DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFORDABLE PERSONAL HYGIENE SYSTEM TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE DISABLED ELDERLY POPULATION

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY IS TO COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFORDABLE PERSONAL HYGIENE SYSTEM THAT WILL ENABLE THE DISABLED ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL TO MAINTAIN PERSONAL CLEANLINESSINDEPENDENTLY AND SAFELY, WITH MINIMAL DEPENDENCE ON PERSONAL ASSISTANCE FROM A CAREGIVER. THIS HYGIENE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF: (1) A TOILET APPLIANCE THAT CLEANSES, RINSES, AND DRIES THE PERINEAL AREA AND (2) A TRANSPORTER CHAIR THATMOVES THE INDIVIDUAL FROM WHEELCHAIR/BED/CHAIR TO THE TOILETAND POSITIONS HIM/HER PRECISELY OVER THE TOILET APPLIANCE. PHASE I DEVELOPMENT WILL FOCUS ON: (1) MODIFYING THE EXISTING PROTOTYPE, WHICH HAS BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY BY AN INDIVIDUAL WITH CEREBRAL PALSY, TO MEET THE SPECIALIZED NEEDS OF THE DISABLED ELDERLY; (2) CONDUCTING APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING ANALYSES TO VERIFY THE SYSTEM'S RELIABILITY, STABILITY, SAFETY, AND ADAPTABILITY TO RESIDENTIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES; (3) DETERMINING THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND COST-EFFECTIVE MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING METHODS FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION; AND (4) DEVELOPING A PRELIMINARY PROTOCOL FOR TESTING THE HYGIENE SYSTEM WITH DISABLED ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS. IN PHASE II, PROTOTYPES WILL BE INSTALLED IN DESIGNATED HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND THE PROTOCOL DEVELOPED IN PHASE I WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND DOCUMENTED, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY THIS HYGIENE SYSTEM AS DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, REIMBURSABLE UNDER MEDICARE GUIDELINES.