The inspiration for CarePoints came from the growing need for accessible home care services and the desire to create a platform that empowers volunteers to give back to their communities. We wanted to build a system that not only connects clients with volunteers but also rewards volunteers for their dedication, making caregiving a more engaging and fulfilling experience.
CarePoints is a platform where clients can create job postings for various home care services, including Housekeeping, Health Monitoring, and Nutritional Support. Volunteers can browse these postings through a personalized dashboard, filtered by categories such as distance, type of care, and availability. As volunteers complete jobs, they earn points and receive ratings based on their performance, fostering a sense of community and recognition.
We built CarePoints using Material UI and Next.js for the front-end. For the back-end, we utilized Node.js and JavaScript to handle server-side logic, manage databases, and interact with files. The platform integrates several features such as user authentication, job filtering, and location-based services to ensure that volunteers can easily find jobs suited to them. We also implemented a points system to track volunteer contributions and provide feedback through ratings.
One of the biggest challenges we faced was connecting our front-end with the back-end. It involved a lot of trial and error, especially when handling API calls, managing state between components, and ensuring data consistency across the platform. We also encountered difficulties in implementing real-time updates for job postings and ensuring that our login system was both secure and user-friendly. Debugging issues related to file handling in Node.js was another hurdle that required significant effort.
We are proud of our login system, which ensures secure authentication for both clients and volunteers. Additionally, the personalized dashboard for volunteers is a key achievement—allowing them to see job postings tailored to their preferences based on filters like distance and type of care.
Throughout this project, we gained valuable insights into how back-end technologies like Node.js work when interacting with files and databases. We also deepened our understanding of front-end development using Next.js and how to efficiently manage state across components.
Moving forward, we plan to enhance CarePoints by adding more advanced features such as real-time notifications for new job postings, a messaging system between clients and volunteers, and integrating geolocation services for more accurate distance-based filtering. We also aim to introduce a reward system where volunteers can redeem points for various benefits or recognition within the community. Expanding the platform’s reach by incorporating mobile app support is another goal on our roadmap.