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This is how Taiwanese industrial designer Sha Yao wants to make a difference to the lives of millions of people with dementia: with specially designed tableware and cutlery.
After her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Yao, who was volunteering at a local centre, noticed that a lot of patients with dementia struggled eating meals. They were spilling food and knocking over cups — and so eating a lot less than they should.
So she decided to design a tableware set specifically for people with eating difficulties. Her EatWell collection has over 20 features that address some of the most common issues people with special needs face during meals, like confusing patterns on plates with food, or knocking over cups.
The collection is designed to simplify eating motions, reduce accidents, and help users eat as much as possible.
For example, the bowls have slanted basins to make it easier to gather food, and one side of each bowl is right-angled to provide a more effective surface to scoop against.
The bowls are brightly coloured on the outside in order to stimulate appetite, and the inside is a contrasting blue to help users distinguish the bowl from food.
The collection includes anti-tipping mugs and cups with extended handles to provide extra support.
The spoons precisely match the curvatures of the bowl, making the process of scooping food easier and more efficient.
“The feedback from specialists and academics in the industry, as well as experienced caretakers and nurses, has generally been overwhelmingly positive,” Yao said.
She is currently taking pre-orders through her website and Indiegogo page.