This brief for university was to design for the elderly. It was a competition I entered which the RSA host every year.
My statement
Since I started this research, I have developed an understanding of the problems associated with the providing and taking of drugs for the elderly, disabled and patients with problems such as dementia. Some of these problems are obvious, others not so.
Doctors provide a prescription; carers or the patient divide and give the correct dose; the patient takes the drugs. Unfortunately this cycle can mean the difference between life and death, potentially leading to a very worrying situation for the patient, carer and any people closely associated with the patient. Patients may need to take up to 10 different types of medication every day. This could create a situation where a carer could provide the wrong dosage, or the patient may forget to take the right pills at the right time or even take too many, leading to an overdose.
Research shows 3-4% of UK hospital admissions are a result of avoidable medicine-related illness, and between 11-30% of these result from patients not using their medicines correctly (1). The costs of admissions resulting from patients not taking prescribed medicines is estimated to range between £36m and £197m in 2006-07. (See Link)
Home care visits and telecare services (such as telephone prompts) are some of the ways used to try and ensure medication is taken. Devices such as dosset boxes, calendar clocks, blister packs and talking labels are also common. The West Midlands Telehealthcare Network found the most successful solution cited by customers and carers was an automatic pill dispenser.
A study is due to take place in 6 different cities within the Midlands, ending in March 2011, where private health care services have offered to provide pill dispensers to homes in order for a set routine to be put in place. The first ten patients in the Dudley and Staffordshire areas have now finished the six month pilot period. The total cost of the service was £80 per device and £120 dispensing costs for the six months totalling £200 per person; £2,000 in total. There was a measurable decrease in GP visits, ambulance call outs, in-patient admissions due to medication errors, domiciliary care packages and respite care. The total financial impact was a decrease in service costs of £39,000. This represents a return on investment of £19.50 per £1 invested.
Unfortunately the dispensers provided are limited to certain uses. For example, the tabtime (fig1) only allows for a daily, or at best a weekly top up and is not portable. This is the best product for reliability and user friendliness. The only other product on the market is the Phillips pill dispenser, a product produced for a monthly top up but again this is not portable and also produces waste when each tablet is taken.
I feel I have produced a product which combats these problems and more.
Final Major Project
This was a brief to design a complex containing a skate park, night club and recording studios within Manchester’s old abandoned Mayfield Railway Station.
The Station is located nearby Manchester’s main station, Piccadilly. This is directly between The Universities of Manchester and The Northern Quarter.
The Idea behind the design was that the main dance floor was alongside the Vert skate ramps so that the crowd could see both. Overall it is open plan for interaction between spaces.
From a social perspective the design is about interacting extreme sports with the music that is associated with this culture. For skaters live music is perfect for skating to, also the culture of the people that would go to the night club to watch the live bands or DJ’s would appreciate the extra entertainment of the skaters. The entire building would be a social space open to the public throughout the day for skating and other such activities. It can also provide gigs, indoor festivals and events.
From a business side the building has control rooms at first floor level; these are covering the main Vert and stage for recording events and other business opportunities like adverts. The studios can also be used for private recording with separate access from the main road.
Materials for the interior where kept to a minimum, concrete; steel and wood were used in specific areas for best results of technical performance. Soundproofing and smooth surfaces were the main objectives to be obtained.
