The StreetSmart Walker

For this year’s FLL Senior Solutions competition, the NYCityzens have researched senior citizens’ issues. We found that seniors with mobility problems have a tendency to fall, so they use canes and walkers. However, we discovered that these aids could also lead to falls when the person encounters raised surfaces such as curbs.  So we decided to develop a new walker for senior citizens (or anyone else who is in need of a walker). Although NYC has converted many of the street crossing curbs to handicap ramps so that wheelchairs, power chairs, and walkers can more easily move up and down them. However, sometimes as we have observed that the handicap ramps crossings are not always flat to the street surface and the senior or person with a walker has trouble moving up the handicap ramps; the person might have to lift the walker slightly or give the walker or chair more momentum to make it past the slightly raised curb. Also, someone trying to enter a van with their walker, they actually have to lift it. Thus, we have come up with the StreetSmart Walker

          Conventional walkers have 3-4 wheels. Some may be fixed while others are swivel caster wheels. This StreetSmart Walker has three pairs of wheels for a total of six wheels, which we think gives the walker more stability. A sensor will scan the front of the walker for obstacles/curbs and will send a vibration to the handles to warn the senior. The person can move out of the way of the obstacle or press a sensory button to raise front wheels with the middle set of wheels, to a height to clear the curb, and then automatically readjust to the surface.

  The wheels that we are recommending for this walker are called Rotacaster® Multi-directional Wheels made by Rotacaster® (http://www.rotacaster.com.au/robot-wheels.html ). These wheels are unique because they can easily move in any directions. According to Rotacastor® (the manufacturer), the “wheels are sturdy, impact resistant, precision-engineered, and made from fully molded polymers allowing the engineering of entirely new multi-directional movement.” Rotacaster® Multi-directional Wheels are wheels with little discs around the circumference, which are perpendicular to the rolling direction. Other walker wheels sometimes show some resistance when trying to move sideways or turn. Even the swivel caster wheels can sometimes become momentarily stuck when trying to turn, particularly for a senior who has limited upper body strength.

The StreetSmart Walker will be equipped with manual handbrakes on the back wheels, in case the senior feels the walker is moving too fast going down an incline, the walker can be slowed down or come to a stop. We are putting brakes on the back wheels of the Walker. Brakes require pressure to be applied on 2 sides of the wheel. We emailed Peter McKinnon of Rotacaster about how to put brakes on the Rotacaster Multi-directional wheels. He recommended putting brakes on the primary and secondary directions (left and right, forward and backward).

An optional GPS will also be available for seniors who are beginning to suffer from dementia. It will be simply programmed to return the senior to his/her residence.

This walker will also have a small basket under the seat, allowing seniors to carry small items. Since the basket is under the seat the walker will remain balanced.

Some Resources for Seniors

           Many resources are available to senior citizens. Older people are often homebound, or cannot work and earn money. Many private companies have programs for senior citizens, and state governments provide the most essential necessities.

         One of these programs is the Virtual Senior Center. The Virtual Senior Center is a program that helps senior citizens confined to their home get into the outside world. The program provides senior citizens with a large tablet-like device with a webcam. Some of the activities one could participate in by using the device include discussion groups, museum lectures, and music classes.

         The NYC Department for the Aging supplements seniors with money and healthcare.

Another program supplying money to seniors is Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. This program gives payment to seniors older than 62.

The New York Prescription Saver Card can give discount on almost all medicines, over-the-counter and prescription. Medicare is also incredibly important. At age 65 seniors are eligible for Medicare which helps pay for medical costs.

OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) is a program that helps seniors learns about how to use computers.  This program will make seniors more comfortable using new technology. They have classes all year long in Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. Their website is www.oats.org

By E.R.

John Gallagher NYCityzens’ Senior Partner

                  John and Beatrice Gallagher are neighbors to two of the members of the Brics~2~Bots FLL teams, the NYCityzens and Dragonbotz: Both were born in New York City, are well educated, and have many hobbies and talents. They became our team’s senior partners.

                   John Gallagher is the main senior partner for the NYCityzens. He likes card games, puzzles, traveling and he also enjoys making friends. He worked as an accountant economist. He also agrees that a problem that he faces is homecare. If he had technology in his hands, he said that he would like for technology to mow the grass, turn the light on and off, and that the thermostat could control the temperature. He does not need an assisted walking (at this point in his life), and he would like an electric car priced reasonably for future technology.

By C.P.C.

Seniors at the Queens Herald Church

Interviews at the Queens Herald Church

         Our team, NYCityzens, visited the Queens Herald Church (QHC) in Flushing, NY to interview some  of their senior citizens. There were about 25 seniors there for their weekly fellowship meeting. We walked in expecting to find seniors with walking disabilities, but instead we found that most of them were in great physical condition even at ages up to 86. Only one person actually used a cane sometimes. We were very surprised to see so many seniors in good shape.

         Corban and Daniel both interviewed a different senior. Corban interviewed two seniors ages 79 and 86, while Daniel interviewed a senior who was 83 years old. It seems as if many of the seniors did not need any assistance in walking. We learned that some of them had hobbies/talents. Three of them were woodworking, exercising and listening to music. When we asked them about technology, a new type of technology that they would like to have is a motorized and remote controlled walker.

         Most of the seniors had a lot of friends and a big family. It seems as if the seniors are very happy when they are together since they are friends.   

By C.P.C & D.C.

*