bedding textiles for the elderly. what can be done

VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká

Bedding textiles for the elderly

What can be done

Barbora Široká

Research Institute of Textile Chemistry and Textile PhysicsUniversity of Innsbruck


TAGS CONSORTIUM

Innovation and Techn. Transfer Org.

• Fondazione Democenter-Sipe

Research Coordination• University of Innsbruck• Thuringian Institute of Textiles and Plastics Research

Technology Development

• Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute, Ltd.

Care - Providers• Connexia – Gesellschaft für Gesundheit und Pflege gem. GmbH

• Vorarlberger Krankenhaus-Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H

• Anziani E Non Solo società cooperativa

IndustryManufacturers

• WarmX• Textilverein• Staff Jersey


TAGS CONSORTIUM

AUSTRIA (Vorarlberg)

• Forschungs Institut für Textilchemie und Textilphysik, Universität Innsbruck,

Dornbirn

• TEXTILVEREIN

• Connexia – Gesellschaft für Gesundheit und Pflege gem. GmbH

• Vorarlberger Krankenhaus-Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H

Duration: 1.1.2012 – 31.12.2015

Budget: €1.12 Million (100% EC funded)


METHODS

Literature search

Questionnaires with the elderly, care-givers

Interviews with companies

Visits

Workshops, seminars,

discussion rounds with invited experts

Brainstormings

Formation of new collaborations

Present state of the art -materials, products,

technologies

Demands, expectations

Barriers, problems

New ideas, proposals for solutions

TOPICS:

Bedding textiles, Clothing, Hygiene and personal care, Therapeutic and

recreation textiles

Bedding textiles


BEDDING TEXTILES

WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANTBed climate

result of room climate, materials used and personal

condition of a resident

quality of sleep - affects daytime activities, quality of life,

and even mortality

thermal sleep environment – maintained using appropriate

bedding & clothing

moisture, wettness – increased friction = decubitus ulcers

Bed sheets, blankets, quilts, pillows, mattresses, etc.


EU MARKET FOR BED LINEN vs RESEARCH

Total demand for bed linen in the EU: € 2.6 billion in 2008

„CBI Market Information Database“

% of research on bedding sub-topics within “textiles”

% of research on different sub-topics within “bedding textiles”

Source: Sci Finder

ELDERLY


RESULTS – INTERVIEWS WITH COMPANIES

Development of new products is time and cost intensive - not paid

by customers

Diffusion of demands from care providers to the textile producer is

hindered by the department responsible for purchase and costs

No awareness about ecological profiles of products. European

producers manufacture in a highly controlled and regulated

environment, however the advances in ecological profile cannot be

reflected in the price of the product

Purchasers (public / private users) often

only oriented on costs - the price of bed

cloths often judged as too high

BARRIERS


QUESTIONNAIRES

Care-homes: care-givers

Weakness of the bedding materials

Requests for improvement

Austria, Italy ~ 1000 elderly


RESULTS - QUESTIONNAIRES

Functionalities – breathability, moisture and heat transfer, liquid resistance,

etc. requested

Functionality of synthetic materials not recognized

BARRIERS

Natural materials - Cotton – the most used material for bedding textiles



- to optimise the colour, handle and overall appearance

- to introduce new materials and material combinations

- to support the sensation of being at home

BARRIERS

Hospital like appearance


Bed climate - high importance for sleep quality, bed comfort, hygiene and

prevention of skin damage

- moisture transport (moisture management) – need to achieve synergy

between all textile elements involved in bed


BARRIERS

Moisture monitoring tools should be used

Conservative use of materials, high friction

Plain weave

Satin weave


Trust to sensors


BARRIERS

Care-giversThey are afraid if technology fails, the quality of care will be questioned

Sensors should be efficient, invisible, washable,

available for everybody

ElderlySensors = indicators of disability and bad health condition

Is there something wrong with me?


Care givers – should be contacted and listened to understand the expected

needs and to reinterpret the demands with regard to an appropriate, cost

effective new technical design

BARRIERS


Fragmented situation

Care givers

PurchasersTextile producers

Researchers

Care organisations

Politics

Elderly


RESULTS - BRAINSTORMS

EXPECTED FUNCTIONALITY OF PERFECT BED

Comfort of person – “feeling good” while sleeping/lying

- Softness

- Thermal comfort - no sweating

Moisture management - Hydrophilic materials, highly adsorbing polymers

(superabsorbent)

- Water moisture/liquid (incl. body liquids)

transport away from the bed

Incorporation of e-textiles - Liquid detection

- Motion sensors

- Alarms- fall monitoring



Reduction to two layers - First layer = part of bed, mattress, changed very

rarely/never

- Second layer manages liquid, moisture permeable,

air permeable, specific function for skin protection

Other important properties:

Wash-durability (care cycle) – materials needs to be washable and durable

Self-cleaning (lotus effect) - stain repellent

Colour – not only white

Easy to disinfect

Antibacterial, antimicrobial products

Costs – affordable



Almost fully controlled moisture

Skin-friendly products – minimal impact to skin while sleeping/lying

Prevent odour from building up

Variability in colours, patterns

The number of layers minimized - integration of layers into as few

possible layers for efficient care and handling

Layered structure will be safe and made of layers easily washable

No zips, buttons, no closures

Integration of electronics mandatory – costs may be the problem

BEDDING OF THE FUTURE



To maintain or improve health and emotional conditions of person lying 20+

hours per day

Self-cleaning

Sensor for liquid

Electronics monitor: temperature, moisture, state of sleep, supports

positioning, helps to reach best position

Wireless transfer to computer

Transportable and easy to install bedding: use at home, taken for travel (e.g.

hotel), easy to install/assembly

BEDDING FUNCTIONS



Fibers - improved thermo-physiological perception, breathability, weight of

the blanket

Blended materials, mixed systems containing natural and synthetic fibres

Self-extinguishing materials with reduced flammability

Important role of colour - contributes to the wellbeing of the elderly

Non-uniform construction of blankets – shaped blankets, dependent on the

local heat release

BEDDING MATERIALS



Lack of appropriate concept

Velcro – useful, but limited wash ability (collect fibers from washed materials)

Need for simple, cheap, lightweight fixation concept

Modern bed cloths – no zips, buttons

FASTENERS


RECOMMENDATIONS

Replacement of most often used plain weave with materials with lower

friction such as satin or use a finer yarn count in bedding products

Variety of products with the same functionality but different style/design

Integration of caregivers/elderly as an advisory group for innovations in this

sector, projects setup

Propose product with affordable cost and acceptable for both residents and

care givers

Washable sensors have to provide acceptable hygienic profile, 95 °C or

disinfectant wash

An educational programme to train care givers – materials, qualities,

functional performance is required


Thank you for your attention

“The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant

agreement No. 290494.”

Follow us:Homepage: http://www.textilesforageingsociety.eu/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TextilesForAgeingSocietyTAGSTwitter: https://twitter.com/#TAGS_FP7

bedding textiles for the elderly. what can be done

Documents

barbora irokresults

barbora irokeu market

bedding textiles source

personal care

care providers

bedding materialsrequests

bedding subtopics

caregivers interviews