Skip to Page Content

D2. Development of a Wheelchair for Frail Elders

Project Director: Randy Bernard, MID

Co- Investigators: Bryan Hobbs, BSME, MSME

Clinical Partner: Jo Taylor, RN, MPH & Mary Shotwell, OTRL; Wesley Woods

Timeframe: Years 2-3 (24 months)

Specific Aims:

This project builds upon two needs assessments within Project R2, an assessment of the needs of elders living at home and an assessment of elders living in assisted living and long term care facilities. The overall purpose of this project is to design manual wheelchair technology that can meet the unique needs of elder users across the continuum of residential environments while addressing the needs of family caregivers and facility staff. The specific objectives of the project include: 1) synthesis of needs data and design criteria identified in R2; 2) design of wheelchair features that meet the various needs of users, caregivers and facility staff; 3) incorporate the requirements inherent in different living environments; 4) test prototype technology with elder users; and 5) seek commercialization of the technology. To ensure development of a marketable product, potential partners will be identified early in the design process.

< Return to Projects :: Go to Next Section >

Top of This Page