Barrier-free Bathtub Design For The Elderly

China's aging process is accelerating,the problem of old age for the future development of society is both a test and an opportunity,according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology 2018 data analysis concluded that the future scale of the pension industry is estimated to reach twenty trillion.Bathing is an indispensable part of everyone's daily life,bathing can not only play a cleaning role,but also relax the body and mind,and play a good health care role.As the bathing environment has the characteristics of high temperature,humidity,slippery ground and closed,it may induce diseases in the elderly or cause them to fall and other accidents,so bathing has positive significance for the elderly on the one hand and certain risks on the other.Because of the privacy of bathing,people tend to do it independently.The target group of this design is the assisted elderly who have difficulties in bathing alone or need help in bathing.This paper introduces the concept of barrier-free design into the design of baths for the elderly,firstly,it discusses the concept and development of barrier-free design,the importance of barrier-free design,and explains the history and current situation of barrier-free design at home and abroad.Market research,literature review and interviews are used to explore the problems encountered by the elderly in the bathing process,the potential risks that may occur in the bathing process and the elderly's vision of an ideal bathing environment.The physiological and psychological characteristics of older people are outlined and summarised.Through research into the existing elderly-friendly bathtubs on the market and analysis of the user experience,the project summarises the design principles of accessible bathtubs in relation to the concept of barrier-free design,i.e.the need for safety,ease of operation,comfort and respect.The concept of functional elements,colour elements and scale elements are proposed for the design elements of the barrier-free bathtub.According to the actual difficulties and potential risks that may occur during the bathing process of the positioned population,five innovative designs are proposed:fall monitoring system,assisted standing function,static monitoring system,sensory compensation system,monitoring water temperature system and assisted lifting of the lower legs,in order to design a barrier-free bathtub for the elderly that can solve the real pain points of the elderly.