Monday 25 October 2010

Ideas of things to include in the presentation??







Identifying the problem -

BACK PAIN/STIFF JOINTS



'Back pain is extremely common - about 8 out of 10 people in the UK are affected at some time in their lifes.' - bupa website


We are looking to design something that will aid long term sufferers.


Other products that also aim to do this include, ergonomic chairs, orthopedic matresses, back support/braces.
These all aim to help ease the pain, however our goal is to help indepedant living/ help in day to day tasks.


Looked at in the kitchen, reaching/bending. *chris' photos*




Rough layout/Plan for the Presentation


1 logo/name/image of the final concept

2 Indetifying the problem -bupa quote

3 Chronic back pain can last for months, even years and is present mostly in the elderly.
this is due to degeneration/stiffness in muscles and joints. Although can occur earlier in
life due to illness/injury

4 Research - target market image board. talk through how we came to this conclusion

target market includes, independant elderly people. living alone. injured. generaly aged
35+

5 Market research - image boards showing products already available to aid the problem

6 We noticed there seemed to be plenty of gadgets which were used to help with back
pain reliefe but not much to aid the sufferers through the day.

7 Concepts

8 Concept Development

9 Finished Product






Just an rough idea for a kind of guide, though we need to add more to it

concepts








Friday 15 October 2010

Some websites that I have found which sell kitchen/dining/food preparation products for the elderly are:

http://www.procterhealthcare.co.uk/kitchenanddining/

http://www.seniorssuperstores.com/cart/html/Products/KITCHEN-PRODUCTS/

www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk

www.ageuk.org.uk is also a good website which provides information and some factsheets about caring for the elderly etc.
In the kitchen
There are various pieces of equipment that can assist with preparing and consuming food and drink.
If you have difficulty standing to prepare food you could use a perching stool, which is designed to allow a near-standing position but supports you at the same time.
If you can only use one hand or find it hard to grip or carry, there are tools such as spike boards to allow one-handed vegetable peeling, kettle tippers, wide-handled cutlery, tap turners, non-slip table mats, high-rimmed plates, two-handled cups and assistive tin, bottle and jar openers.
A sturdy trolley can provide support for mobility as well as allowing the movement of food and drink from room to room.
If you require a wheelchair-accessible kitchen it may be necessary to install adjustable-height work surfaces with adequate space underneath to allow the correct position for carrying out tasks.
A shallow basin and draining board with space left underneath can allow kitchen tasks to be carried out independently from a wheelchair and cupboards of accessible height with internal shelving that can be pulled forward could also be useful.
The Disabled Living Foundation has details of equipment to make life easier in the kitchen.

www.ageuk.org.uk
How to Have a Senior Friendly Kitchen
By Terria Fleming, eHow Member
I want to do this!


Have a Senior Friendly Kitchen
User-Submitted Article
When planning a kitchen for a senior, think ease of use and safety above all.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
• a plan
• money to buy needed senior friendly equipment
1. 1

microwave
Seniors often live alone, and because they don't like eating alone, they may eat less and skip meals. To make sure that they eat enough, consider these easy to use appliances, a microwave at waist height so they don't have to reach for hot food above them, a small toaster oven, a jar opener, a kitchen timer, and an easy to use can opener.

Many home accidents that seniors have are connected with cooking stoves, so microwave ovens are safer. And make sure you have plenty of microwavable containers for cooking and heating foods in.

If you have a choice in stoves, purchase one where the dials are on the front and not at the rear of the stove. Seniors often have trouble reaching, and front dials are much easier for an elderly person to handle. Make sure the dials are large and easy to read.

If you shop for a senior, or with one, encourage them to buy some easy to fix meals like frozen pot pies and various frozen dinners that can be microwaved.
2. 2

kitchen lights
Lighting in the kitchen is important too. Overhead lighting should contain three or more bulbs of about 75 watts each. Task lighting should be at least 100 watts.

