Inspiration
Dementia strips away the familiarity of everyday life, even the most meaningful places can become foreign. I wanted to build something that reconnects people with their world through memory and place, offering both comfort and independence
What it does
MemoryMap allows caregivers to mark important locations- a home, a park, a clinic, each with a note and icon. These familiar places appear in a simplified map view designed for individuals with dementia, reinforcing memory through location.
How we built it
I built a React+TypeScript application using Leaflet to power the map. The experience is split into two views: one for caregivers to input and manage places, and another for users that presents a clean, distraction-free map of those saved markers.
Challenges we ran into
Due to access limitations, I used Leaflet in place of Google Maps for the prototype. Designing an interface that's cognitively accessible, simple yet emotionally resonant so it required thoughtful iteration to build the app for users facing memory loss
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I built an experience that doesn’t just display locations, it anchors people to their past, people and their sense of place. The system works in real time, with a clear UI and purpose-driven simplicity.
What we learned
Designing for memory loss means every visual and interaction matters. I learned to prioritize clarity over complexity and to think deeply about how digital tools can support aging or neurodiverse users.
What's next for MemoryMap
I aim to integrate Google Maps APIs (since i couldn’t for this hackathon due to credit issues) to enhance location data with features like Street View, Directions, and Place Autocomplete. Repsonive design for mobiles and watches. Long-term, we envision caregiver logins, memory journaling, and mobile-first features for in-field caregiving support. Geofencing and audio features. That would alert the caregivers when the user with dementia strays off to an area away from the listed places by the caregivers and would share their live location to the caregiver . The voice feature would alert the user saying to stay in the place or would redirect them to a safe spot.
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