Store It Safe!
The Elegant Safety Group
Nick Briggs, Meg Desko, Erica Solway
Point of view
A recently retired couple desires an affordable means of support that is
functional and attractive.
Insights
• The bathroom is a dangerous place for older adults
• People need support in bathroom for balance and strength• Supportive devices are
unattractive and uninviting
• Storage in the bathroom very useful and usually limited
Initial prototype
• The automated bathroom (like a luxury car)
• Problems:• Too complicated• Scope of idea too big• Too many moving parts• Too big a change
Observations and Interviews• Talked with younger
people with disabilities and learned about universal design
• Learned what is currently available
• Older adults had very positive or very negative reactions
• People are using things they’re not supposed to for support
• Marian and Family• Molly and Jeremy• Benton Medical• Home Depot and Ikea• Lytton Gardens• Avenidas• Menorah Park
Safety and storage are important bathroom concerns
Store it Safe: Current prototype
Store it Safe: Current prototype
Some options for customization
• Color• Size (height and
width)• Material• Cabinet type
• Shelving• Type of support bars• Accessories• Lighting
Future prototyping
• Building a usable model
• Building in real support arms for adult use
• Experience prototype of purchasing, installation, and use
• Developing a nice scale model• Photos and our model not enough…
Picture
Further considerations
• Make the unit out of corrosion-proof material
• Make sure they can fit existing bathrooms
• Mounting the arms and cabinet
• Cost ($$$$$$)
• Meeting the needs of people of different sizes (height and weight)
Other possibilities for making the bathroom a safer place
• Non-slip floors
• Narrower walkers
• All sorts of shower stuff
• Toilet seat height
• Proper bathroom ergonomics
Thank you!• John Tang (our faithful coach)• Marian and her family• Elna and Arna• Molly and Jeremy Hale• Lytton Gardens, Avenidas, Menorah
Park• Our teaching staff, coaches, and
classmates:-)