Background

Having conducted a deep dive to discover insights into the physical, emotional, and socioeconomic needs of Thai elders, the team identified several critical pain points in their daily lives, one of which was the beds they used. Most elders struggled with beds that did not address their physical challenges, such as difficulties of sitting up from a lying position, or risks of falling while getting up. Some elders used hospital beds at home, but those had negative connotations of sickness and dependence on others. Beds that were designed specifically for elders existed in foreign markets, but they became prohibitively expensive when imported. The team thus endeavored to design and engineer a bed that would not only fulfill the physical and emotional needs of Thai elders but can also be economically domestically manufactured.