Use of coaching messages in a closed communication service

Abstract

Methods and systems for use of member-to-member, member-to-target and automatically generated coaching messages in a closed communication service are provided. According to one embodiment, a closed communication service is provided which is configured to facilitate and encourage communications among members of a caregroup and a target of the caregroup. The target of the caregroup uses a hardcopy-based communication appliance associated with the caregroup to transmit and receive electronic communications via the closed communication service to and from the members of the caregroup. Identification, creation and delivery of appropriate member-to-member and member-to-target coaching messages are facilitated by allowing one or more administrating caregivers of the members of the caregroup to view metrics relating to electronic communications exchanged via the closed communication service.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a closed communication service configured to facilitate and encourage communications among a plurality of members of a caregroup and a target of the caregroup, the target of the caregroup using a hardcopy-based communication appliance associated with the caregroup to transmit and receive electronic communications via the closed communication service to and from the plurality of members of the caregroup;   one or more coaching tool routines facilitating identification, creation and delivery of appropriate member-to-member and member-to-target coaching messages by allowing one or more administrating caregivers of the plurality of members of the caregroup to view metrics relating to electronic communications exchanged via the closed communication service; and   wherein the one or more coaching tool routines are implemented in one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media of one or more server computer systems that are part of the closed communication service, the one or more computer-readable media having instructions tangibly embodied therein representing the one or more coaching tool routines that are executable by the one or more processors.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing within the closed communication service one or more digital gift suggestion routines operable to allow the one or more administrating caregivers to include within the coaching messages suggestions regarding appropriate types of digital gifts that may be sent via the closed communication service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing within the closed communication service one or more tools that provide information to healthcare providing caregivers to assess and diagnose the condition of the target and to make prognoses regarding the condition of the target and to deliver and receive private communications with a patient, primary caregiver, or administrating caregiver. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metrics include one or more of:
 a rating regarding an affective-emotional value of electronic communications received by the target of the caregroup;   a rating regarding an intellectual stimulus value of the electronic communications received by the target of the caregroup;   a rating regarding activity induced value of the electronic communications received by the target of the caregroup;   information provided by caregivers or target to the closed communication service or healthcare providing caregivers;   information interpreted by healthcare providing caregivers;   information regarding historical norms of electronic communications frequencies with the target of the caregroup by individual members of the plurality of members of the caregroup.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ameliorating or slowing progression of Alzheimer's disease or symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease in a subject with Alzheimer's disease as a result of enrolling the subject and a family support network associated with the subject in the closed communication service and participation in the closed communication service by the subject and members of the family support network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decreasing an at risk subject's risk of developing a condition including one or more of Alzheimer's disease, depression, stress, physical illness, cancer, a geriatric cognitive disorder, and heart disease as a result of enrolling the at risk subject and a family support network associated with the at risk subject and participation in the closed communication service by the at risk subject and members of the family support network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein participation in the closed communication service decreases the subject's risk of developing the condition, reduces the severity of the condition or delays the onset of the condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising slowing progression of a chronic condition of an elder subject as a result of enrolling the elder subject and a family support network associated with the elder subject in the closed communication service and participation by the elder subject and members of the family support network in the closed communication service. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising improving health and well-being of an elder subject or improving the elder subject's compliance with one or more of a drug therapy regimen and a physical therapy regimen as a result of enrolling the elder subject and a family support network associated with the elder subject in the closed communication service and participation in the closed communication service by the elder subject and members of the family support network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising improving health and well-being of one or more members of the family support network as a result of participation in the closed communication service. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ameliorating symptoms associated with dementia for a subject with dementia as a result of enrolling the subject and a family support network associated with the subject in the closed communication service and participation by the subject and members of the family support network in the closed communication service. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hard-copy based communication appliance comprises a digital mailbox appliance. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 providing a closed communication service configured to facilitate and encourage communications among a plurality of members of a caregroup and a subject that is a target of the caregroup, the subject using a hard-copy based communication appliance associated with the caregroup to transmit and receive electronic communications via the closed communication service to and from the plurality of members of the caregroup;   one or more metric tracking routines capturing information regarding communications among the plurality of members of the caregroup and the subject via the closed communication service;   one or more metric communication routines providing information to healthcare providing caregivers to assess and diagnose the condition of the subject and to make prognoses regarding the condition of the subject; and   wherein the one or more metric tracking routines and the one or more metric communication routines are implemented in one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media of one or more server computer systems that are part of the closed communication service, the one or more computer-readable media having instructions tangibly embodied therein representing the one or more metric tracking routines and the one or more metric communication routines that are executable by the one or more processors.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the hard-copy based communication appliance comprises a digital mailbox appliance. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a closed communication service configured to facilitate and encourage communications among a plurality of members of a caregroup and a subject that is a target of the caregroup, the subject using a hardcopy-based communication appliance associated with the caregroup to transmit and receive electronic communications via the closed communication service to or from the plurality of members of the caregroup;   one or more metric tracking routines, capturing information regarding communications exchanged among the plurality of members of the caregroup and the subject via the closed communication service;   the one or more metric tracking routines calculating one or more metrics based on the captured information;   one or more coaching message generation routines, based on the one or more metrics, the closed communication service automatically generating and delivering coaching messages in an effort to encourage a set of goals, including one or more of (i) frequent communications among the plurality of members of the caregroup and the subject, (ii) affective communications, (iii) stimulating or activity inducing communications; and (iv) communications with ex officio caregivers who are professional healthcare providers; and   wherein the one or more metric tracking routines and the one or more coaching message generation routines are implemented in one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media of one or more server computer systems that are part of the closed communication service, the one or more computer-readable media having instructions tangibly embodied therein representing the one or more metric tracking routines and the one or more coaching message generation routines that are executable by the one or more processors.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the coaching messages include suggestions regarding use of appropriate digital gifts consistent with the set of goals. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the metrics include one or more of:
 a rating regarding an affective-emotional value of communications received by the subject;   a rating regarding an intellectual stimulus value of communications received by the subject;   a rating regarding activity induced value of the communications received by the subject;   information provided by caregivers or the subject to the closed communication service or healthcare providing caregivers;   information interpreted by healthcare providing caregivers;   information regarding historical norms of communications frequencies with the subject by individual members of the plurality of members of the caregroup.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hard-copy based communication appliance comprises a digital mailbox appliance.