Use a large dial kitchen clock, and have a kitchen timer too. Encourage the senior to use the timer whenever they are cooking, especially when baking in the oven.

A rubber non-stick mat in front of the kitchen sink can prevent slipping and falling. Get the heavy duty ones like the ones used in restaurant kitchens. Also, any flooring material that is used in a seniors kitchen, should not be highly polished for the same reason.
3. 3

non-slip floor mat
Replace large and heavy pots and pans with lighter and smaller pans. Seniors lose strength as they age, as well as eating less, because they are living alone or as a couple, rather than a larger family unit, so seniors seldom need big pots or pans to cook with.

Make sure frequently used items are not too high to reach.

Keep a grip leveler in the kitchen to allow the senior to reach items on the floor or over their head. Keep it on a hook in the kitchen when not in use.
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Read more: How to Have a Senior Friendly Kitchen | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2322798_have-senior-friendly-kitchen.html#ixzz1251Htlro

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Fall Prevention in the Kitchen - 8 Ways to Make Cooking Safe For Your Elderly Mom

Let your mom still enjoy the beauty and joy of cooking for the family from time to time by making sure that these fall prevention measures are implemented in the kitchen. The reason for adhering to these fall prevention advice is because many falls that happen to seniors are either associated with the use of the bathroom or while preparing food in the kitchen be it for their own consumption or for the whole family or simply because they love the art of cooking.
Slip and fall accidents are in reality the number one cause of problems among seniors that send them to the hospital or results to injuries where they never completely quite recover. So here are safety measures that will help you better take care of your elderly parent to show her that you are willing to support her at this time in her life.
In preventing falls in the kitchen safe for your elderly parent, you should investigate the whole kitchen from top to bottom all wall cupboards, bottom cabinets, cupboards, and your counter tops as they may contain seemingly harmful objects that are in reality pose threats to your senior mom. For example your blender or your microwave oven could be in a spot where they have a tendency to fall on the floor which becomes a falling hazard to your mom when she tries to pick the object up.
• Throw rugs on your floors are a hazard to seniors and more often the cause of falls that result to permanent disability. These should be removed especially if your mom is using a cane or walkers with wheels.
• A wise fall safety measure is to check your kitchen floor, see to it that it's easy to clean and is non-slip. When cleaning your floor, don't use cleaners that leave residue or make the floor super shiny as this has the potential of causing a slip injury.
• Let mom prepare food while sitting because there are times when seniors will suddenly feel weak and tired from standing too long which will sometimes cause dizzy spells thus leading to a bad fall.
• Another fall prevention tip is to use non-slip mats where mom will put her mixing bowl as she is cooking.
• If mom has problems with eyesight, have her eyes checked once a year and install bright lights in your kitchen. You can also use contrasting colors on your floors and counter tops so that she can easily see the stairs or any elevated portions of your kitchen. Some seniors also wake up in the middle of the night to have a glass of water; a night light in the kitchen will help her see what she needs to see.
• Regarding electrical cords from appliances see to it that they are kept secure after use or that the cords are tacked to prevent your mom from tripping on the wires.
• You can also printout her recipes in large print to help her see what needs to be done better.
• As a fall prevention measure, those frequently used tools, pots, pans, bowls and other kitchen apparatus, transfer them to a location in the kitchen which is easy to reach so that mom will not have to use step tools to reach for that item up there.
On a final note, fall prevention also involves asking mom in a polite way that you are senior proofing her kitchen. If you fear that she might not take this lightly, you can use gentle persuasion, or subtle suggestions as to what needs to be done in the kitchen. The reason for this is that if mom doesn't see a tool in its usual place, she might try finding the tool anywhere else in the kitchen such as overhead cupboards which may cause a fall accident.
Walkers With Wheels is something that you will be able to benefit enormously due to its positive features and high quality designs. To make your walker more useful, buy some more attachments for your Walkers With Seats such as a basket, horns, and a lot more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Sherman

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