Safe steps: affordable bathroom safety solutions for seniors
Jack Menzies, founder of Freeline Pty Ltd and an experienced occupational therapist, has developed a lifechanging innovation — the Mobile Step-Climbing Shower Commode. This has the potential to assist older Australians safely overcome bathroom steps and thresholds.
The solution was created through a close collaboration with Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia (ARIIA) and Flinders University’s Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) as part of the now concluded ARIIA x MDPP Ideas Incubator.
The program supported early-stage aged care technology innovations by integrating tailored engineering and prototyping expertise from the MDPP team with ARIIA’s commercial market research and sector knowledge. This enabled promising ideas to advance from initial concept through to prototype development and thorough market validation.
This multidisciplinary initiative harnessed clinical insights, sector expertise, engineering capabilities, and commercial acumen to address unmet needs in aged care, accelerating the development of practical, scalable solutions that can significantly improve care outcomes.
Through the Incubator, Jack’s Mobile Step-Climbing Shower Commode was refined, and a prototype developed featuring an advanced wheel and propulsion system capable of climbing common bathroom obstacles like steps and shower thresholds.
Backed by MDPP’s engineering capabilities and ARIIA’s comprehensive market validation across aged care, palliative care, and hospital discharge sectors, the product’s technical feasibility, strong demand, and market readiness have been confirmed.
Key stakeholders have emphasised the commode’s potential to deliver timely, safe shower assistance without necessitating costly bathroom renovations. This innovation supports smoother transitions from hospital to home care and enables dignified end-of-life care, addressing the growing demand for community-based care solutions.
Professor Karen Reynolds, Director of the MDPP, said, “The Incubator applies practical engineering to real-world aged care challenges. Working with Jack at Freeline, we helped develop a device that makes personal care safer and more accessible within people’s own homes.”
Joanna-Lee Tan, Industry Manager at ARIIA, added, “This project highlights how focused innovation empowers older Australians and their care providers alike. The Incubator fosters collaboration between aged care providers, researchers, and innovators to co-design solutions that truly meet sector needs.”
Reflecting on the Incubator experience, Jack said, “The support and expertise I have received provided invaluable design input and market insights, positioning us well for the next stages of product development, testing, and funding.”
Freeline’s Mobile Step-Climbing Shower Commode has the potential to provide a practical, affordable solution that enhances users’ safety and independence, while also easing the daily care challenges faced by families and healthcare providers.
About the ARIIA x MDPP Ideas Incubator
This program awarded seed grants to five organisations to support early-stage product or technology innovation ideas to be developed for the aged care sector.
Watch the ARIIA x MDPP Ideas Incubator launch video to find out more.