Ayari & Fujii 1

Assisting the Elderly On the Stairs while

Sustaining Mobility

Rami Ayari & Ryu Fujii

Mrs. Conlin

Engineering Applications - 2nd

15 February 2017
Executive Summary

This proposal was made to provide a solution for the problem of elderly people frequently falling while they

attempt to go up or down stairs. There is a vast amount of research to back the validity of this problem,

including the fact that about one third of the elderly population over the age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of

falls increases proportionately with age (Learn Not To Fall). Furthermore, at 80 years, over half of seniors (in

the United States) fall annually (Learn Not To Fall). Thus, our market is elderly people who need help walking

up or down stairs, which is a majority of seniors. An analysis of the market shows that there is a huge opening

for a product designed to solve this problem, as there are very few products that exists to combat the issue. We

have identified the weaknesses within our competition and strategies to capitalize on them. Our design included

extensive models and drawings that cover every single part of the product, ensuring that we have a clear plan

for construction and building. Our product is justified as it uses structurally sound materials, is very profitable,

solves the problem completely and effectively, is not a hassle, is not heavy, and is easy to use. We also have a

set schedule and strict management for our project that allows us to get all components done in a timely and

efficient manner

The Industry

Our product will be competing in the seniorcare sector pertaining to healthcare and safety. Products that are

produced from this industry are usually created to aid elders in their everyday tasks and so they are not harmed

by their inconsistent environment. Other companies in this industry include Medical Guardian, Life Alert, etc.

With the senior population projected to reach 83.7 million only even in the U.S. in 2020, revenues are estimated

to grow up to 300 billion dollars (Senior Care Industry). Our product will fit into this industry by providing

assistance to elderly people as they go up and down stairs. We can take advantage of this industry by designing

a cheap, quality, and effective product that seniors everywhere can use to help them in everyday life.
Market Analysis

The primary target market for our product will be seniors. The needs for this market fall mainly in the category

of structural body support, as elderly people face a loss of bone density and strength as they get older. The

needs of this market are not currently being addressed as well as they should be, with very few products out

there that provide specific support for elderly people as they go up or down stairs. This is shocking, considering

that falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among the elderly (Problems for Elderly People).

Furthermore, the products that do exist for this issue are not very well made or are not widely available due to

lack of production or an unreasonable price. Furthermore, we can be reasonably sure that there is a need and

demand for the product due to consultation with potential consumers. Mrs. Yamazaki, an elderly woman,

claimed that there needs to be a product out there that effectively solves the problem of falls on the stairs. As

seen with this consumer feedback, the demand for the product exists.

There is a widely available market for our product, the stair cane. While there exists a few products for the

problem we are trying to solve, these products are little in number and are not as effective as they should be

considering the seriousness of the problem. Our main competitor will be the EZ Step Stair Cane, which contains

many structural and material flaws. There are also a few other products, like the Walking Assist Device and the

Dual Stair Step Walker with Assist Bar. These products, however, are yet to be mass produced and sold at a

large scale. Thus, our market share estimation is about 30%, which is very high considering the expanse of our

market.

Competitive Product Analysis

Dual Stair Step Walker with Assist Bar

Strengths: Very sturdy design, expansive, simple to use, low maintenance cost, solves

problem

Weaknesses: Too heavy for seniors, expensive, not very innovative, ineffective despite

solving problem
 Strategies: In order to take advantage of this products weaknesses, we will make sure

that our product does not contain heavy materials so it will be easy for the elderly to

carry, we will make sure to use inexpensive materials so that we may sell the product

at an affordable price, and we will rigorously test and improve the product to make sure

that it is very effective

EZ Step Stair Climbing Cane

Strengths: Effective, solves problem, innovative, easy to carry, simple to use

Weaknesses: Very unaffordable, structurally unsound materials, does not look

aesthetically pleasing

Strategies: In order to take advantage of this products weaknesses, we will make sure to

