Go&Grow: An Evaluation of a Pervasive Social Exergame for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia

Caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) experience higher rates of stress, social isolation, and poor mental and physical health compared to non-caregiving populations. There is a vital need for engaging, sustainable, and scalable resources to support social, physical and emotional wellbeing amongst caregivers of PWD. To explore this open design space, we designed and conducted a 6-week mixed-method evaluation of CareGarden, a pervasive social exergame in which flowers grow as users increase physical activity and interact with other caregivers of PWD. Our findings showed that using CareGarden helped participants relieve stress, increase physical activity, and develop empathy for and patience towards the loved one with dementia that they cared for. At the same time, tension arose as some caregivers desired to learn about the life challenges that CareGarden users faced while others hesitated to share such content. We discuss our findings and recommendations for future technology that promotes caregivers’ time for themselves, understanding of PWD, and connections with other caregivers.