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Interview with a Co-Care pilot student

Why were you interested in taking part in the training course pilot?

I discovered the project through an email sent to us by the faculty of the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia with information about the program. I thought it was a unique initiative and very rich in diversity of people and professions involved. I remember thinking that it would be an exciting challenge that would help me get to know the day-to-day life of caregivers and would allow me to collaborate with colleagues and university professors from different disciplines. It also seemed like a perfect opportunity to learn in depth the current context of research and the creation of platforms and products. I find it very interesting to innovate and discover new points of view that open up networks of knowledge and creativity.

What was your favourite part about the training course pilot experience?

What I liked the most is being able to get to know the caregivers, their day-to-day life, the real needs they may have and the fact of thinking about how we can work on them together. It is interesting to discover the different needs of each of the people and from here to create solutions that can provide support and accompaniment and lead to an improvement in the quality of life and occupational balance.

On the other hand, it has been an attractive experience from the point of view of being able to work with a very diverse team, with experts from both the health and technological fields. In this way I have been able to observe different perspectives of creation and design of a product, and share experiences and knowledge.

Had you ever taken part in something similar on this topic?

Two years ago I had the opportunity to participate in a joint occupational therapy and multimedia project, where I collaborated and worked with other students with the aim of creating an application for people with Alzheimer's. From this initiative, I was able to better understand the needs of people affected by this condition, while Co-Care has allowed me to delve into the day-to-day life of caregivers. I think it is very enriching to be able to know these different realities and work on them.

Why do you think co-creation is important?

Co-creation is important because it helps you expand your field of vision. It allows you to know and empathize with the daily life of caregivers, see how from different parts of the world they contemplate the proposals for solutions or improvement, what are the different concepts of what they consider health, etc. Co-creation brings dynamism, creativity, flexibility, diversity, innovation and reality to the project.

Do you have any suggestions or comments for the Co-Care project partners?

I was delighted to be able to work with the Co-Care partners and learn a little more about their diverse lifestyles. Sharing the knowledge, emotions and needs of each one of us gives us unique and special experiences.

Maria Sansó, student at the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia