Design brochure for three-legged cats

Items that our maternal grandparents liked：

Practical daily necessities:

 Warm clothing: such as down jackets, wool sweaters, thermal underwear, scarves, gloves, etc. As they get older, grandparents pay more attention to keeping warm, and these clothes will keep them warm during the colder months, and they will feel intimate in clothes given by their younger generations.

  Comfortable shoes: Shoes for the elderly, such as Foot Fitness, are usually non-slip soles, comfortable to wear, lightweight and breathable, suitable for grandparents to wear during daily walks and activities, and can reduce their risk of falling due to ill-fitting shoes.

 Bedding: e.g. soft quilts, skin-friendly sheets, duvet covers, etc. Comfortable sleep is important for seniors, and a good set of bedding can improve the quality of their sleep.

 Health care and wellness items:

 Massage equipment: such as small massage pillows, massage chairs, foot massage machines, etc. Grandparents are old and tired easily, and massage appliances can help them relieve body aches and pains, relax muscles, and are also convenient to use at home.

 Health products: such as calcium tablets, fish oil, protein powder, etc., but when choosing health products, you should pay attention to the quality and suitability of the product, and it is best to consult a doctor or professional advice.

Health tea: Many grandparents like to drink tea, such as black tea, green tea, Pu’er tea, etc., or some healthy herbal teas, such as wolfberry tea, chrysanthemum tea, etc., it is also a good choice to give them their favorite tea.

 Entertainment and leisure items:

  Radio: The easy-to-use, portable radio is a favorite entertainment device for grandparents, who can listen to radio, music, opera, and other programs while walking or doing household chores.

  Books and newspapers: If your grandparents have a reading habit, they can send some books, magazines or newspapers according to their interests, such as historical biographies, health care, literary novels, etc.

  Traditional food: Some traditional pastries and snacks are also liked by grandparents, such as peach crisp, twist flower, mung bean cake, etc., but pay attention to choosing low-sugar, low-salt, low-fat foods to meet the health needs of the elderly.

Items that grandparents don’t like:

    Flashy gifts: Grandparents are usually frugal and don’t like items that are too expensive but not practical, such as decorations and ornaments that only focus on the appearance and have no actual function.

    Complicated electronic products: Although electronic products are very popular nowadays, for some grandparents, complex electronic products will make them feel troubled and uncomfortable, such as smartphones, tablets, etc., if you want to give such gifts, you need to patiently teach them to use them.

Trendy items that are not suitable for their age: Clothing or accessories that are too fashionable and trendy may not be in line with their grandparents’ aesthetic and lifestyle habits, and they are more inclined to choose clothes and accessories that are simple and comfortable.

Items that pose a safety hazard: such as sharp knives, fragile glass, etc., which may pose a threat to the safety of grandparents and are not suitable as gifts.

Here are some of the recreational activities that we have observed for grandparents:

1. Indoor Activities:

Chess and card games: chess, Go, checkers, poker, mahjong, etc. are all very popular chess and card activities. This type of activity can exercise thinking skills, and can interact with family and friends, and strengthen relationships. For example, several elderly people can get together in the afternoon to play chess, “fight” on the chessboard, and enjoy the fun of the game.

Calligraphy and painting: If your grandparents have an interest and specialty in this area, practicing calligraphy and painting is a good choice. It can not only cultivate one’s self-cultivation, but also express one’s inner emotions and thoughts, and also obtain a sense of satisfaction after completing the work. In addition, excellent works can also be displayed to family and friends.

Reading: Reading books, newspapers, magazines, etc. can increase knowledge and broaden horizons. Grandparents can choose reading materials based on their interests, such as literature, history, health, etc., and enjoy reading time in a quiet environment.

 Handmade: such as paper-cutting, weaving, pottery, woodworking, etc. Handicraft not only exercises the fine motor skills of the hands, but also allows creativity to make items with commemorative or practical value. For example, a grandmother can knit a warm scarf for her grandchildren, or a grandfather can make a delicate ornament out of wood.

Singing and dancing: Play some classic songs or music at home and ask your grandparents to sing and dance along. This relaxes the body and mind, enhances the body’s coordination and sense of rhythm, and also brings joy. If possible, you can also join the community’s senior choir or dance team to rehearse and perform with other seniors.

2. Outdoor Activities:

Walking: This is a simple and effective form of exercise that is suitable for most grandparents. Take a walk in the park and community every morning and evening, breathe fresh air, enjoy the surrounding scenery, and chat with other elderly people who are walking.

Tai Chi, Yoga: Tai Chi moves slowly and gently, yoga can improve the flexibility and balance of the body, which is very suitable for the elderly. In parks or squares, it is common to see elderly people practicing tai chi or yoga.

Gatekick: Gatekickl is an outdoor sport suitable for the elderly, with simple rules, moderate exercise, and can exercise hand-eye coordination and teamwork spirit. Grandparents can compete with other seniors in goalball tournaments organized by the community or senior activity centers.

Fishing: Fishing is a quiet, relaxing activity that allows people to calm down and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Grandparents can invite a few old friends to go fishing by the river, lake or sea, chatting and waiting for the fish to take the bait. Plant flowers and plants: If your grandparents have a yard or balcony, you can plant some flowers and vegetables. You can exercise during the planting process, and you can also harvest beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Some of the following activities may not be enjoyed by grandparents:

1. Strenuous exercise activities

Grandparents often have a decline in physical performance and may be uncomfortable or even disgusted with strenuous exercise.

