+ Designing For The Elderly: An interview with Modern Plastic Editor Matthew Defosse

Interesting article from Modern Plastics Designing for the elderly: Targeting the wallet of the voice of experience.

"How to design for this burgeoning group of consumers? Well, don’t, at least not specifically, recommends Davin Stowell, CEO of product design firm Smart Design (New York). He says designers should not limit themselves to products specifically marketed to the aged or elderly, except for extreme products. “We’re becoming a more youthful society,” he notes, not in terms of average age but with reference to how people perceive themselves."

Check out the full article here.

From the editor of Modern Plastics, Matthew Defosse:
What value did your publication see in the topic of elderly care to pursue the article?
Our readers are plastics processors—the people who buy plastic pellets and turn these into various parts, including automotive parts, medical goods, packaging, building and construction applications, and much more. We strive to offer our readers knowledge they can use to more efficiently run their operations, and also highlight potential future markets of interest.

Please describe your readership, and why you think they would find value in this article.
As the population ages in many countries, plastics processors, like any other manufacturing group, need to stay abreast of the special desires of an aging population, and design products that can attract the elderly consumer. That was the impetus for our decision to add ‘designing for the elderly’ to our editorial calendar.

Tell me more about your publication: history, content generation, and staff experience.
Modern Plastics is the leading source of industry information for the global plastics processing community, with 63,000+ readers in more than 120 countries. The magazine has been published continuously since 1925. We generate 90% or more of our content ourselves with a staff of five fulltime editors and a number of freelancers.

So there is a new trend in product development to design products that are all-age inclusive, instead of segmenting products into age groups. What examples do you have of dual-age designs?

+ Retirement Centers Focus on Health and Wellness

In relation to Irene Saylor’s independent living apartment, we looked into alternative lifestyles for the elderly. Tawyna Hensley from the Lodge Retirement Community in Cincinnati, Ohio describes the health and wellness programs available to her residents.

Please tell me about your staff and their experience in the Health and Wellness field.
We have numerous years of experience in our facility as we have physicians, therapists, nurses and activity coordinators.

What are the current Lodge programs addressing Health and Wellness for residents?
Walking Club, Exercise Class, Bowling, Volleyball, Alzheimer Support Group, Harmonica Group for Parkinson’s Disease residents, Blood Pressure Checks, Medical Lab, Association of the Blind

What are the resident's reactions to Health and Wellness programs? Are they open to health suggestions or are they content with their current practices?
There are many who participate in one or more of these programs to keep them healthy longer or to regain some loss. They are open to suggestions.

Has The Lodge staff recognized emerging attitudes or trends that will change your Health and Wellness programs for the future? If so, what? and when will they start?
Exercise Partners

So the future is in partnerships - an age old approach. People want what is within their comfort zone, but in the context of a new experience. How can the design community focus on this idea as we innovate for the future of elderly care?

+ Interview: Irene Saylor-Pros/Cons of Independent Living

Irene Saylor is an 88 year old woman who has lived in the same independent living apartment building for 25 years. Below are her comments.

Why did you choose the place where you live now?
It was the best place at the time I moved 25 years ago.

How is the amount you pay for rent determined?
Each resident pays 35% of their income.

What are the requirements to live in your apartment building?
You have to be at least 60 years old or have some type of handicap or disability.

Have there been many changes or improvements to the building or your apartment since you have lived there?
No.

What would you like to see changed?
The management needs to hire a fulltime cleaning person. It would be nice to have a shower instead of a bathtub. It would be easier for me.

What do you like most about where you live?
I like the people that live in the building with me.

Are activities important to you?
Not at my age.

What type of security is offered in your building?
If a person visits they have to buzz my apartment and then I let them in by pushing a button. Also, if there were an emergency in my apartment there are 2 emergency ropes to pull that will notify the apartment manager and life squad.

If you had to move to a nursing home what would be most important to you?
The care I receive and that my family/friends could visit me.

Would you prefer a smaller or larger nursing home?
A smaller place because I think I would get better care.

+ Interview: Kare Backstrom – Future of Elderly Care

Kare Backstrom is Vice President for Schiff, Kreidler-Shell Insurance Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has worked for the company for 16 years. Schiff, Kriedler-Shell offers personal insurance, business insurance & risk management, benefits & financial services and surety bonds. (http://www.sksins.com/)

What do you think the future of elderly care will look like?
With the aging of our population, it will obviously change. The tremendous cost for each State will also add budget constrains. Since it’s generally cheaper, home health care and assisted living care will likely grow substantially.


What do you think are the most important factors that determine elderly care selection?
It depends on the type of care you’re looking at. With assisted living, what other services and activities are available or provided. In more of a nursing home situation, the training of the staff is important to ensure each person is cared for properly.

What is the biggest challenge facing elderly care in the future?
Cost and staffing. Very few people can afford the care, especially at home. Finding quality workers will also be challenging, and how to compensate them properly.

There seems to be a trend toward changing the culture in nursing homes. Have you heard of the Eden Alternative or Green House Replication Initiative and do you think it is a successful alternative to current nursing homes?
No I have not heard of the alternative. But I’m skeptical of the Green House Initiative, and that the proper care can be administered in such small facilities. For some more “active” residents, offering a variety of things to do will be challenging at the same time as other residents are deteriorating medically (and physically) thus requiring a totally different type of care and attention.

Do you think that a state funded long term in-home care program would be a more cost effective plan than for states to pay for nursing home care?
Not sure. To care for tens of thousands of people at home would be challenging from a medical standpoint. It would also limit the amount of “activities” offered to them. I have toured assisted living facilities and nursing homes where activities ranged from in-house ice cream stores to art and craft areas, to live entertainment/musicians to visiting beauty salon workers.

What effect does long term care have on the insurance industry?
It provides an opportunity to sell an insurance product to a very narrow segment of the population. The vast majority of people can not afford to buy any type of coverage, as they are financially unprepared to face retirement. Another obstacle is pre-existing medical conditions, since we’re talking about selling a medically underwritten product to older individuals. Since the states/federal government will be faced with an ever increasing cost burden, a tax deduction for purchasing LTC insurance is also needed.