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Elderly parents

Elderly mobility

11 replies

Gportus · 06/12/2023 10:29

Hello everyone,

I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of this group. Recently, I've taken on the responsibility of caring for my grandmother after a fall, and I've noticed that she's losing confidence in performing everyday tasks around the house. The products recommended by the hospital, such as walkers, have posed challenges, leading to further issues like difficulty transporting bulky items.

As a final-year Product Design student, I am keen on making improvements to enhance mobility and ease of daily activities at home. I would greatly appreciate any input from your experiences with products designed to assist with tasks around the house. Whether it's feedback on existing products or ideas for innovations that could address unmet needs, your insights would be invaluable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Best,
Grace x

OP posts:
HFJ · 06/12/2023 13:52

Omg where to start. I’ll probably veer off the design requirement. You’ll notice a dementia theme.

walking aids that adjust to a height of typical men or taller women (currently they ten to be fixed to midget mode)

a contraption that wrinkles up socks and puts them on your feet without you having to bend over or have to have much hand strength

a contraption that opens up a shoe and then fastens them without you having to bend down

a contraption you stand on and then with a rotating handle it slowly elevates you (so you can reach a shelf without having to climb onto a stool or onto a small ladder)

some kind of robot butler thing that dispenses your pills at the right time (and calls out ‘it’s time for pills’) and automatically sends a message to main carer if pills not consumed (the average number of pills an elderly person takes a day is about 20)

some kind of robot butler thing that sits in the house from the start of an alzheimers diagnosis to learn habits of speech, and that you talk to to explain what you’ve done every day, and then over time it adapts and starts asking yes/no questions or suggesting tasks as the person declines (this one is AI, like a dementia friendly alexa)

any kind of cooking item (like a toaster or an airfryer) that has the intelligence to work out what the food is and automatically cook it such that the elderly person only needs to press ‘on’

a small and simple washing machine that only has one button for ‘go’ and also talks to you ‘no you can’t try to get the washing out as I’m still doing the washing’

some kind of tea maker that also gives instruction to the user ‘put the cup here, it’s upside down so turn it round’ etc

a photo album like one of those talking children’s books ‘this is your son, David. He works at a bank. He likes cake. He makes you proud because he works hard’ to help dementia sufferers in nursing homes to remember their relatives’ names and what they look like

A disability friendly, stationary adult go kart shaped as much like a regular car as possible, linked to a giant screen that men in a nursing home can get in, press ‘go’ and then the video is simply video footage of a journey through a familair neighbourhood taken at the time of dementia diagnosis (so, not with changes to housing decelopments that would cause confusion). The steering wheel physically moves, but essentially does nothing. Men would love this. Driving is often part of their raison d’etre in their working lives and not being able to drive is a major cause of anxiety and frustration.

a dummy, lockable box that can be fixed over standard items like a thermostat and that has a fake version over the top (elderly people at the early stages of dementia start to fiddle with and break things)

a contraption that fits to a window fixing that makes it easier to open the window

a kit to automatically open and draw curtains at fixed times (I guess this has already been done though)

HFJ · 06/12/2023 13:55

The photo album could also be a framed wall display. I can see this as having commercial value. Relatives could access a website to upload photos and record the associated descriptions (this is your old house, this is you and Dierdre on your wedding day many years ago) and the company would then put together the albums and wall displays as a gift to be given to the elderly person.

nervesonnerves · 09/12/2023 09:43

A walker that is quite heavily weighted on the lower part. I find that as my Dad pushes his (a 3 wheel stroller thing from amazon, a similar but diff to a traditional zimmer frame) sometimes his weight on the handles is v heavy and so one of the wheels actually lifts and I worry about the balance. Also, it is actually narrower than his doors upstairs so it is a struggle to manoeuvre into a room!

A cup he can drink from like a baby beaker, but that somehow looks more grown up. There are adult beakers available, but they look the same as a baby beaker.

Why are all the mobility aids / grab rails in white, like in nursing homes. It might be nice if they were available in diff colours. My Dad says his house now looks like it is for old people (at 86 he still considers he isn't that old!!). I think it might be nice if they were available in colours that might tone in with a home.

I'll have a think and come back here with any more ideas...

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 09/12/2023 09:50

My mum had a walker with a tray which in theory is very useful however everything on it often fell over when she went through doorways over those things which hold the carpet down. Something to get over that.

StrongTea · 09/12/2023 09:59

Simple things like wrist straps with walking sticks because if they are dropped very difficult to pick them up.

MereDintofPandiculation · 09/12/2023 10:17

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 09/12/2023 09:50

My mum had a walker with a tray which in theory is very useful however everything on it often fell over when she went through doorways over those things which hold the carpet down. Something to get over that.

I bought my dad a bag which tied on the zimmer, like a kangaroo pouch. No good fir cups of tea, obviously, but he could carry an enormous amount

MereDintofPandiculation · 09/12/2023 10:18

Why are all the mobility aids / grab rails in white, like in nursing homes. It might be nice if they were available in diff colours. My Dad says his house now looks like it is for old people (at 86 he still considers he isn't that old!!). I think it might be nice if they were available in colours that might tone in with a home. Nothing says “elderly vulnerable person. Come in and scam me” quite like a white grab handle by the front door.

Mum5net · 09/12/2023 12:37

I think the way forward is for Siri or Alexa to enable the devices or indeed, the people….
‘Siri’ I can’t get up
’Siri I’m on the floor’
‘Siri get me a neighbour’
‘Siri I’m lonely’
’’Siri I need the toilet ‘

olderbutwiser · 09/12/2023 12:58

Rutland Trolley that is not in brown and beige (or poo and pee) colours, with a decent lip.

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