Team: Sumana Algharbi, Anusree Oruganti, Jared Ryan

Client: Janice Swartz, MD, Recalled Professor in Residence, UCSF School of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco

Problem: Individuals with limited mobility and flexibility face serious challenges to maintaining independence in living arrangements.  Loss of independence by moving to a residential facility adversely impacts mental health, and contributes to exorbitant health care costs in the US and worldwide. One often under-recognized problem is the difficulty that individuals with limited mobility have with keeping their residences sanitary, including with simply inserting and removing a garbage can liner.

Outcome: Students devised a new trash can that enables individuals with limited mobility and flexibility to perform the simple task of removing waste from the home.