Simpler microwaves

[LUCHKN]

Hi all,

I'm a student in my final year of Product Design and have been in the research stage for the last couple of months, my focus of the project is to hopefully develop a design that aids a task of daily life a bit better in anyway possible. I have been looking particularly at microwave's and have learnt that microwaves can be an issue for a number of reasons such as not cooking things properly because of changed dials setting to defrost leading to food sickness, turning the plug off at the wall or just putting objects in there that shouldn't be. My research has been focused primarily on people in the early to mid stage who still cook their own frozen meals in the microwave. I have read through these forums that there is often trouble using modern microwaves with the fancy dials so people will often buy the cheapest (simplest) microwave that they can find on the market. i have looked online and the closest product to an aid when microwaving is a talking microwave, which is very £££ expensive.

My question (if you don't mind commenting back) is what your experience was like in this area, has anyone had food sickness from improperly cooked food, whether you had to buy a more basic microwave? And would you have bought a microwave specifically designed for dementia if there was one on the market (Such as power setting at back so it is preset by carer/family member to cook on whatever PWD is having like the one touch radio, or simpler larger dials with contrasting colors and easier gripping surfaces, and icons in bold to stand out etc.)

Thanks so much for reading, I have looked around the current forums for this issue and read up on others experiences but am just wondering if anyone has any other experiences to share. Apologies for the long post, I understand students post on here a lot and it must get frustrating seeing the same posts.

I have had permission to post.

Thanks again all, I appreciate the time taken out to read this.

 

[canary]

This is one of the few posts from someone doing research that actually sounds useful.
I love the idea of setting everything from the back. My MIL had dementia and used to use the W******** F**** frozen meals that she heated up in the microwave. I was never her main carer, but I noticed that, although she only had the most basic microwave, the OT had placed fluorescent dots to show her where to point the dials. There was always the worry that she would set the food on fire as she kept on muddling the time to put it in the microwave with how long she would have cooked it in the gas oven (someone had disconnected her gas oven to prevent her using it). All the ready meals were microwaved for the same length of time, so pre-setting in a place where she could not reach it and she only had to place the meal inside, close the door and push the start button (make sure it is nice and big) would have been wonderful.

 

[mancmum]

Its not just about the microwave. Although we deliberately sourced one with an egg timer dial on it ..NO BUTTONS.


I am looking for better crockery for MIL (who does not have dementia) to use so she has very little grip. She cannot tip from receptacle to plate.

A lot of microwave meals are terrible nutritionally so I want to cook, chill or freeze, and then her be able to heat up and eat all from one receptacle.

Thinking about something in durable plastic with wings at side to aid lifting but with its own lid so it can be used as an all in one from preparation to eating. Probaby with a dial where you could write on with a drywipe pen how long to heat up.

 

[Beate]

Well done, you've found an actual product to make dementia friendly. I never had a problem with this as OH is simply banned from the kitchen now, but I guess for people living on their own it will be useful. What you've found yourself though is that it will only be useful for a certain length of time, while the PWD still understands what a microwave is and what to put in it. Even with a simplified version there will come a time when the wrong things are put in or forgotten in there until the next meal. There will also be a cost factor. Specialised products like this will always be sold by specialised companies for a lot of money, and I doubt you will be able to prevent that. It's a scandal that has always annoyed me as it's terribly unfair to make elderly people pay more for gadgets, but it is what it is.

But yes, it's good you're doing this as in this digitalised age simple microwaves are vanishing at an alarming rate. I bought one that has only two dials, one for the power level and one for the time. No blinking spaceship for me, and I'm not the one with dementia!

 

[cragmaid]

Simple is great and if simple can be cheap as well.....even better because almost inevitable the time will come when the PWD cannot even manage the most simple of microwaves. If a carer has to come in to heat the meal, at least they won't have to learn another complicated meal machine!!...... and yes, if you can come up with a Microwave sized, melamine type, airplane meal, style plate, which can be washed and frozen and used in the the aformentioned Microwave too.....even louder cheers from me.

