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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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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)
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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.
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
QUESTIONNAIRES
Care-homes: care-givers
Weakness of the bedding materials
Requests for improvement
Austria, Italy ~ 1000 elderly
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
RESULTS - QUESTIONNAIRES
- 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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
RESULTS - QUESTIONNAIRES
BARRIERS
Moisture monitoring tools should be used
Conservative use of materials, high friction
Plain weave
Satin weave
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
Trust to sensors
RESULTS - QUESTIONNAIRES
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?
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
RESULTS - QUESTIONNAIRES
Fragmented situation
Care givers
PurchasersTextile producers
Researchers
Care organisations
Politics
Elderly
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
RESULTS - BRAINSTORMS
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
RESULTS - BRAINSTORMS
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
RESULTS - BRAINSTORMS
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
RESULTS - BRAINSTORMS
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
RESULTS - BRAINSTORMS
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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
VÖTC, 12th of March, 2014Barbora Široká
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.”
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