Photo of device user sitting down on sofa with arms resting on the Above Board product

AboveBoard

Thomas Jefferson University

Julia Anthony, Sarah Blaise, and Gaige DeHaven

Healthcare system patients and staff value existing overbed tables for their top surfaces. Other overbed table features and functions present opportunities for improvement in design, durability, and usability. These refinements extend to the narrowly represented  domestic  overbed  table  market.  AboveBoard  is  an  adjustable  in-home  swivel overbed  table.  Its  lightweight  and  user  friendly  design  incorporates  lighting  and  recessed cup holders. AboveBoard acts as a piece of assistive furniture; it uses the bed’s mattress for stability,  providing  optimal  support  to  users  maneuvering  in  and  out  of  bed.  AboveBoard allows seniors and people of limited physical capabilities improved mobility and increased autonomy.  In  order  for  individuals  to  safely  return  home  after  a  hospital  stay,  they  must demonstrate competence in transferring themselves on and off the toilet, out of a chair, and in  and  out  of  bed.  Moving  in  and  out  of  bed  can  prove  to  be  particularly  difficult  for individuals  experiencing  complex  or  multiple  health  conditions,  or  are  part  of  the  aging population. Having a device that would help people complete these transfers safely at home with a consistent level of assistance needed as they progress can cut back on falls, hospital readmissions,  and  more  medical  costs  to  the  hospital  and  the  individual.  Individuals requiring minimal to moderate levels of assistance stabilizing themselves at the edge of bed or to bear weight through would benefit from this product, as it can support up to 300 lbs and offers flexibility of use accommodating individuals of a variety of heights, weights, and grip strength.

RESNA Design Brief

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