Link-E
A Remote Care Solution Connecting Seniors with Their Family and Caregivers
A Remote Care Solution Connecting Seniors with Their Family and Caregivers
Link-E is a mobile app for seniors and the support network around them, designed for those who want to stay connected without sacrificing independence. With the senior's consent, the support network can follow wellness, health, and location data, bringing peace of mind to those caring from afar and quiet support to those being cared for.
Link-E is a mobile app for seniors and the support network around them, designed for those who want to stay connected without sacrificing independence. With the senior's consent, the support network can follow wellness, health, and location data, bringing peace of mind to those caring from afar and quiet support to those being cared for.
Context
B2C - Eldercare
Role
Product designer
Platform
Mobile app
Duration
~2 months, 2025
The Problem
The Problem
In the U.S., 63 million adults are now family caregivers, a 45% increase over the past decade.
Roughly one in four Americans is looking after an aging or ill loved one, and many of them are doing it from far away.
In the U.S., 63 million adults are now family caregivers, a 45% increase over the past decade.
Roughly one in four Americans is looking after an aging or ill loved one, and many of them are doing it from far away.
Behind those numbers are real moments: a daughter in another city worries about whether her mother remembered her medication. A son abroad wonders how his father is sleeping. A grandchild wants to know that grandma made it home safely from her walk.
On the other side: an aging adult begins to sense the worry, and starts to feel a little more fragile in a life where every call begins with "are you okay?"
Behind those numbers are real moments: a daughter in another city worries about whether her mother remembered her medication. A son abroad wonders how his father is sleeping. A grandchild wants to know that grandma made it home safely from her walk.
On the other side: an aging adult begins to sense the worry, and starts to feel a little more fragile in a life where every call begins with "are you okay?"
From Worry to Product
From Worry to Product
The founders came to me with a worry, not a product. They imagined a smartwatch, some data, a way to check in. No flows, no defined users, no scope.
At that point the team was just me, the founders, and one mobile developer. As the sole designer, the questions started with me: who we were really designing for, how the core flows should work, what belonged in v1 and what could wait. Each question opened a conversation, and the product took shape around the answers.
The team grew around the design. Two more mobile developers and two backend developers joined as we moved into internal reviews and testing.
The founders came to me with a worry, not a product. They imagined a smartwatch, some data, a way to check in. No flows, no defined users, no scope.
At that point the team was just me, the founders, and one mobile developer. As the sole designer, the questions started with me: who we were really designing for, how the core flows should work, what belonged in v1 and what could wait. Each question opened a conversation, and the product took shape around the answers.
The team grew around the design. Two more mobile developers and two backend developers joined as we moved into internal reviews and testing.
Discovery & Research
Discovery & Research
The idea came in clear, so I didn't need to validate the concept itself. What I needed to understand was the landscape it would live in, the people it would actually serve, and the shape it should take as a system.
I started with the market to see how others approached the same problem, then spoke with two nurses to ground the product in real elderly care, and finally mapped the experience to make sense of how two very different users would meet inside one app.
The idea came in clear, so I didn't need to validate the concept itself. What I needed to understand was the landscape it would live in, the people it would actually serve, and the shape it should take as a system.
I started with the market to see how others approached the same problem, then spoke with two nurses to ground the product in real elderly care, and finally mapped the experience to make sense of how two very different users would meet inside one app.
Market research
I looked at how others were approaching the same space, from caregiver coordination apps to senior health platforms to family location tools. No single product was solving for both sides of the relationship. Across the apps I reviewed, a few things stood out:
I looked at how others were approaching the same space, from caregiver coordination apps to senior health platforms to family location tools. No single product was solving for both sides of the relationship. Across the apps I reviewed, a few things stood out:
01
Clinical, not personal
Many products approached the relationship as a system to manage; vitals, medications, alerts. The result felt closer to a medical tool than to a way of staying close.
02
Fragmented market
The market split into four corners: care coordination, health monitoring, family location, and senior services. No one was treating these as parts of the same problem.
03
Device focused apps
Smartwatch integration was assumed, not questioned. Many products fell apart for users without one.
04
Outdated design
Visual design in senior-focused products was often outdated, making products feel medical or institutional rather than warm.
These gaps shaped how I positioned Link-e: not as another caregiver tool, but as a product where two people meet; one being supported, one supporting.
These gaps shaped how I positioned Link-e: not as another caregiver tool, but as a product where two people meet; one being supported, one supporting.
Nurse interviews
By mid-process, I had a working framework but wanted to ground it in real domain knowledge. I sat down with two nurses with years of experience in home care for long conversations about what daily life really looks like for the people Link-e was being built for. Some of these conversations validated decisions I'd already made; others reshaped them.
By mid-process, I had a working framework but wanted to ground it in real domain knowledge. I sat down with two nurses with years of experience in home care for long conversations about what daily life really looks like for the people Link-e was being built for. Some of these conversations validated decisions I'd already made; others reshaped them.
“Senior patients can be treated like children, which makes them feel frustrated and angry. They want to be treated mindfully of the fact that they are individuals.”
“Senior patients can be treated like children, which makes them feel frustrated and angry. They want to be treated mindfully of the fact that they are individuals.”
What this changed: This shifted how I approached the product's voice. Every notification, every piece of microcopy on the senior side had to speak to them as individuals, not as people being managed. Tone became a design decision, not an afterthought.
What this changed: This shifted how I approached the product's voice. Every notification, every piece of microcopy on the senior side had to speak to them as individuals, not as people being managed. Tone became a design decision, not an afterthought.
“Most seniors live alone or with their partners. The relationship with their families isn't strong. They may talk in the evening via call, or only on special days.”
“Most seniors live alone or with their partners. The relationship with their families isn't strong. They may talk in the evening via call, or only on special days.”
