COVID-19 Maker Challenge: Custodial/Housekeeping Challenge

COVID-19 Maker Challenge IV: Caregivers

This is the fourth in a series of five programs that enlist the talents of engineers, designers and other professionals to create innovative solutions to the challenges confronting essential workers in their efforts to fight COVID-19.

The Challenges

The emergence of COVID-19 was particularly hard on caregivers, many of whom experienced a prolonged loss of income at the onset of this crisis as families cancelled services out of fear the caregivers might infect their loved ones. Caregivers have worked hard to win the trust of their clients but the situation is tenuous. Through this challenge we are hopeful that the solutions our teams design will ease the many burdens caregivers face in coping with COVID-19 and help them reinforce the hard-won trust they secured, a level of trust that is vital to not merely keeping their jobs but also ensuring the vital support they offer their clients will continue.

Team Watch Me Now

Video equipment that is more user friendly and doesn’t have to be carried, whilst attempting to walk with a walker, etc. For example like a Senior GoPro. So a patient could walk and complete more aspects of a home safety evaluation and have both hands safely on their walker or rollator if needed.

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Team Hand Washing on the Go

In-home care providers have to use hand sanitizer all day while they're out in the field. However, the preferred sanitization method is still hand-washing with soap and water. For this, they would need a travel kit that allows them to easily soap, rinse and dry their hands out in the field.

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Team Mask Stash

Patients could use a better system to store their masks when not in use, so that they are not setting them down on potentially contaminated surfaces (e.g. the bus seat next to them).

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Team Boredom Busters

Prolonged isolation for these patients prompts the need for stimulation and some form of engagement. What tools or solutions could help to make them feel more engaged and connected?

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Telehealth Case

Through this continuation project, Team Hermtac managed to equip their mobile telehealth case with full data connectivity to conduct home visits and forward triage regardless of wifi or LTE access. This project won the IEx Design Award for best overall design.

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Filming stand

During the pandemic, in-home care providers have relied on video visits to assess safety conditions and patient progress. Winners of the Innovation Award,k the team designed software enhancements to simplify the VA Video Connect experience and a camera on rail device to allow providers to see the “big picture”.

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Mask stash bag and sanitizing container

Winners of the Business Value Award, Team Mask Stash designed both a nylon mesh case with a dirty and clean side for mask storage between use and a silicone collapsible case for in-place sanitization of N95 masks.

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Flexi-Band

Winners of the User Experience Award, the team designed a 3D printed flexible band that goes behind the head and holds both the mask straps and nasal cannula up off the ears to prevent pressure-related injuries.

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