Surabaya, East Java – Amid the rising number of elderly people in Indonesia, many adult children are left wondering how to ensure their parents receive proper care and attention, even as they chase life in the city.
Caught between the demands of modern careers and urban living, many children carry a sense of guilt for not being able to be present for their aging parents. Even more heartbreaking, many seniors feel “abandoned” when placed in nursing homes.
It was this concern that inspired Stephanie Elizabeth Shirley, a student in the Digital Business Management program at Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya (UKWMS), to design a mobile application prototype called SeniorCare.
The app serves not just as a digital catalog of elderly care services, but also as an emotional bridge between children and their aging parents.
"Sometimes, elderly parents in nursing homes feel lonely, as if they’ve been left behind. I want to minimize that feeling through technology," said Stephanie on Wednesday (April 23, 2025).
More Than a Directory — A Daily Companion
SeniorCare is more than just a list of nursing homes. Stephanie explained that her app allows users to search for senior living and home care services, track elderly activities, read health reports, and schedule visits.
"It features Activity Logs, Daily Reports, and even Reminders. There’s also real-time data on heart rate, body temperature, blood sugar, blood pressure, and oxygen levels," she said.
These features are grouped into four main menus: Home, Monitor, Reminder, and Profile. Under the Monitor menu, children can track their parents’ condition in real time.
In the Reminder section, both parents and children can keep track of upcoming visits. There’s even an Invoice menu to help manage care-related payments.
Built During Internship, Tested by Parents and Children
Stephanie developed the project in just three months, all while juggling a demanding internship at Bank Central Asia (BCA). She was one of the few who passed the highly selective BCA Future Talent program, an early hiring initiative for promising students.
"I worked on my thesis at night and on weekends. During the day, I interned from 8 to 5. Honestly, it took a toll on me mentally," she admitted.
The SeniorCare prototype was tested by 13 respondents—8 adult children and 5 seniors. Feedback was generally positive, especially from younger users who appreciated the visit reminders and centralized information.
A Prototype, Not Yet an App
Although it appears functional, SeniorCare is still an interactive mock-up, not a fully developed app. Stephanie stated that she’s open to collaborating with anyone interested in bringing the idea to life.
"Right now, I’m focusing on work. But if someone wants to help develop the app someday, I’m open to it," she said.
Technology as an Emotional Bridge
SeniorCare is more than just an app. It’s a heartfelt response to emotional struggles that often go unheard—parents’ fear of being forgotten, and children’s guilt over being absent.
Stephanie proves that digital technology can be a bridge between human emotions. Through a small screen, she’s created a space for two generations who, in silence, miss each other deeply.