What this changed: This validated a direction I was already exploring: small, ambient gestures of presence. A notification on a quiet afternoon saying "İpek sent you a hug" gives the senior a sense that someone is thinking of them.
What this changed: This validated a direction I was already exploring: small, ambient gestures of presence. A notification on a quiet afternoon saying "İpek sent you a hug" gives the senior a sense that someone is thinking of them.
“The number of seniors who use a smartwatch is very rare. Patients who are younger and receiving home care mostly spend their time on their phones.”
“The number of seniors who use a smartwatch is very rare. Patients who are younger and receiving home care mostly spend their time on their phones.”
What this changed: Smartwatch integration had to become optional rather than central. The product was rebuilt to pull data from the phone when no wearable was available, removing the device dependency we had originally assumed.
What this changed: Smartwatch integration had to become optional rather than central. The product was rebuilt to pull data from the phone when no wearable was available, removing the device dependency we had originally assumed.
Mapping the system
Because the product serves two connected user groups, I mapped the end-to-end system before moving into detailed design. This helped clarify how onboarding, senior pairing, permissions, subscriptions, and error states work across both apps.
Because the product serves two connected user groups, I mapped the end-to-end system before moving into detailed design. This helped clarify how onboarding, senior pairing, permissions, subscriptions, and error states work across both apps.
Defining the Product
Defining the Product
Defining the Product
The research and system mapping helped define a product that balances two different needs: giving seniors control over their own experience while helping their support network stay informed when it matters. I translated these needs into two connected apps and four core product areas.
The research and system mapping helped define a product that balances two different needs: giving seniors control over their own experience while helping their support network stay informed when it matters. I translated these needs into two connected apps and four core product areas.
Product structure
Link-E brings two connected apps into one shared care system. Seniors use a focused experience to manage health data, reminders, and connections, while their support network -their family, caregivers or friends- stays informed, coordinates care, and steps in when needed.
A secure pairing flow connects both sides while keeping seniors in control of who can access their information.
The initial experience was designed for iOS, with a product structure intended to support future expansion to Android and reach a broader range of seniors and support networks.
Link-E brings two connected apps into one shared care system. Seniors use a focused experience to manage health data, reminders, and connections, while their support network -their family, caregivers or friends- stays informed, coordinates care, and steps in when needed.
A secure pairing flow connects both sides while keeping seniors in control of who can access their information.
The initial experience was designed for iOS, with a product structure intended to support future expansion to Android and reach a broader range of seniors and support networks.
Senior app
Stay connected, stay in control
View health and wellness data
Receive medication and general reminders
Manage permissions and connections
View health and wellness data
Receive medication and general reminders
Manage permissions and connections
Senior homepage
Support network app
Care with peace of mind
Monitor important health updates
Create reminders and alerts
Manage profiles, plans and safe zones
Monitor important health updates
Create reminders and alerts
Manage profiles, plans and safe zones
Support network homepage
Product principles
Research revealed a recurring tension: support networks need visibility, while seniors need to maintain independence and control. I used three principles to guide product decisions across both experiences.
Research revealed a recurring tension: support networks need visibility, while seniors need to maintain independence and control. I used three principles to guide product decisions across both experiences.
Preserve senior autonomy
Support should never come at the cost of control. Seniors can manage their connections, permissions, and who has access to their information.
Support should never come at the cost of control. Seniors can manage their connections, permissions, and who has access to their information.
Make critical information actionable
Health data, alerts, and reminders are presented with clear statuses and next steps, helping users understand when attention is needed.
Health data, alerts, and reminders are presented with clear statuses and next steps, helping users understand when attention is needed.
Reassure without over-monitoring
The experience surfaces meaningful updates without making seniors feel constantly watched or overwhelming their support network with unnecessary information.
The experience surfaces meaningful updates without making seniors feel constantly watched or overwhelming their support network with unnecessary information.
Core product experiences
The product principles were translated into focused experiences that support everyday care, highlight important changes, and help both user groups act with confidence.
The product principles were translated into focused experiences that support everyday care, highlight important changes, and help both user groups act with confidence.
Health monitoring & alerts
Link-E is not a diagnostic health app. It is a shared awareness and care coordination experience designed for seniors living independently and the people who support them. Rather than asking families to continuously monitor raw health data, it highlights changes that may need attention and helps the right person stay informed at the right time—while keeping the senior in control of what is shared.
Link-E is not a diagnostic health app. It is a shared awareness and care coordination experience designed for seniors living independently and the people who support them. Rather than asking families to continuously monitor raw health data, it highlights changes that may need attention and helps the right person stay informed at the right time—while keeping the senior in control of what is shared.
Health & Wellness data
Multi-senior alert monitoring
Detailed graphs & custom alerts
Detailed graphs & custom alerts
Medication & reminders
Medication schedules and everyday reminders are brought into one place, helping support networks organise care while giving seniors clear, timely prompts for their routines.
Medication schedules and everyday reminders are brought into one place, helping support networks organise care while giving seniors clear, timely prompts for their routines.
Reminders
All medications
Medication creation
Medication creation
Location & safe zones
Consent-based location sharing helps support networks stay aware without turning the experience into constant tracking. Users can view a senior’s latest location, define safe zones, and receive clear updates when attention may be needed.
Consent-based location sharing helps support networks stay aware without turning the experience into constant tracking. Users can view a senior’s latest location, define safe zones, and receive clear updates when attention may be needed.
Location at a glance
Flexible safe-zone setup
Experience in action
These walkthroughs highlight the key tasks within the senior and support network apps.
These walkthroughs highlight the key tasks within the senior and support network apps.
Senior app
walkthrough
Support network app walkthrough
