“Everyone I know over 65 is concerned about falling!”
FALL STATISTICS | The disconcerting truth
86,400 Fall occur every day in the United States. That is one fall every second of the day.
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among people 65+.
Study shows about 1/2 of people 65+ who fall, but are not injured, cannot get up without assistance.
Most common injuries to home and institutional healthcare workers result from lifting and moving patients.
The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to nearly double from over 50 million today to 95 million by 2060.
KEY INSIGHTS
FEAR OF FALLING AND NO ACTION PLAN
The fear of falling amongst older adults limits physical activity and mobility leading to a more rapid decline of physical and mental health. Despite heightened awareness and preventative fall measures, few older adults have a plan in place to get up after a fall.
LIMITED MOBILITY AND COMPROMISED EXERCISE
As people age, older adults are more prone to falling due to drastic reductions in muscle strength and motor control. Yet at the same time, older adults exercising at home often put themselves at risk holding onto a wet kitchen sink or using an unstable chair.
CAREGIVER LIMITATIONS AND INJURY RISKS
When an older adult has fallen, yet is not injured, caregivers may not be able to lift them due to physical abilities, limited staffing, or employer policies. Even when feasible, lifting patients puts both the caregiver and patient at high risk for injury.
EMS BURDEN AND SITUATIONAL STRESS
When nothing else works, 911 is called for lift assist, often against the will of the older adult, creating unnecessary stress for the uninjured older adults and people around them, and also putting a strain on limited EMS resources.
DESIGN INSPIRATION | The beginning of our journey
DESIGN INTERNSHIP
California College of the Arts industrial design students Nick Steigmann and Maya Jensen were first introduced to human-centered design through a class on design for the aging taught by Schirin Lucie Richter. Nick and Maya wanted to continue building their design skills through the summer, so Schirin and colleague Lawrence Shubert mentored Nick and Maya through a human-centered design process focused on aging and mobility. Nick and Maya performed significant design research and identified a number of unmet needs for getting down to and back up from the ground. Their final concept won the Stanford Center on Longevity’s annual design competition. Following the competition, Nick, Maya, Schirin, and Lawrence worked together to form Mobilix to continue the development of the winning concept.
DESIGN RESEARCH | Discovering user needs and insights
Healthcare Professionals
Assisted living facility care staff and administrators
Community Center product testing
In-home interviews and observations