value our product at a reasonable price while also making a good profit, use materials

that are safe and guaranteed to help support the elderly, and use materials and colors that

aesthetically pleasing

Walking Assist Device

Strengths: Innovative, very effective, very structurally sound, groundbreaking

Weaknesses: Expensive, complicated to use, high maintenance needs, difficult to mass

difficult to mass produce, not yet feasible

Strategies: In order to take advantage of this products weaknesses, we will make sure to

value our product at a price that is very reasonable while also making a good profit, make

our product simple and easy to use, and reduce the maintenance need for our product to

nothing

Design Specifications

1. Target consumer includes senior citizens with ages ranging from 60 to 80 with no specification in
gender. (Verghese, Joe)
a. Customer needs (Level of importance: III)
 i. The customer desires a new method of climbing up and down 12 steps of stairs, which is
the average number of steps in flights of stairs in households in the U.S., with as close to
no physical stress, but still being able to maintain their physical ability. (Verghese, Joe)
b. Performance (Level of importance: III)
i. The product must be able to successfully elevate a maximum weight of 225 pounds.
(Senior Health)
ii. The product consumer must perform some kind of physical action that will sustain bone
mass health of close to 7% or muscle mass between 17% and 21%. (Senior Health)
c. Target Cost (Level of importance: II)
i. Our competition product being the Stair lift which has a value of $2,146 (disregarding
maintenance fees), our goal is to strive for a cheaper cost than the stair lift. (Verghese,
Joe)
d. Size and Weight (Level of importance: III)
i. Depending on the product destination to be a portable or a static object the weight
constraints may vary, though no product should exceed 100lbs. (Senior Health)
ii. The size of the product should not be larger than the width of the stair case. The average
width in the U.S. is approximately 36 inches. (Verghese, Joe)
e. Aesthetics (Level of importance: I)
i. There are no exact aesthetic components that need to be addressed.
f. Materials (Level of importance: II)
i. The materials used must be comfortable for the consumer to step on.
ii. Materials should be durable to sustain weights up to 225 pounds without any permanent
deformations. (Senior Health)
g. Safety and Legal Issues (Level of importance: III)
i. The safety of the product is a major key to the performance, since the whole concept is
revolved around the safety of the consumer on flights of stairs.
ii. The desired outcome is an injury rate of close to 0 on flights of stairs.
h. Ergonomics (Level of importance: II)
i. The consumer should be able to climb flights of stairs considerably more efficiently than
normally. A desired efficiency in time of going up stairs is 20% faster. (Verghese, Joe)
i. Operating Environment (Level of importance: I)
i. The operating environment is pretty controlled in which the product should be mainly
used on staircases in modern households.
j. Global Environment (Level of importance: II)
i. The product should not release any harmful toxins or substances.
ii. Upon disposal, the product should be able to be repaired and reused for another cycle of
its service life.
k. Service Life (Level of importance: III)
i. Service life for this product should withstand at least 2 years before any noticeable
maintenance problems arise.
l. Product Life (Level of importance: II)
i. The product may be replaced in a span of close to 3~4 years with the increase in
technology.
 m. Durability and Maintenance (Level of importance: III)
i. The product should not require any routine maintenance unless there are any
malfunctions that occur on the product.
ii. Durability should sustain the potential service life.

Possible Constraints

90 workdays
Budget up to $200
Only materials approved by teacher

Product Design
 Cost Estimates

A. Staff Handle: Material - Pine Wood; Dimensions - 4.5 inches long/1 inch wide; Cost -

$0.25 (Home Depot). Staff: Material - Aluminum; Dimensions - 3 feet tall/7/8 inch

diameter; Cost - $19 (Gander Mountain). Block: Material - Synthetic rubber (outside) &

ULine Soft Foam Sheet (inside); Dimensions - 3.5 inches tall/16 inches wide/11 inches

deep; Cost - $27.92 (usafoam). Total Cost: $47.17

B. Construction Time: 7 hours. Hourly Wage: $0.18 in Madagascar. Total Cost of Labor: $1.26

C. Total Cost of Product: $48.43

Design Justification

While there are a few drawbacks of our design, these are far outweighed by the many benefits our product has.