 

[MERENAME]

Possibly a way of restricting the length of time the microwave will work to say 10 mins to stop something being put in for hours by mistake and causing a fire. My mother set fire to a bean bag. Ironically I had bought them to replace hot water bottles as a safer option.

 

[Selinacroft]

Dad has never used microwave anyway but the thing that strikes me is that people in the early stages of dementia, still capable of trying to use a microwave are possibly the same people in denial or as yet undiagnosed and wouldn't be thinking of buying dementia items to help themselves. If you are aiming at marketing it direct to the individual who has dementia, I would say they are unlikely to be thinking of changing their appliances, and more likely to declare the old one broken or useless. If you are marketing it at friends and family of person with dementia, are they likely to be encouraging their loved one to be cooking? Just a couple of points to ponder on.

 

[mancmum]

Actually, I've been thinking

What is the problem? is the problem making a simpler microwave OR is the problem how we feed people who are probably alone and have limited skills? I have spend all day thinking about this and am grateful to have had something to think about in between shuttling between MIL recently discharged from hospital [who has had the microwave we gave her for 25 years and has NEVER used it] and my father who has dementia.

My father did regularly use a microwave when he had early dementia ..it was the one he had used for 10 years and he could use it. He often used it by simply setting it going and then seeing if things were cooked. How do you use a microwave? Do you use all the programmes. I don't even now. Now father cannot remember whether he has had a meal and left to his own devices would eat three or none. Fortunately usually he would eat three so he is in no danger of starving to death.

In focussing on the microwave you are accepting the fact that people should be fed airline pre-prepared meals. I read the nutritional advice on MILs - they provide only 800 calories and there is no fibre in them. Some of MILs problems were bought on by constipation. Possibly even causing spinal fracture. In our case the microwave is a benefit because the evening carer can cook a baked potato and cheese in less than 5 minutes.

I also looked at her contract for meals and found she could buy meals with extra care or premium care. Extra care pays for them to take the lids off and premium care pays for them to go on a tray ...or something like that.

Why are people getting this microwaved rubbish ..well in some respect its because the services that used to exist like meals on wheels and day care have gone and now people are eating there prepacked rubbish isolated and alone. And of course these services provide some human contact as well. Microwaved meals can be quickly heated up by hard pressed visiting carers. But would we actually be better looking at a community meals service, or paying someone to cook a meal for a group of people or adding restaurants to existing services with the added benefit of some people actually seeing another human during the day. It needs saying that pinging a microwave all on your own is for most of the time a second best option


Actually I have started experimenting with a slow cooker for MIL - it actually ticks a lot of boxes. It can be set going by a morning carer and turned off and cleaned by an evening one. Her meals can have fibre in them. Her hands are strong enough to lift the lid off the slow cooker. However it's sides get very hot and she only turns it off by turning it off at the plug.

Sorry to be negative but I hopes this helps you think about the design process.

 

[LUCHKN]

What is the problem? is the problem making a simpler microwave OR is the problem how we feed people who are probably alone and have limited skills? I have spend all day thinking about this and am grateful to have had something to think about in between shuttling between MIL recently discharged from hospital [who has had the microwave we gave her for 25 years and has NEVER used it] and my father who has dementia.

My father did regularly use a microwave when he had early dementia ..it was the one he had used for 10 years and he could use it. He often used it by simply setting it going and then seeing if things were cooked. How do you use a microwave? Do you use all the programmes. I don't even now. Now father cannot remember whether he has had a meal and left to his own devices would eat three or none. Fortunately usually he would eat three so he is in no danger of starving to death.

In focussing on the microwave you are accepting the fact that people should be fed airline pre-prepared meals. I read the nutritional advice on MILs - they provide only 800 calories and there is no fibre in them. Some of MILs problems were bought on by constipation. Possibly even causing spinal fracture. In our case the microwave is a benefit because the evening carer can cook a baked potato and cheese in less than 5 minutes.

