HealthCraft Products – uPole

HealthCraft Products is a Canadian-based company founded by experts in healthcare, occupational therapy, and engineering, dedicated to designing and manufacturing stylish yet functional home safety solutions. Their primary mission is encapsulated in their motto “fall prevention simplified”, reflecting a commitment to making fall prevention accessible, straightforward, and effective. 

3 key points

Promoting Independence & Dignity: 

The central goal of the product is to help older adults live safely and independently at home by addressing fall risks and enhancing mobility without needing constant caregiver support.

Human-Centered and Aesthetically Inclusive Design:

Wall-mounted grab bars are the most common residential safety product. HealthCraft has found that life doesn’t always occur within 1” of the wall, which led to the uPole - a support pole which can be installed virtually anywhere there is a floor or ceiling with an expansion jackscrew. The uPole ensures better-placed support and improved product acceptance, aiming to reduce the stigma associated with medical-looking devices. HealthCraft added hand pommels to the basic pole to give users leverage while leaning into the pole. These pommels also hide the hardware to join the pole sections.

Functional, Sustainable, and Trusted Solutions:

With the changing needs of the user in mind, support accessories can be added to the uPole by simply removing the pommels and replacing them with a horizontal Pivot Bar – which rotates 360 degrees around the pole and locks in 8 positions for optimal support during small steps. As the Pivot Bar extends 14” out from the uPole, it provides users a wide base of 2-handed support located in front of their body. This is the ideal configuration for transferring by many occupational therapists.

Image Source: Health Craft Products

The DIAC Design Impact Framework centers around five key themes:

1. VISION: Design embodies the vision

  • What was the central goal behind the design, and how did it aim to improve older adults’ daily lives?

The central goal behind the design was to create a supportive solution that meets both the functional and emotional needs of older adults. Functionally, the uPole simplifies fall prevention by enhancing stability and ease of use. Emotionally, it avoids a clinical appearance, blending seamlessly into the home environment to preserve dignity and reduce stigma. By addressing these dual needs, the uPole empowers users to move with greater confidence and maintain their independence in everyday life.

2. FUNCTIONALITY: Design enhances functionality 

  • What strategies ensure the uPole is accessible to older adults, and which key features are incorporated to support this?  

The uPole is purposefully designed to adapt to the realities of daily movement. The Pivot Bar moves and locks to wherever support is needed most (sitting, standing or transferring). The Pivot Bar also features dual-level handles that mimic a ladder-like structure. This offers secure hand placement for users of different heights. Because accessibility doesn’t stop at function, the uPole is easy to sanitize by eliminating foam grips.

3. BRAND: Design creates brand

  • What specific features of the product were designed to reflect the brand’s mission, while enhancing usability and appeal for older adults? 

The product features a discreetly placed, minimal logo to avoid overpowering the design, aligning with the brand’s focus on dignity and usability for older adults. The product box fits easily into a vehicle, has plastic carry handles, and includes all the items for various floor-to-ceiling ranges (7-10’). The retail packaging (inspired by graphics on TV boxes) incorporates clear icons and lifestyle images to reflect the brand’s mission of “fall prevention simplified” while enhancing shelf appeal and ease of understanding.

4. ENVIRONMENT: Design embeds environmental benefits

  • How does the uPoles’ design integrate sustainability, affordability, and functionality without compromising any of these aspects? 

The uPoles’ design integrates sustainability through the use of long-lasting, high-quality materials, such as a powder-coated steel, and recyclable packaging – ensuring it avoids landfills and isn‘t just greenwashing. The product was designed to meet shipping criteria requirements for both size and weight, ensuring that users don’t pay for oversized packages. This also allowed HealthCraft to optimize storage in their factory, as product boxes fit neatly onto standard pallets. It balances adaptability and functionality by addressing gaps in comparable products, while remaining durable enough to outlast the user’s needs.

Image Source: Health Craft Products

5. HEALTH & WELLBEING: Design promotes health and wellbeing 

  • How does the uPole support older adults in maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle?

The uPole is thoughtfully designed to promote autonomy and dignity by providing stable support where it's most needed, allowing older adults to move safely through their space without assistance. By enabling natural movements such as shifting body weight, it supports physical health while reducing reliance on caregivers, ultimately enhancing confidence, independence, and overall quality of life.

6. Key Success Performance Indicators

User feedback and testing with older adults guided every aspect of the uPoles’ design, addressing limited functionality of competitors' poles, and shipping challenges. Features such as the pivoting support and dual-level grips were added to improve comfort, accessibility, and dignity in daily use.

 

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