Running head: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

Assistive Technology Device: Card Room Caddie

Annie Guiliano
Touro University Nevada

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

Introduction
An assistive technology (AT) device refers to any hardware or software utilized by an
individual who has a disability to accomplish a task. AT can be designed and modified to fit the
needs of an individual (Cook & Polgar, 2015). Performing everyday tasks can be difficult for
individuals with disabilities. Occupational therapists (OTs) have extensive education regarding
different diagnoses, activity analysis, and identifying performance skills. Utilizing professional
background and creativity, OTs can create solutions to make everyday tasks easier for
individuals.
Population
Card rooms in Las Vegas are frequented by many people daily including individuals that
utilize walkers for functional mobility. Walkers may be used to compensate for deficits in
balance and strength, to decrease pain, and to decrease weight bearing (Bolding, Adler, TiptonBurton, Verran, & Lillie, 2013). The requirement of a walker for functional mobility may be
caused by a variety of elements unique to each individual. Deficits may include weakness,
insufficient endurance, balance problems, and decreased safety. Walkers help support the body
weight through the arms during gait (Bolding et al., 2013). Walkers require the use of both arms.
Without use of the arms, it is unsafe to carry items which makes ambulating through a card room
especially difficult. Carrying casino chips, handling money, and holding a drink are common
tasks when participating in the occupation of playing a poker tournament.
Every card room in Las Vegas offers a variety of tournament options that have a large
demographic of older participants. Poker tournaments can start with hundreds of tables. As
players get eliminated, tables are combined. The players have to transport their chips, drink, and
belongings to the new table. This process occurs frequently throughout the tournament until the

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

remaining players are seated at a single, final table. Tournaments are on a timed schedule with
the blinds constantly increasing. Players who are not able to quickly move to the new seat are at
a disadvantage because only seated players can play the dealt hands. It is common for players to
have multiple racks of chips that have to be gathered and transported to their new seat along with
personal belonging. Card rooms have employees to assist but they are not always readily
available. Many individuals do not want to rely on the assistance of others. These individuals
could greatly benefit from a device that would enable them to independently accomplish the
functional activities involved with participating in tournament poker.
Device
Description
Watching poker players struggle to engage in their leisure occupation due to the
constraints of using a walker for functional mobility led to the creation of the Card Room
Caddie. The Card Room Caddie is an assistive technology device designed to assist individuals
who use walkers participate in poker tournaments. The device acts as a tray with a special area
designed to hold a rack of chips, a protected money holder that is easily assessable, and a
functional drink holder with motion control capabilities. The Card Room Caddie is designed to
be a removable device and is placed on top of the walker. It is twenty-four inches wide, nineteen
inches deep, and half of an inch thick. A top layer of quarter inch oak plywood was chosen for
its lightweight and strength. A quarter inch foam poster board serves as extra support. A felt
covering provides a soft, non-slide surface.
Engagement
The Card Room Caddie enables the independent transport of poker chips and belongings
from table to table during the duration of a poker tournament. This ability gives poker players

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

who utilize walkers for mobility the freedom to independently participate in a meaningful
occupation. The growing body of literature on the relationship between leisure engagement and
health suggest that leisure can contribute to the physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions
of health (Payne, Mowen, & Montoro-Rodriquez, 2006).
Cost Analysis
The Card Room Caddie was developed using materials purchased from five separate
stores with the total cost of $38.53 (see Table 1). The creation of the device required several onhand tools including a jigsaw, electric sander, power drill, screwdriver, and hot glue gun. The
motion controlled drink holder was created by repurposing the drink holder from a lawn chair.
Table 1.
Costs of Purchased Materials for Card Room Caddie
Item
Vendor
1/4-2-4 Oak
Lowes
1/2in x 1/2in x 8ft Pine
Lowes
2 Felt 36 x 36
Michaels
Craftwood 3 x 9.5
Michaels
Middle hinges
The Home Depot
1/4in Staples
The Home Depot
Foam board
Walmart
Chip rack
The Gamblers General Store
SubTotal
8.1% Tax
Total

Cost
$10.79 + tax
$3.92 + tax
$7.98 + tax
$1.99 + tax
$1.98 + tax
$2.76 + tax
$2.97 + tax
$3.25 + tax
$35.64
$2.89
$38.53

