Last week we went over some of the basic problems affecting Seniors. Here's a more detailed list on some of the problems and their causes, as well as some solutions that are in place today.

• Hearing loss: Often as people grow older, their nerves become less sensitive. Many people have hearing damage sustained over a lifetime of popped balloons and lawnmowers. (Ever heard a ringing noise in your ears, even when there's nothing to cause it? You might have hearing damage too!)

• Vision problems: Ranging from cataracts (clouding of the eyes, sometimes treatable with surgery), to glaucoma (damaging of the optic nerve), to ordinary myopia (gotcha! This one just means near-sightedness), vision problems can seriously affect a Senior's life.

• Dementia: Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a common ailment that usually affects people aged 65+. Symptoms include memory troubles, confusion, irritability, and trouble speaking.

• Osteopenia: Osteopenia is basically a less serious form of Osteoporosis, or low bone density. It's caused when existing bone cells are being broken down faster than new ones are being made, leading to dangerously thin bones.

• Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints, resulting in pain and difficulty flexing the affected joints.

• Depression: Often due to loneliness or feeling unable to participate in previously enjoyed activities, depression is hard to treat, though Senior centers provide somewhere for elderly people to get together and have a good time.

• Low income: If Seniors don't have enough money saved for retirement, they may not be able to afford the medical care they require. They may also try to save money by eating cheaper food rather than healthy food.


Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/
http://www.wikipedia.org
Ryan's Dad (he's a biomedical engineer!)

(This blog will mostly focus on the innovation and reports that the Robohawks create. The actual programming and building, while fun to do, are not nearly as much fun to read about.) 

Today we talked more about what problems seniors are facing today. Here's a basic list we came up with:

• Hearing loss

• Vision problems

• Weakened immune system

• Trouble or pain when walking

• Arthritis

• Balance problems

• Osteopenia/Osteoporosis

• Blood clots

• Dementia/Alzheimers

• Memory loss

• Depression/Loneliness

We've decided that we're going to spend the months before Christmas working on our innovation. We're going to have to take a break for a while near December, because Ryan's going to be a big brother again and the Percells are adopting two kids from China. So December and January are going to be pretty busy :)

Today at only our second meeting with our new team, we met with our Senior Partner Mr. Michael Lau. He's also Ryan's Grand-Uncle. Together we talked about many of the problems that Seniors are facing today. Mr. Michael was very helpful, and we learned a lot about what it's like to be a Senior.

Robohawks Team Rules

1. Listen to the person who's talking (no interrupting)
2. No making fun of anyone's idea
3. Respect your coaches and team members
4. Treat other teams with consideration and respect
5. Stay focused
6. Constructive feedback only
7. Have fun!

Today was our first team meeting. Ryan came over to the Percell's house, and we did some activities to help up experience what it would be like to be old. We started out by putting tape on our fingers, to simulate arthritis. Then we bandaged up our knees, to make it feel like they were stiff and to make it harder to walk. Finally, we put in earplugs and wore clouded glasses to get a feel for how the senses deteriorate over time.

Welcome to the Robohawks team blog! We are a team of homeschoolers participating in the FLL Senior Solutions robotics competition, using Lego NXT robots. For more information on FLL, click here. :)