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:-)