Solum bathroom base
encouraging the application of humour between informal caregivers and people with dementia
Information
Author: Huisman, A.C.
Contributor: Goossens, R.H.M., Thomassen, E.W.
Faculty: Industrial Design Engineering
Department: Industrial Design
Programme: Master of Science Integrated Product Design
Type: Master thesis
Date: 27-3-2013
Keywords: Fall | Prevention | Elderly | Bathroom
Abstract
Falling is an common problem among older people (55 years and over), in the Netherlands only 95.000 elderly are treated in the emergency room because of a fall accident each year, of which 110 victims died after treatment. Four out of ten of these victims has fallen indoors, of which one out of eight was fallen in sanitary facilities. On a yearly basis 3.000 elderly were treated for a fall in the bathroom or shower. Direct medical costs of injury from a fall in the bathroom are counted to be €8.400 yearly. (Consument en veiligheid, 2010) Current bathroom aids, mainly designed to give elderly comfort and to prevent them from falling, often look outdated and therefore do not fit their bathroom. Besides, most elderly do not want to buy (bathroom) aids before they are injured because they do not want to admit to ageing.
This problem has lead to the assignment of this project.
The assignment is to develop a concept design of a product or product line, for elderly which provides them comfort when taking a shower, and prevents them from falling. The concept should be safe and ergonomic on one hand and attractive for the user group on the other hand. The product will have a focus on the Dutch market, besides is asked to study possibilities in Germany, the UK, USA, Scandinavia, and Japan.
In the analysis is investigated what the requirements for this product should be from both a market and ergonomic perspective. Literature and desktop research were used to further define the target group and the possible market. Interviews with expert and several stakeholders, as well as a questionnaire among the target group gave guidance to the main objectives for a product design from different aspects. Vision in product design was executed simultaneously to help to form a vision for further product development.
During synthesis ideas were generated, in which brainstorm sessions offered a wide spectrum of products. Several loops of diverging, clustering, comparing and converging have led to a product direction that fit the problem and the company. A second analysis phase guided requirements for this specific product direction. In which mainly the ergonomic guidelines for a safe grip were defined by several applied researches and a literature study. Within the product direction several concepts were generated, one of these concepts was chosen with help of the program of requirements and further materialized. During this stage simulations were performed to verify the reliability of the construction for different user scenarios.
The final concept consist of an aluminium extruded profile. Of which the outside is based upon the ergonomic guidelines and the inside on functionality and installation. The rail allows the user the connect different products of the product series, to be further developed, Figure .. gives and impression. Next to the profile a construction element is designed that connects the profile with the wall of the bathroom. In the design easy installation, as well as aesthetics that fit the modern bathroom of the target group were taken into account.