I also looked at her contract for meals and found she could buy meals with extra care or premium care. Extra care pays for them to take the lids off and premium care pays for them to go on a tray ...or something like that.

Why are people getting this microwaved rubbish ..well in some respect its because the services that used to exist like meals on wheels and day care have gone and now people are eating there prepacked rubbish isolated and alone. And of course these services provide some human contact as well. Microwaved meals can be quickly heated up by hard pressed visiting carers. But would we actually be better looking at a community meals service, or paying someone to cook a meal for a group of people or adding restaurants to existing services with the added benefit of some people actually seeing another human during the day. It needs saying that pinging a microwave all on your own is for most of the time a second best option


Actually I have started experimenting with a slow cooker for MIL - it actually ticks a lot of boxes. It can be set going by a morning carer and turned off and cleaned by an evening one. Her meals can have fibre in them. Her hands are strong enough to lift the lid off the slow cooker. However it's sides get very hot and she only turns it off by turning it off at the plug.

Sorry to be negative but I hopes this helps you think about the design process.

It's not negative at all, it's food for thought so thank you, it will help in my design thinking. In regards to what problem am I tackling, it is providing PWD with a product that is easier to function than usual if bought at the early stages of diagnosis would hopefully achieve this, I understand that in the later stages any product bought then may only confuse and wouldn't be able to learn the use.

Yes I am looking at microwave meals specifically as after speaking with numerous people I have found that this is very common, but still doesn't stop carer/family member when going in to the home setting the microwave temperature (from the back out of reach) to whatever that person is having for tea that night, if that makes sense?

In terms of the community meal service that sounds very promising, and would be great if there was an app or some sort where family members could set up such events. I am focusing on a microwave as it is a daily appliance that is struggled with a lot, and feel although it does not provide the company of others, if the meal is cooked properly could save things such as food illnesses from occurring.

I thought I would answer some of your queries, I in no way think I am an expert in this area just because I have done some research, I am just going off what people have told me, and your comments really do help me think of others ways to approach this problem, so thank you!

 

[LUCHKN]

Possibly a way of restricting the length of time the microwave will work to say 10 mins to stop something being put in for hours by mistake and causing a fire. My mother set fire to a bean bag. Ironically I had bought them to replace hot water bottles as a safer option.

Yes thats what I was thinking! Having the dials set to 6 minute intervals (for example) to remind that the food is in there but also to check how the cooking process is going. Would you find this a pain having to set the dial?
Thanks for the comment

 

[LUCHKN]

This is one of the few posts from someone doing research that actually sounds useful.
I love the idea of setting everything from the back. My MIL had dementia and used to use the W******** F**** frozen meals that she heated up in the microwave. I was never her main carer, but I noticed that, although she only had the most basic microwave, the OT had placed fluorescent dots to show her where to point the dials. There was always the worry that she would set the food on fire as she kept on muddling the time to put it in the microwave with how long she would have cooked it in the gas oven (someone had disconnected her gas oven to prevent her using it). All the ready meals were microwaved for the same length of time, so pre-setting in a place where she could not reach it and she only had to place the meal inside, close the door and push the start button (make sure it is nice and big) would have been wonderful.

Thank you for the feedback, it's really helpful knowing that I am heading in an appropriate direction with this! Yeah in terms of actual dials on the front of the microwave face would just be a minutes dial (which would clearly have written on it "Minutes" to ensure they knew what the numbers were for) which would be quite large. Exactly as W******** F**** seemed to be very common so as you say mist have similar times so setting the dial at the back may not even have to be that often. Thanks again for commenting, any other feedback please comment!

 

[LUCHKN]

Dad has never used microwave anyway but the thing that strikes me is that people in the early stages of dementia, still capable of trying to use a microwave are possibly the same people in denial or as yet undiagnosed and wouldn't be thinking of buying dementia items to help themselves. If you are aiming at marketing it direct to the individual who has dementia, I would say they are unlikely to be thinking of changing their appliances, and more likely to declare the old one broken or useless. If you are marketing it at friends and family of person with dementia, are they likely to be encouraging their loved one to be cooking? Just a couple of points to ponder on.