The aluminum and soft foam we are going to use are not the most environmentally friendly materials once they

are disposed, and the design can not be folded or compressed when not in use. However, our product is very

affordable for seniors, does its job not only correctly, but very effectively, uses sturdy materials, is aesthetically

pleasing, is designed for the comfort of seniors, and is very portable. The product improves on the materials and

design of the EZ Step Stair Climbing Cane, the main competitor, and has clear advantages, convincing

consumers to purchase our product over theirs. Furthermore, all laws and regulations pertaining to stairs and

safety have been thoroughly researched at taken into account while we created this design. For example, a stair

has a standard height of 7- inches, a minimum width of 36 inches, and should have headroom clearance of 80

inches (Staircase Regulations). The anticipated lifecycle of this product, assuming that there is medium and

average use, is 10 years. This lifecycle ensures the safety of the elderly and saves their money, further

convincing them to purchase the product. Due to the many advantages, strengths, and considerations listed

above of our design, we can be reasonably sure that our product will succeed on the market.
Project Management

Appendix
While climbing stairs, it seems as though there is no science involving what the body experiences, but in fact

there are a couple of events occurring to the body and the system around the body. A physics component

surrounding the physical action of climbing stairs is the power equation, which can be established in the

equation P=W/t. Power (Watts) is the rate in which work is done over time. While climbing the stairs, the use of

energy over the amount of time shows how much energy is used by the body. Another equation which is more

related directly to the momentum on the stairs is the angular momentum equation. Angular momentum

increases when you move farther from the earths center, thus the rate at which kinetic energy also increases.

Angular momentum can be described by the equation 1 2 m 2 r = 1 2 m 2 h

In our market research, we found that there would be a huge need and demand for our solution. In fact, 30% of

people over age 65 and 50% over age 80 will fall once during the next year (Problems for Elderly). This shows

that the problem is very widespread among the elderly, thus making a huge demand for a product that solves the

problem. Thus, the main consumers and buyers of our product would be the elderly, or concerned relatives of

the elderly, so that they can ensure the safety of their loved ones. People would bother to try our product

because safety is one of the most valuable things one can have, and our solution aims to bring this to the elderly

in risk of major injury from walking up and down stairs.

Conclusion

1. How has your product design changed from the conceptual design to the final proposed design on which this

proposal is based? Why did these changes occur?

Our product has changed in a multitude of ways. The handle is now better molded to the hand, rather than being

just a rectangular prism. The cane is a bit longer and now reaches the midway point of the average elderly

person, as it used to be too short. The block will be made out of two materials rather than just one, with an outer

layer of rubber and an inner layer of soft yet sturdy foam. The reason for these changes is a better knowledge of

the competition, consumer feedback, stakeholder feedback, and pricing.

2. What do you think are the most important considerations for a potential investor to consider when deciding

whether or not to invest in the development of a new product? Why?

The most important considerations for a potential investor to consider when deciding whether or not to invest in

a product are the feasibility of the product, the market availability for the product, the profit, the safety

considerations, and the necessity of the product. These factors are the most important as they determine whether

consumers will actually purchase the product, and whether it will succeed on an increasingly competitive

market.
 Works Cited

Falls and Injury Statistics for Seniors and Elderly. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19, 2016, from

http://www.learnnottofall.com/content/fall-facts/how-often.jsp

Problems for Elderly People Climbing Stairs. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19, 2016, from

http://agingparentsauthority.com/elderly-needs/

Network, D. (2015, February 24). Staircase Regulations and Standards. Retrieved February 16, 2017, from

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/carpentry-and-woodworking/staircase-regulations-an

d-standards