in collaboration with wecare@marineparade, the caregiver clubhouse is a respite space for low-income caregivers under the caregiver support network. the space allows caregivers to shed their daily burdens temporarily, and connect with other caregivers for support while feeling assured that their care recipients are well taken care of.
the caregiver clubhouse is situated underground at the marine parade mrt station, together with other social organisations forsee to be built in 2024.
caregiver clubhouse
user experience design | spatial design
jan '22 - apr '22
the project site is an underground space sitting above thomson east coast mrt line, linking marine parade mrt and marine parade community club. it is a non-profit project undertaken by the marine parade community services limited. it is envisioned to be a community care hub for social service agencies, and a shared space for community use. an enabling enterprise village will also be situated on site. your role as a designer is to conduct research and translate insights into experiences embodied by objects, placemaking or space activation ideas.
studio brief
studio client project
supervised by jieyu yong
client brief
wecare@marineparade
the space is dedicated to caregivers under the caregiver support network program, an initiative by wecare@marineparade. the space should meet the following requirements:
-
separate zones for care recipients and caregivers
-
wheelchair friendly
-
private spaces for counseling when needed
-
flexible furniture to adapt to events/workshops
-
relaxing environment
desktop research
common misconception
family caregivers are often thought to care for elderly people, although many patients include children with special needs or working-age people
caregiver landscape
caregivers link key transitions between care touch points and home in everyday life. many caregivers are often unprepared to take on the responsibilities as they are usually forced to take on the role overnight
60%
of caregivers
are female
>210,000
caregivers in singapore
35%
unmarried. majority in their prime earning ages of 45 - 59
63%
average income loss
problem #1:
burnout
many caregivers experience burnout, a state of physical and mental exhaustion.
caregivers do not realize the importance of taking care of themselves or find it hard to do so as caregiving takes up their entire time, so they go on caring selflessly.
as caregiver burnout symptoms overlap with other stress-related disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and physical exhaustion, they are difficult to detect.
75%
expressed the need for temporary separation
>72%
mentioned that caregiving makes them exhausted and stressed
>55%
ranked emotional support as their top need
problem #2:
caregiver guilt
many caregivers tend to under-report feelings of stress and de-prioritize their own emotional needs out of guilt.
caregivers are often used to a constant routine of caring, and when they are not, they feel guilty for being away, and that they are not doing their job well or fulfilling their duty.
tan (2020)
problem #3:
lack of knowledge
caregivers are often family members with little or no medical experience.
some caregivers find that the biggest challenge was trying to understand what their care recipients needed, knowing where to find help, and how to plan things like finances.
problem #4:
isolation
caregivers tend to have quite limited social circles and little time outside their homes for social interaction with others. this renders them rather hard to reach, or makes it difficult for information about support to reach them
The Big Read: As Singapore society ages, who will care for the caregivers? (2021)
problem #5:
loss of self-identity
many of them had to put their aspirations and passions on hold to become caregivers
they might find it difficult to transition back into the workforce after being a caregiver for a prolonged period of time
despite the extraordinary care they provide, caregivers are often invisible
macro trends
in light of some of the trends, as illustrated below, there will be a higher demand for caregiving in the future
1 in 4
residents will be 65 years old and above by 2030
61.2%
female labor force participation rate in 2020, an increase from 60.2% in 2018
21.6
old age dependency ratio in 2020, an increase from 12.6 in 2011
primary research
caregiver profiles
the goal of this primary research was to understand what are the needs, wants, and concerns caregivers face when seeking respite. we wanted to find out how the design of our space can help address these insights.
we worked closely with a total of 12 caregivers, ages 23 to 80 years old.
insights
1. caregivers seek interaction with others
2. some caregivers prefer being able to see their care recipients when seeking respite, while some prefer otherwise
3. caregivers also expressed some of their wishes for the space
^ likes
^ dislikes
develop & deliver
ritualistic entrance
many caregivers experience the cumulative, physical, emotional, and social impact of providing care. carrying around this burden every day can be tiring and detrimental to their overall well-being.
the entrance is a symbolical transition for caregivers to let go of their worries. at the end of the tunnel, they will be greeted by health aids who will take over the care of their care recipient.
as they remove their shoes and change into comfortable slippers, it signifies letting go of their burdens and further signifies a transition into a state of rest.
visibility of caregivers
as every caregiving situation is unique, the clubhouse provides a variety of spaces to suit the different needs and wants of the diverse range of caregivers.
different corners of the space have varying degrees of visibility to the care recipient zone, giving caregivers the liberty to choose what's most comfortable for them.
conversational friendly spaces
social workers and counselors will also be informally present in the space to allow for casual support conversations to happen naturally. the welfare bar acts as a central piece of the space, creating opportunities for casual conversations to happen and allowing for conversations to continue even as they wish to have some light refreshments.
private spaces
for caregivers who wish to have some alone time, they can do so as well. curtains can be drawn for private conversations or counseling when needed.
adaptable space
for workshops
designed with flexibility in mind, the pieces of furniture can be rearranged for bigger groups of activity, workshops, or events when needed.
