Prescription bottles are one source
of problems for elders. Firstly, the labels are often printed too small for
elders to read. Additionally, as the Huffington Post points out in their July 6th,
2012 article titled, “Drugs
& Seniors: Post 50s Overlook Key Warning Labels, “inconsistent design
lends to misreading warnings or overlooking important instructions all
together.” An additional problem with prescription drugs for seniors, are the
bottles themselves. For those with arthritis, oftentimes the safety lids can
make the bottles difficult to open. Although there are lids that are easier for
senior with arthritis to open, not all are made aware of the options to have
those easy open lids used for their prescription bottles. As
SeniorCareServices.org explains in their “Prescription
Medication: Keeping Seniors Safe and Sound” article, “Ask the pharmacist
for easy open caps, large print labels, and sometimes oversize bottles may be
necessary.” The aging marketplace has advanced in offering tools that can be
purchased for seniors as highlighted by Arthritis Today in their article “Opening
Medicine Bottles with Ease.” Most notably is the “PurrFect Medicine
Opener Magnet” which is shaped like a cat, and opens a variety of bottles
in a variety of ways for a reasonable price of $9.95.
However, the cat shaped bottle
opener brings up one flaw with the aging marketplace, that many senior focused
products are either designed to be childlike (and thus not very dignified) or
are so focused on utility that they are embarrassingly unstylish. Take the GPS
shoes that are developed to protect elders with dementia from wandering and
becoming lost. The shoe incorporates a sneaker design, which is not very
appropriate for most daily activities, except running perhaps. For a
sophisticated senior lady wearing a nice dress, the GPS shoes would be
extremely inappropriate and tacky. There are bed
rails to protect seniors from falling from bed during sleep, but one design
appears like prison bars, complete with black metal rails. For this
monstrosity, one must shell out $117.40. One would imagine that seniors with
sweethearts that spend the night, this would not be an appealing item to
decorate one’s bedroom with. Alarm watches made for seniors that vibrate or
talk for medication reminders, mostly look cheap and crude. On
ModernSeniorProducts.com, a senior
alarm wrist watches page shows a small offering of just 11 watches to
choose from, of which only 2 look tasteful enough that one would be able to
wear the watch to a formal event.
Considering that persons ages “65 years or older
numbered 39.6 million in 2009”, a population that continues to grow,
according to the Administration on Aging, one would think that products
available for seniors would be look better and appeal to dignity. As a
Huffington Post article describes it, “Baby
Boomers Will Transform Aging in America.” In the same article, Dr. Rhonda
Randall, the chief medical officer of united Health Care says, “Boomers also
have a "fierce" desire to remain independent, which will lead to an
expansion of organizations offering home- and community-based care.” Boomers
have a desire to live better. As Ken Dychtwald, president and CEO of AgeWave
explains, “a new model of life is emerging”…”They are going back to school at
40 and coming back from illness to run a marathon at 80. They are beginning as
late bloomers and hitting
their stride in later years.” It’s clear that baby boomers will set new
standards for the aging marketplace of the future. Hopefully, along with it
will come sensible, stylish product lines that contribute to healthy living and
promote dignity.
Have you seen design innovations for the silver market that you loved or hated?
How about any products that you haven't seen that you'd like to see for seniors?
