First Lego League Senior Solutions St Geralds College

Introduction ● Everyday things that we often take for granted can sometimes pose problems to the elderly living around us. ● One thing that poses a massive problem to the elderly is getting up a step outside a building. PROBLEM !!

Strength Balance Co-ordination Lifting the foot Problems with Getting up Step Size of Step Danger of falling

Analysis of Problem ● Over the next couple of slides the problems associated with getting up a step are going to be investigated. ● Each of the headings on the previous slide are the areas which pose the most problems to the elderly. ● To get a good solution to the problem we must first have a good understanding of the problem itself.

Research ● We found that each of the factors mentioned in slide three are interlinked with each other. ● What is meant by this is that each factor has a link with the other. ● For instance: a lack of strength could lead to a lack of balance, or a lack of balance could lead to a danger of falling.

Size of Step ● Steps vary in sizes but are generally to large for most elderly people with movement restrictions to get up. ● This poses a massive problem for the elderly because without help it is a very difficult task. ● The step shown below is the step outside our senior partners house. ● The step is approximately 25 cm high.

Strength ● If the step is too high, it's likely that an elderly person won't have enough strength to lift their foot above it. 1. Stationary Position No Danger at this Point

Lifting the Foot ● This links in with the size of the step. ● If the step is too high, an elderly person will find it very difficult to lift their foot over the step. ● This could be because of a lack of co-ordination or a lack of strength. 2. Foot lifting Not enough strength to clear step.

Strength ● If a person manages to get their first foot onto the step there is still a problem in pushing themselves upwards onto the step. ● They might not have enough strength to get up. 3. Foot placed On Step All weight is now placed on left foot

Balance ● If an elderly person was to get into a position shown below, their balance would be lessened. ● Balancing on one foot puts an elderly person in a dangerous position. ● This could lead to a danger of falling. Big Danger of Falling 4. Both feet elevated off the ground

Danger of Falling ● A danger of falling could be fatal to an elderly person because of weakened bones and joints due to old age. ● If an elderly person was to fall off a step it could potentially kill them. 4. Both feet placed unevenly on step. Very Unbalanced

Conclusions ● The problem of getting up a step has many different aspects to it. The main problems have been summarised in the past number of slides. ● Using this information we will try to come up with a simple solution to this very simple problem.