Bosch, LKanis, MDunn, JStewart, KearsleyKrose, B2021-01-112021-01-112019-05-282368-79592368-7959https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22127BACKGROUND:This paper describes the Co-Care-KIT, a reflective toolkit designed to provide insights into the diverse experiences of home-based informal caregivers during the delivery of care to a relative or loved one. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the toolkit, including a custom-designed journal, tools for photography-based experience sampling, and heart rate tracking, which enables caregivers to collect and reflect on their positive and negative daily experiences in situ. METHODS:A 2-week field study with informal caregivers (N=7) was conducted to evaluate the Co-Care-KIT and to capture their daily personal emotional experiences. The collected data samples were analyzed and used for collaborative dialogue between the researcher and caregiver. RESULTS:The results suggest that the toolkit (1) increased caregivers' awareness of their own well-being through in situ reflection on their experiences; (2) empowered caregivers to share their identities and experiences as a caregiver within their social networks; (3) enabled the capturing of particularly positive experiences; and (4) provided caregivers reassurance with regards to their own mental health. CONCLUSION:By enabling capturing and collaborative reflection, the kit helped to gain a new understanding of caregivers' day-to-day needs and emotional experiences.HCI (human computer interaction)experience samplinghome carehuman-centered designinformal caregiversmental healthpositive psychologyreflective technologieswell-beingJournal article2021-01-11