Transcript Senior Challenges

Senior Challenges
By: McNair Robotics
Common challenges for seniors
(topics in this presentation are in bold)
 Depression
 Isolation
 Fear (not health related, but still a
problem)
 Cost of health care
 Loss of independence
 Driving problem
 Mobility
 Bending
 Diabetes
 Cancer
 Stroke
 Obesity
 Hearing


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
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Alzheimer’s disease
Pneumonia
Sight
Cholesterol/High blood
pressure
Arthritis (weakening of
muscles)
Osteoporosis( bone
problems)
Parkinson’s disease
Mobility
Mobility is the first major issue
for senior citizens. As we
grow older, our muscles
grow weaker and we can’t
necessarily move as freely
as we used to be able to.
Seniors can’t travel because
their limits prevent them
and that they can become
uncomfortable.
Problem: Can’t move
around as well
Solutions:
1) Stay active (this
prevents your muscles
from weakening)
2) Exercise your muscles
regularly
Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are
also called malignant cells. Cancer grows out of
normal cells in the body. Normal cells multiply
when the body needs them, and die when the
body doesn't need them. Cancer appears to occur
when the growth of cells in the body is out of
control and cells divide too quickly. It can also
occur when cells forget how to die. There are
many different kinds of cancers.
A major type of cancer is lung cancer. There are
two types of lung cancer: small cell lung cancer and
no cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is
accountable for about 20% of diagnoses and is
mostly caused by smoking. Smoking is the largest
cause of lung cancer, being responsible for more
that 80% of it. Cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are all
known causes of lung cancer. Smokers aren't the
only ones at risk; Nonsmokers increase their risk
through other sources, such as secondhand smoke,
which increases their risk of developing lung cancer
by 20 to 30%.
Problem: Several types of
cancer
Solutions:
1) Get early treatment (see
a doctor, have surgery)
2) Take medication
3) Don’t smoke(for lung
and heart cancers)
Sight and Hearing
Sight and hearing problems
are there not only for
seniors, but also adults
and children (it’s more
prominent in seniors.)
This is a rather easier
challenge because there
are already many
solutions out there.
Problem: Sight and vision problems
Solution:
Sight
Hearing
Wear glasses
Use a hearing aid
Laser surgery
surgery
Use a guide
Have others help
animal (such as a you (sign language,
dog)
writing things
down.)
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
disease are two giant
diseases that are rapidly
affecting seniors.
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s
The Parkinson’s
disease is a disorder
that ends up in
degeneration of
neurons in the brain.
Some symptoms are
tremors in hand,
arms, legs, jaw, and
face.
Alzheimer's is a type
of dementia that
causes problems
with memory,
thinking and
behavior.
Solutions:
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s
Use muscles regularly Have a friend help
with memory, or write
yourself notes
The big challenge
All the previous challenges listed were big but the biggest, most
toughest challenge of them all, was the one we focused on the
most:
Bending!!!
Our first idea
Problem:
Flexibility is an issue that
several people face once they
are over 65. Some common
problems are bending,
stretching, and reaching.
Solution:
Our senior partners told
us that doing laundry is a big
issue for them because they
can’t necessarily bend over,
so we invented a moving
pedestal that lifts when
seniors want to put/remove
laundry, and drops so
seniors can put detergents
and fabric softeners in their
washers and dryers.
Our second idea
Problem:
Our second problem
we focused on was
reaching. Seniors have
trouble trying to reach
objects on the floor and
high up on shelves.
Solution:
We solved this by
improving the already
made “grabber.” Our
design has buttons that
you press, and it can bend
to reach objects at the
back of a high shelf.
Bibliography
 http://www.alz.org/alzhei
mers_disease_what_is_al
zheimers.asp
 Kendrick Senior
Community Center,
Herndon, VA