There are devices similar to the Card Room Caddie (see Table 2). However, these
devices do not meet the specific needs of the targeted population. With the built in chip holder,
the Card Room Caddie makes it possible to securely transport a rack of chips. The motion
controlled drink holder limits the chance of spillage. The money holder with closure gives card
room patrons a protected place to store valuables. The Card Room Caddie is an original adaptive

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

device uniquely designed to enhance the occupational performance of tournament poker players
who utilize walkers for mobility.
Table 2.
Similar Items Available
Item

Vendor and Product Name

Walgreens

Cost
$39.99 + tax

Duro-Med Fold Away Walker

Tray
Retrieved from:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/duro-med-foldaway-walker-tray/ID=prod6088867-product

Walgreens

$19.99 + tax

Mabis Universal Walker Tray

Retrieved from:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/mabisuniversal-walker-tray/ID=prod6088866-product

CVS Pharmacy

$29.49 + tax

Drive Medical Quilted

Walker Tote Bag
Retrieved from: http://www.cvs.com/shop/homehealth-care/walkers-rollators/walker-rollatoraccessories/drive-medical-quilted-walker-totebags-solid-skuid

Walmart

$16.49 + tax

Drive Medical Walker Basket

Retrieved from: http://www.walmart.com/ip/DriveMedical-Deluxe-Walker-Basket-with-Insert-Tray

Note. Clark County sales tax = 8.1%

Literature Review
Everard, Lach, Fisher, and Baum (2000) examined the relationship of engagement, as
activity and social support, to successful aging. The study assessed the relationship between
active engagement with life and functioning in a convenience sample of community-dwelling
adults aged 65 and older. The researchers utilized activity checklist questionnaires designed to

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

measure the frequency of participation in instrumental activities, social activities, high-demand

leisure activities and low-demand leisure activities. Results showed that maintenance of all
activities correlated with physical health scores but especially high-demand leisure activities.
Participants that engaged in more low-demand leisure activities had higher mental health scores
(Everard et al., 2000). The study supports the development of the Card Room Caddie to promote
the low-demand leisure activity, poker. Poker is a social card game that requires a high level of
cognition. Low-demand leisure activities are important for successful aging because they
promote mental health and can replace more demanding activities after a change in health status
(Everard et al., 2000).
Fear of falling can lead to activity avoidance or reduction. Schepens, Sen, Painter, and
Murphy (2012) conducted a meta-analysis comparing community-dwelling older adults fallrelated efficacy to measures of activity or participation. After an examination of 20 crosssectional and prospective studies, the researchers found a strong positive relationship between
fall-related efficacy and activity. The Card Room Caddie enables proper use of the walker with
both hands on the handles. Proper use of the walker reduces the risk of fall which promotes
confidence. Free from the fear of falling, poker players utilizing the Card Room Caddie do not
have to avoid or reduce a meaningful occupation.

Conclusion
The Card Room Caddie is an adaptive device that enhances the engagement in a
meaningful leisure occupation. With trial and error, the device came to fruition proving that
creativity and logic can help improve occupational performance. With the assistance of the Card

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

Room Caddie, tournament poker players who utilize walkers can independently participate in the
occupation, promoting health and well-being.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE: CARD ROOM CADDIE

References
Bolding, D., Adler, C., Tipton-Burton, M., Verran, A., & Lillie, S. M. (2013). Mobility. In H. M.
Pendleton & W. Schultz-Krohn (Eds.), Pedrettis occupational therapy practice skills for
dysfunction (7th ed., pp. 233-294). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Cook, A., & Polgar, J. (2015). Assistive technologies: Principles and practice (4th ed.) St. Louis,
MO: Mosby Elsevier.
Everard, K. M., Lach, H. W., Fisher, E. B., & Baum, M. C., (2000). Relationship of activity and
social support to the functional health of older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 55(4), 208212.
Payne, L. L., Mowen, A. J., & Montoro-Rodriguez, J. (2006). The role of leisure style in
maintaining the health of older adults with arthritis. Journal of Leisure Research, 38(1),
20-45.
Schepens, S., Sen, A., Painter, J. A., & Murphy, S. L. (2012). Relationship between fall-related
efficacy and activity engagement in community-dwelling older adults: A meta-analytic
review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 137-148.
doi:10.5014/ajot.2012.001156