Karen Boyd, ASQ CQA It could certainly help; but balance and mobility therapy could help better in the long-term and for a wider variety of potential fall locations / circumstances.

Scott Yasi I like the attempt and truthful do not see anything wrong with the design and implementation of such a product. That said I am curious about the cost and effectiveness. I would love to see feed back as to perhaps the reasons older populations gave to when they fell and to why they did fall. I know that even myself I have had incidences where I nearly fell but I know its not to missing the landing or having a rail. More so it was just due to sight. Much of humans balances is based off of sight. I think with this in mind perhaps a touch pad to the stool in which it could turn on a light immediately when an individual puts there feet on it would be great. Second I would make this firstly a stool that could have add on features should you wish to interest the PT crowds in a way to see this device as a training tool that could one day be eliminated later on in ones life like crutches. Good luck with this device and I hope to see more on this product in the future!

Wendy Turner-Williams This could be used in conjunction with balance and mobility therapy because while therapy is a great tool it takes time and your product could be used as an immediate form of assistance.

It could help , depending on patients abilities , It's A good idea continues adding supplies or its material for increase pacientes safity

Really? 80% in the bedroom? I'd have thought the bathroom (in and out of the tub) would be a higher risk than 20%.

Vince Baiera BSN Thank you all for your feedback. Some of the suggestions you all have made are things we are already working on. I'm happy to hear it's overall positive feedback. Thanks for taking the time to assess and give feedback!

Joseph Lyons I think the design is great and has advantages. If you provided me a blank piece of paper I may not have done as well. It is always easier to critique afterwards. It requires the person get out of bed in one specific location. Why not look at a lower height box spring or putting the box spring on the floor with no bed frame. By so doing they can get in and out of the bed from any location. If they did need an assist a steel plate that slid under the box spring with a handle welded to it could be easily designed. With this method they don't have to step down and are already in contact with the floor.

Ken Ishiguro I assume this can be assembled to go on either the left or right side of the bed?

Tanya Sokolsky It is a good strategy to put your idea out for criticism. Questions, which may help you to troubleshoot your design : 1. What if the side of a bed is just 2-3 feet from a wall? 2. Is your design safe for the night trips to a restroom? 3. How about a simple solution, just lowering a bed by placing a mattress frame on the floor? 4. Your platform looks like it is very light. Have you tried to step at the edge of the platform? 5. What is your source for “80% of falls...”?- I am just curious...

definitely a market, i can think of several prosthetic patients I had that could have used this

Vince Baiera BSN Ken Ishiguro - yes, this can be assembled to go on either side. Joseph Lyons - Not a bad suggestion. My thought is, how many people, seniors especially who we know don't like change, are willing to get rid of their bed frame to have a box spring and mattress on the floor? I don't know many that would opt for that route, I may be wrong. The other benefit of the product, is it allows the senior to enter/exit the bed at their final resting place unlike other bed rails that block the entrance of the bed and then force the senior to enter at the middle/foot of the bed and then crawl up and down in the bed to get to their resting place.

I do appreciate the feedback by both of you gentleman.

Scott Yasi great market strategy Vince Baiera R.N., BSN "Like your bed? Keep it!"

Would be great if you could include a slightly luminous strip (not too discomforting) at the handle (and possibly step) regions, to provide a visual guide to orientated the users in a dark bedroom.

Further it is important to understand the users habits and how that might impact on the safety of this device in use. For e.g. user X may be accustomed to landing on the floor for the past thirty to forty years. He has an ingrained habit. Will such a user possibly stumble when using this device?

Great potential and I think this would benefit knee replacement patients. With some work on the ergonomics, design etc. this could solve a real need.

Vince Baiera BSN Shama Kazmi - Good suggestions, these improvements are already in progress.

Joseph Lyons Hi Vince, Thanks for the feedback. As Scott states, "great market strategy".

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Zack Thompson To shamas point, while it may be a hair more expensive, putting in lights that turn on when you touch the metal in certain areas may be a good in between for allowing the lights to be well lit but stay off while not needed. It would also allow you to more reasonably use batteries to power the lights as opposed to a cord.

I think the largest issue is going to be making sure that the whole structure is stable. If it tips in any way anywhere your opening yourself to a lawsuit should someone fall because of it. Including if it is on things like shah carpet, or one corner of the base was placed on something. This thing needs to be rock solid for staying in place.

