elderly-challenge-observation-4

(continuing from last week)

This week I have observed that the elderly have some problems: 4

Transportation:

- MRT

Like I said in my first observation, most elderly make use of a walking stick/ wheelchair. In the MRT, there are usually no seats available for the elderly to sit. Even though there are reserved seats for the elderly and others, nowadays no one cares about this and they sit at the reserved seats. As a result the elderly will have to stand up. When the MRT/ bus jerks, the elderly may lose their balance and fall down and hurt themselves. Even though there are poles and such, the elderly's limb are weak and some are unable to hold onto these poles to balance themselves.

Solution 1: In the MRT, the seats are made in such a way that there can be only one person to one seat. If the seats were not built in this way, instead built like the seats on the bus (cushions), more people will be able to sit down.

Solution 2: Have poles that are horizontal all along the MRT and not only in some places. This is because with horizontal poles, the elderly are able to lean on the poles and at the same time balance themselves.

- Bus

When the elderly gets onto the bus, they will have to climb a few steps. Even though this may not seem like a challenge to us, but to some of these elderly, it is a challenge. Some of these elderly sit in wheelchairs, thus they can only take some specific special buses that have movable ramps. This may cause them to make a detour or changing many bused before arriving at their destination.

Solution 1: Place a wooden board in the bus and remove the handrail in the middle and instead have handrails on the doors (which are at the side). These adjustments will allow elderly who sit in wheelchair to take any bus as there is a ramp (the wooden board) and enough space for the wheelchair to pass.

When the elderly gets onto the bus, they will have to look at the bus number before they go onto the bus. However, some elderly who are unable to see clearly may mistake one bus number for another bus number as they look similar. For example, the bus number 14 and 74. Some elderly may easily confuse these two bus numbers and get on the wrong bus.

Solution 1: Install a sound system that tells the passengers what bus is pulling into the bus stop. In this way, the elderly will be able to double check whether they are getting onto the right bus.