High-intensity aerobics: This type of activity has a large range of movements, a fast pace, and high physical requirements. For example, some popular aerobics, grandparents may find it difficult to keep up with the rhythm, and they are easily tired and uncomfortable, fearing injury.

Intense ball games: Intense ball games like basketball, soccer, etc., require fast running, jumping, and physical confrontation, which is too taxing on the grandparents’ bodies. They may worry about falling, spraining, or having other accidents during sports.

2. Exciting and adventurous activities

Rides such as roller coasters: The high speeds, flips, and intense thrills that come with roller coasters can frighten and unsettle grandparents. Their heart and body may struggle to withstand such stimulation and may feel that the activity is too dangerous.

Extreme sports: Extreme sports such as rock climbing and bungee jumping will never be liked by grandparents. These activities are extremely risky, require a lot of physical strength and courage, and are completely incommensurate with their age and physical condition.

Solutions for those who are not suitable for strenuous exercise:

Age-appropriate transformation of fitness equipment: Some fitness equipment manufacturers have launched fitness equipment for the elderly, such as lighter small arm strength machines, adjustable speed fitness bicycles, etc., these equipment have relatively low exercise intensity, suitable for grandparents, so that they can carry out certain physical exercise under the premise of safety.

Solutions for adventurous activities that don’t like thrills:

R&D of safety auxiliary equipment: In order to ensure the daily safety of the elderly, some technology companies have developed smart bracelets, emergency callers and other devices. The elderly can wear smart bracelets to monitor their physical conditions in real time, such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc., and when encountering emergencies, they can quickly ask family members or medical staff for help through the emergency caller.

Here are our recommendations for the design direction:

1. Customized entertainment services

1. Customized chess and card sets for the elderly can be developed. For example, design chess and Go sets with larger fonts and clearer boards to make it easier for grandparents to see the pieces and rules. Or introduce playing cards with memory aids to help them play better.

2. Organize gentle fitness activities designed specifically for grandparents. For example, conduct slow-paced yoga classes with professional instructors to guide the elderly according to their physical characteristics, avoiding overstretching and difficult movements. Or host a relaxing walk, set up a rest spot in a beautiful park or natural scenic area, and provide comfortable seating and drinking water so grandparents can exercise moderately while enjoying nature.

2. Technology-assisted entertainment

1. Develop electronic products that are simple and easy to use. Design a tablet specially customized for the elderly, with a simple interface and easy operation, pre-installed with some apps that are suitable for them, such as radio stations, reading software, simple games, etc. You can also set a large font and high volume to make it easy for grandparents with vision and hearing loss.

2. Use technology to interact remotely. Develop a family engagement app that allows grandparents to interact with distant family members and share moments of life through video calls. You can also set up some family albums, recall stories and other features to make the family closer together.

3. Cultural inheritance activities

1. Reflect the relevant elements of traditional Chinese culture in the design, such as paper-cutting, weaving, embroidery, etc. These elements not only allow them to reminisce about the past, but also pass on traditional culture.

There may be several reasons why existing products and services fail to achieve the desired results:

First, the pertinence of products and services is insufficient

Incomplete age-appropriate transformation: Although some products have been designed for age-appropriate, they may only make some adjustments on the surface, such as enlarging fonts and simplifying the interface, without truly understanding the needs and usage habits of the elderly. For example, the age-appropriate mode of a smartphone may simply increase the font size, but for some complex operating processes, it is still difficult for the elderly to understand and master.

Lack of personalization: The needs of the elderly vary from person to person, and existing products and services often lack personalization. For example, although there are styles of fitness equipment for the elderly, they may not be able to meet the needs of the elderly with different physical conditions and exercise abilities. It is also possible that tourism products are designed according to the characteristics of the general elderly, without taking into account the interests and special needs of the individual.

Second, publicity and promotion are not in place

Low awareness of new products and services among older people: Many older people have limited knowledge of new products and services and do not know which options are right for them. They may not be aware of the existence of these products and services due to the lack of effective communication channels. For example, the age-appropriate features of some smart devices may not be widely publicized, and older people still find these devices too complex to try.

Lack of trust and identity: Even if older adults learn about some new products and services, they may be reluctant to try new things because of their distrust of them. Especially for some technology products, the elderly may be worried that they will not be able to operate them or that there will be safety problems. In addition, some service providers may not have established a good reputation and brand image, making the elderly lack a sense of identity.

3. Price and cost factors

Overpriced: Some age-appropriate products and services may be more expensive than older people can afford. For example, high-end gym equipment, smart devices, or customized travel products can be expensive and prohibitive for seniors.

Inadequate supporting services: Some products, although reasonably priced, may lack the necessary supporting services. For example, after purchasing a smart bracelet, if there is no perfect after-sales service and technical support, the elderly may not be able to solve the problems encountered during use, which will affect their satisfaction with the product.

Social and environmental factors

Lack of social support: Older adults may need support and assistance from family, friends, or the community when trying new products and services. But if people around them don’t understand or support these products and services, older people may feel isolated and give up trying.

Inadequate infrastructure: Infrastructure in some areas may not be able to meet the needs of older people for products and services. For example, the lack of suitable places for the elderly, inconvenient transportation and other problems will affect the enthusiasm of the elderly to participate in recreational and leisure activities.

Please note the following information.

The above is all the relevant information we have collected about the interests and habits of our grandparents in China. But I think we still need to make changes, and we will send you the latest version of us by October 27, 2024 （Beijing time） at the latest.

Finally, I think for some reason, I’m sorry we didn’t receive the email you sent us as planned, and I hope you can reply to this message. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a website or using an email address. Thank you.