Independent bathing for older adults: The conceptualization of the iMagic-BOX portable walk-in bathtub

Abstract

The rising issue of world population ageing has brought about increasing concern for the well-being and healthcare needs of older adults. With the unfortunate current state of professional elderly healthcare, the duty of caring for their needs often falls to family members. With current trends pointing towards a shift to a more independent lifestyle for older adults, it becomes increasingly important that technologies are developed to assist their daily living. This paper describes issues involving the everyday task of bathing in tandem with the advent of the walk-in bathtub concept. Unfortunately, due to severe design flaws, conventional market offerings of walk-in bathtubs tend to cause more harm than good, prompting a need for an overhaul of the design concept. Hence, this paper outlines the conceptualization and design methodology of the iMagic-BOX portable walk-in bathtub, a series of mobile, walk-in bathing and shower units designed to assist older adults to be able to independently and comfortably bathe on their own. The goal of this paper is to showcase the individual design elements of these specialized walk-in bathtub units in hopes of inspiring other inventors to appreciate the role of gerontechnology in improving the lives of older adults worldwide.