1. Elderly
Elderly is the term referring to a particular age group which is considered
senior or older. They usually have more health problems as their bodies
systems are deteriorating.
Women generally live longer and tend not to remarry, older women are
more likely to live alone than older men. Globally, about 19% of women
aged 60 years or above live alone, but only 8% of men in that age group do
so. This would usually lead to loneliness and depression at times.
They usually stay at home for more than 12 hours a day, spending their
time doing house work, surf net, read, exercise, watch TV program, chit-
chat, nap and pray. They would only sleep 7-9 hours per day. This will
lead to boredom and usually shutting down the brain’s basic system due
their deteriorating state.
The age of elderly ranges from 65 years and above.
The link of the information above:
From http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/stats/charts/popn-
area.html#popnB
What we have done:
During our brainstorming sessions, we decided to work on the elderly as
we feel that there are many issues related to old folks. We researched on
some problems related to old age.

2. Research on problems related to elderly

3. Research on emotional problems related to elderly

4. Research on physical problems related to elderly

5. WEAKENING OF MUSCLES IN ELDERLY
What we have done:
We carried out more research on the issues related to old age.

6. Research on health problems related to elderly

8. What we have done:
We carried out more research on some of the illnesses and
diseases related to old age.

10. What we have done:
We carried out more research on some of the reasons why the
elderly are not exercising and the benefits that can be reaped
from exercising.

16. What we have done:
We carried out research on some of the equipment that the
elderly can use for exercising.

17. D&T Design for Change Plan: Spreading Of Awareness (Rejected
Plan)
1. Decide on a date to return to the Old Folks Home for an interview.
2. Plan the questions needed to be asked of the Elderly when
interviewing them.
3. Video down the interview at the venue.
4. Create a power point slide, including the video.
5. Broadcast the power point slide to the school through our
Broadcasting system and a talk to the school during the Mass
Assembly of the school.
6. Video down the entire process of the talk as evidence of our
research before handing in as the document.

20. What we have done:
Sketching some solutions that may help solve the problem.

21. 6 Considerations:
1. It must be stable for the Elderly
2. It must be easy to use
3. It must portable
4. It must be able to use at homes or apartments for individual
usage.
5. It must be safe to use
6. It must benefit the Elderly while using it, both Physically and
Mentally.

24. Pedal Idea Rejected
1. The pedal is not stable enough for the Elderly to be used
safely as a permanent product.
2. It is difficult to keep the pedals.
3. Attaching and detaching the pedals would be hard for the
elderly or the user.
4. The walking stick would be too heavy to be used as a
walking stick for the elderly.
5. Inconvenient if using in crowded places.
6. Had difficulties in solving the detachment and attachment
of the pedals to the walking stick.
7. It would be awkward for the elderly to use in public places.
8. Basically the pedal became not usable as a walking stick
and as a safe pedal to use.

26. What we have done:
Sketching some more solutions that may help solve the
problem after the first round of solutions was rejected.

35. After our Ipulley was fabricated, we tested the efficiency of our product by having Elderly test out
our product. We brought the machine down to an Elder home and 11 of the Elderly use it during
their physiotherapy session.
From the survey conducted after they tried our product, it is clear that they enjoyed using the Ipulley,
and felt that it was beneficial. As the Ipulley is very user friendly and functions very similarly to the
current product, the Elderly were willing to try out the machine without much hesitation.

36. Reflection
The Design for Change experience was interesting as I had never done
anything like this before. We followed the process of the Design and
Technology, thus coming this far with the product we have. It wasn’t easy
to follow strictly to the process because almost anything can be linked
back, so it was really messy at first. Our teacher-in-charge actually had to
brief us a lot more times before we knew how the flow was like and
reminded us what our different jobs are.
We had a lot of problems on researching the products and trying to find
problems to come out with a solution. We had our teacher to guide us but
mainly we had to do those by ourselves. Many of the websites that we
found gave unsure facts for our topic, but we managed to find sufficient
information to use as evidence and guide.
We had meetings to decide on the decision made to carry on the next step,
although the meetings were very short but the instructions were made
quite clear. We had to always keep in contact with each other in case of
any unsure questions were needed to be clarified.
At first we felt really excited on the journey ahead, we went on a trip to
the Old Folks’ Home for the first time to find out the problems of the
Elderly is facing now. Later on when we had to do research, our flare lost
its’ spark. We had completely lost it, so our work wasn’t as good as it
should be. Somehow between everything that has happened, we were
actually starting to get the hang of the entire process which made the
researching part a little bit more interesting. When we were almost at the
end of the experience, it was really tough because time was not on our
side. We had to rush our works and get everything done up. That was
when we all were in ‘working mode’, we had everything we need to clear
the mess we have. It was the rush of time that gave us the energy we
needed and a little fun to it.
It actually made me like researching, also to train me to work well under
pressure and work well along with my team members.

37. Reflection
The Design For Change was a little tiring but fun as I get to experience what
that was outside the textbook and what our teachers could not teach in school.
We were a bit messy in the first place as we did not get the hang of work but
we got adapt to the stress that we were under.
In the first place, we could not find reliable website such as Wikipedia. But we
manage to get through it by finding books and other medical websites. When
we had unsure steps that we need to do, our teacher-in-charge was there to
help clear our troubles and/or questions. We had many meetings in school to
clear up our steps and mistakes.
We went to Old Folk’s Home to find out what trouble the elderly face like
physical problems. We made many meetings to find out solutions to the
problems and did many researches on the internet. After that, we find which
solution that was possible for us to solve.
In the beginning, we went on a trip to the Old Folk’s Home. We asked
questions so to help us finding problems for our project. I felt that there were
many needs to be done to help them as the environment there were quite bad
due to very little activities and supports from the nation to the Homes. After
that, we gathered information through the internet and had many meetings to
find whether our evidence is enough to support our solution. Soon after we
found our solution to our problem, we did many researches on which material
to use for our product. I felt tiring searching through the internet as many were
not helping to our product. In the end, we had to rush to do our product as we
wasted much of our time doing research.
I was able to know more about the environment that we live at. I know more
about how the elderly feels and I know more about how I could help my
grandparents and our senior residents in my neighborhood.