Koalaa Kommunity: A holistic soft-orthotics service to help the over 50's adapt to upper-limb impairment and remain mobile, active and socially-connected in the community

** 动机 ** 老年人上肢功能丧失、受损或恶化的原因有很多。在所有情况下，大多数人不仅在日常工作中挣扎，而且被迫停止从事他们喜欢的活动和爱好。这导致社会联系、信心和独立性的丧失，随后导致整体身心健康更快恶化，生活质量不断下降。在130万英国中风幸存者中，77%（约100万）患有上肢/手臂无力或残疾 * 约232，800名50岁以上的人患有手腕骨折，导致长期影响手臂，手腕和手的力量/活动性 * 66%的多发性硬化症人群患有上肢运动障碍。这些挑战因COVID-19而加剧;到2026年，50岁以上的孤独症患者将增加49%* \> 8，000名英国50岁以上的肢体丧失患者目前，患有肢体障碍的老年人在50岁以上的年龄组中服务不足。KoalaaKidnity ** 为了应对这一挑战以及Koalaa和临床医生确定的需求，Koalaa将开发“KoalaaKidnity”--一种端到端的矫形服务，使老年人能够获得（尺寸、安装、培训和鼓励）使用轻便、低成本和易于安装的矫形器产品，辅以一系列用户设计的可互换工具包，以支持日常生活活动，如园艺，烹饪，骑自行车等。这项订阅服务为肢体障碍的老年人提供了所需的支持，通过我们的功能矫形器和访问虚拟诊所和在线社区，使他们能够更长时间地保持身体活动和独立。**我们将开发以下创新：**1. ** 重量轻、成本低的腕关节矫形器 **：我们开发了专利的柔软而坚固的PAWW套筒，以适应肢体障碍的老年人（例如中风幸存者）。2. **5个可互换、可自行连接的工具，以支持各种活动：** 最初开发的5个活动专用附件，以支持特定活动（园艺、高尔夫、烹饪等）。3. ** 虚拟诊所：** 通过远程医疗、在线门户网站和数字资源，远程匹配、调整、订购和安装我们的矫形器。4. **“肢体伙伴”：** 所有Koalaa用户都与点对点的“肢体伙伴”相匹配; Koalaa员工自己也有肢体差异，以获得相关的，量身定制的客户服务。5. **Koalaa Kobility **：在线论坛，个人资料，博客，照片和视频6. ** 终端用户创意实验室-快速设计周期服务：** 新可互换工具的众包创意，6周创意到产品设计周期。7. ** 数字资源中心：** 操作方法/指南/教育视频，截肢前/后/手术支持，心理健康资源 ** 以人为本的方法 ** 在Dorset Orthopathic（分包商）的支持下，我们将直接与老年人，临床医生和理疗师合作，开发一种端到端的订阅服务，专注于以人为本的设计，并为上肢障碍患者提供持续的支持。

**Motivation**There are many contributors to loss, impairment or deterioration of upper limb function in older adults. In all instances, the majority not only struggle with everyday tasks, but are forced to stop doing the activities and hobbies they love. This leads to loss of social connections, confidence, independence and subsequently a more rapid deterioration in overall mental/physical health and steady decline in quality of life.* Of the 1.3m UK stroke survivors, 77% (~1m) have upper limb/arm weakness or disability* ~232,800 over 50's suffer wrist fractures, leading to long-term conditions impacting strength/mobility in arms, wrists and hands* 66% of Multiple Sclerosis population have upper-limb motor impairments.* These challenges have been exacerbated by COVID-19; Loneliness in over-50s to increase 49% by 2026* \>8,000 UK 50+ year-olds with limb-lossCurrently, older adults suffering from limb impairment are under-served in the 50+ age group.**Koalaa Kommunity**In response to this challenge and an identified need from Koalaa and Clinicians, Koalaa will develop "Koalaa Kommunity" - an end-to-end orthotics service that enables older adults to be provisioned (sized, fitted, trained and encouraged) with lightweight, low-cost and easy-to-fit orthosis products, complemented by a range of user-designed interchangeable toolsets to support Activities of Daily Living such as gardening, cooking, cycling etc.This subscription service gives older adults with limb impairment the support needed to remain physically active and independent for longer, via our functional orthoses and access to a Virtual Clinic and online community.**We'll develop the following innovations;**1. **Lightweight, low-cost wrist orthosis**: development of our patented soft-yet-strong PAWW sleeve to accommodate older adults with limb impairment (e.g. stroke survivor).2. **5 x Interchangeable, self-attachable tools to support various activities:** Initial 5 activity-specific attachments developed to support specific activities (gardening, golf, cooking etc.).3. **Virtual Clinic:** Remote matching, sizing, ordering and fitting of our orthoses via telemedicine, online portal and digital resources.4. **"Limb Buddies":** All Koalaa users matched with peer-to-peer 'limb buddies'; Koalaa employees with limb difference themselves, for relatable, tailored customer service.5. **Koalaa Kommunity**: Online forum, personal profiles, blogs, photo and videos6. **End-user Idea Lab---Rapid Design Cycle service:** Crowdsourced ideas for new interchangeable tools, 6-week idea-to-product design cycle.7. **Digital Resources Hub:** How-To's/guides/educational videos, Pre/post amputation/surgical support, Mental health resources**Human Centred Approach**With support from Dorset Orthopaedic(subcontactors) we'll work directly with older adults, clinicians and physiotherapists to develop an end-to-end subscription service that focuses on human-centred design and provides ongoing support to individuals with upper limb impairment.