Fan Chengfen, a 71 year-old woman in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, helps her husband battle Alzheimer's disease. (Photo provided to CGTN)
When Fan Chengfen, a 71 year-old woman in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province noticed that her husband, who battles Alzheimer's disease, had become increasingly forgetful, she found creative ways to help him.
From smart diapers to safety gloves, Fan's items help her husband cope with the disease and stay independent.
Not impressed by the items she found online, Fan decided to make her own versions thanks to a background in mechanics. After much testing and experimenting, Fan made useful items from simple things found in the home: pins, plastic bottles, gloves and diapers.
For example, she invented a smart diaper, which helped her husband manage his urinary incontinence. The device is attached to tubes that collect urine into a plastic bottle and a moisture sensor that distinguishes between urine and feces.
"I just want to help him to live comfortably with dignity." Fan said her goal is simple, to not make her husband's quality of life any less, Wuhan evening news reported.
Her creativity has earned her recognition in the local Alzheimer's community, and Fan hopes to help more families and bring awareness to the disease.
Alzheimer's has gone largely under-treated in China, as it's often perceived as memory impairment associated with aging, rather than a disease.
It also faces lack of resources in terms of the availability of specialized care, according to 2017 data released by the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission.
Data shows the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in China remains the top in the world – approximately eight million people in 2017.
In addition, only 20 percent of the patients have received medical attention, according to CNR.
