Design and Fabrication of a Low-Cost Assistive Device to Support the Basic Movements for Elderly People

Generally, the musculo-skeletal movements become weak in the elderly people (aged above 70) and then even the basic hand movements such as lifting necessary objects and pushing/pulling activities become a very difficult job. They constantly need help and support from other people such as family members. A wheel chair which is operated on battery power and is maneuvered by joystick for turning left or right has been developed to assist the elderly people using the technologies available in recent days. This refers to the development of a device, which will aid the mobility of the elderly people to carry out basic movements like walking, getting up, and sitting down all by themselves. The seat of the wheelchair will recline and help the person to get off the wheelchair without anyone's help. Many similar devices that exists as of now has been made entirely for a different purpose, and operate quite differently, and are very expensive and not affordable as well. However, if this proposed device come to existence, it will be very useful for the elderly people especially of the middle class who cannot afford those high-tech existing models, which do not serve the exact purpose as they are usually made for differently-abled individuals.