clarity without clutter.
Digital care notesDigital care notes created a mobile-first way for caregivers to log meals, medications, and other quality of life routines. Families could see updates in real time, reducing uncertainty.
Video guidesAdded training videos that showed how to handle tasks like using medical equipment or preparing specialized meals. This made care more consistent across different caregivers.
OUTCOMES
Caregivers spent less time writing and more time supporting clients. Simple flows for meals, meds, and recording routines cut administrative effort and reduced stress.
Families reported feeling more informed and reassured. They could check CareTrainr to see what happened that day instead of relaying on monthly agency updates.
For the business, CareTrainr validated demand for a mobile-first caregiving tool. The startup now had a differentiated product that could be sold in a B2B motion or as a value-add by agencies who employ caregivers.