Zack Thompson Shag not shah.

We have solutions like community bed which can go to the lowest height in the world so they will not fall down while getting off

Fran Gillen All depends on where it will be used. Facility use would have different requirements than home use

Vince Baiera BSN Sebastian Dsouza - For communities that have hi-low beds that can be lowered, the product is not really a fit for. It is geared to help people remain in their home or assisted living facility (without hired help) longer.

Hello Vince,
Your product just landed in my feed today. I think you have a product could have some very positive applications in the home as you stated. I would like to make a few points for your consideration.
Can the product be height adjustable based on the height of the patient and remain stable for safety?
Can the step be eliminated, again based on patient height or given that modern beds have a lower platform?
I would think a product such as yours would be good for the older population, leg or back recovery, as well as recovering cord injuries.
Much success.

Ken Ishiguro At the risk of "creeping elegance", how about a touch-activated LED lamp as a add-on option? It lights the step and the carpet just enough to guide the person at night.

Allison Babcock Prevention is better than a cure!

Vince Baiera BSN Sheriada Watkins Weaver - Yes, the product is adjustable in height, we have started to develop a model with no step (very simple to do), thank you for your suggestions and kind words.
Ken Ishiguro - We are adding a motion activated LED lighting strip that will illuminate step and floor in front of product when motion is detected. Thanks for the tip.

Even with an adjustable bed, some folks aren't tall enough that their feet reach the floor securely. We just went thru this with my mother-in-law at home, where the hospital bed didn't go down far enough to make it easy for her to get in and out of it. This seems like a great product, and I like the add-on suggestions that others have made.

Vince Baiera BSN Sharon Webb that is a good point. Typically, hi-low beds go low enough but not always. We are working to see if this product falls under any reimbursement codes so seniors could get it for free. More info to come soon hopefully!

Vince,
I too have developed a product over the last year that is installed in my Mother's Assisted Living Facility that successfully automatically calls for help when she needs it. With dementia, she doesn't use her own call button or pendent; so I developed a sensor system that calls for help before she actually needs it.
Then reality set it; hard, too. I have been told by medical device manufacturers (the few that even responded) that if they didn't think of it, it is no good and they are not interested in selling it (normally called the "Not Invented Here Syndrome." All of the venture capitol groups that I approached really liked the idea, the look and functionality, and the fact that I operational data showing that it works. The VC's however are not interested in taking on a product unless they can be guaranteed at least $500million profit for their risk.
Having a great idea, and even a working product, does not ensure that we will be able to really help those that need it.

Nadine Lepick Vince, This is a great product for those elders who do NOT have mobility problems. I could see using this in the home. However, like Thomas Gustin, above, my mother lives in a nursing home and has no control over walking or standing and she refuses-due to dementia-to call anyone for help. She still thinks she can just get up and "run to the bathroom". Even if she falls, she is not going to call any of the staff. (Is this typical of dementia patients? Does anyone here know?) I doubt that my mom's nursing staff is going to accept anything that could be in the way.

Vince Baiera BSN Nadine Lepick - Yes, seniors with dementia do not think safety or calling for help, their mind just justifies them getting up and going to do the thing they want. This product offers those seniors the assistance they need when getting up since they won't call for the help they need.

The thing is, if you have a traditional bedrail, it doesn't facilitate getting out of bed, its simply designed to keep you in bed. When caring for seniors for years, even with this bedrail you seem them finding ways to get out which ultimately creates a larger fall risk. The step2rest will just give them a safer way to get up and out of bed to prevent the fall when they are alone (and won't call for help).

Hi Vince, great job with thinking out of the box. Your website looks great and I think you are very wise asking for advice from professionals and caregivers. Not only does this help with addressing possible concerns but it also gets people involved with your project. Involved people will be an asset when it comes to marketing. As an Occupational therapist and fellow therapist, I say kudos to you and your awesome website. In regards to the step to rest I like the suggestion by previous posters, especially the auto light. You may refer to another product called the stander bedside cane. One feature you might consider is the product can be used to roll from supine to sit. This is important for facilitation of bed mobility for those with spinal precautions. The bedside cane also attaches to the bed frame with a simple strap for a more secure support. If you choose to do a strap you could go with a narrower landing and assure greater support. This might might help when you consider the type of approach to the bed, i.e., walker or w/c,