Thanks for commenting, thats a good point, perhaps if the microwave still looked as normal as possible (still using contrasting colours) then it may reduce the stigma of having one purchased?
Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Jessbow]

MancMum

Services like meals on wheels do still exist is some areas, again they are costly. But isn't everything? The cost of a carer to provide a meal from scratch would be far greater.

A lunch club would be excellent, but again, imagine the cost. The PWD that cannot cook themselves something is unlikely to be able to hop and a bus and get there, so there is the cost of transport etc etc


Are commercially pre prepared meals that bad? I don't think so.

I think a microwave is a god send.

Controls on the back, which would pre programme the appliance so the PWD could just press a button on the front that said ''COOK'' would be good.....but then someone would have had to have retrieved it from the freezer and pre loaded it.

oh if only it were simple!

 

[LUCHKN]

Simple is great and if simple can be cheap as well.....even better because almost inevitable the time will come when the PWD cannot even manage the most simple of microwaves. If a carer has to come in to heat the meal, at least they won't have to learn another complicated meal machine!!...... and yes, if you can come up with a Microwave sized, melamine type, airplane meal, style plate, which can be washed and frozen and used in the the aformentioned Microwave too.....even louder cheers from me.

Agreed! The prices for some products are silly money, I am going to concentrate at reducing the price as much as possible for this microwave to ensure it is in a decent enough price margin. I will look also into plates too! Thank you for the feedback it lets me know Im heading in the right direction!

 

[LUCHKN]

Just to add, is that the right way to reply to people by quoting their response? Apologies if not! Thanks all for the feedback so far, anymore please comment!

 

[nitram]

Just to add, is that the right way to reply to people by quoting their response? Apologies if not! Thanks all for the feedback so far, anymore please comment!

If it shows the context of the reply, yes.

How about developing a bar coding system.
The food is put in the microwave the door closed and the microwave switched on, the door locks until the food is cooked when there is a ping and maybe the door opens.
As a safety feature, in the absence of a bar code the oven does not power up and the door does not lock

You could work with frozen meal manufacturers and also provide software for people to print their own barcodes for both bought in and home cooked foods.

There could be a locked panel opening which could allow an override of the barcode system.

 

[MERENAME]

Yes thats what I was thinking! Having the dials set to 6 minute intervals (for example) to remind that the food is in there but also to check how the cooking process is going. Would you find this a pain having to set the dial?
Thanks for the comment

I would check how long most micro meals take to cook as if it is set at 6 mins then there is a real possibility that food will end up being under cooked.

Setting at the back is a good idea but depends on someone being there to set it and the meal being pre planned. If the pwd takes a different meal out of the freezer then it will be set wrongly.

I really like nitram's idea of a barcode but designing that would be a real challenge. Potentially awesome though.

 

[nitram]

"I really like nitram's idea of a barcode but designing that would be a real challenge. Potentially awesome though."

Not really especially if the door locking function is not implemented.
A standard push button microwave could have a lockable cover over the controls.
The barcode is simple, there are only two parameters to set, power and time.

 

[CeliaW]

Great idea re barcode. You wouldn't necessarily have to get the manufacturers to print it on their packs as the microwave manufacturer could supply printable templates of barcode labels that were suitable to affix to either a shop bought ir home made meal / item. Good idea nitram, maybe you should patent!

 

[LUCHKN]

"I really like nitram's idea of a barcode but designing that would be a real challenge. Potentially awesome though."

Not really especially if the door locking function is not implemented.
A standard push button microwave could have a lockable cover over the controls.
The barcode is simple, there are only two parameters to set, power and time.

Yes nitram I had thought of having a removable label to apply to microwave packets and container food that could be scanned on entry and discussed it with a professional who also said that it would be a good feature so I'm glad you also think this would be good! But after though I realized this would raise the cost of the microwave considerably which would be a considerable trade off, do you think it would be worth having the feature, would you pay extra for the feature? Just wondering.
Thanks again for replying!