A 95-year-old woman invented a unique product to encourage people to use their walkers.
Rita Melone invented the Walker Squawker two years ago and explained the reasoning behind why she wanted to create it.
“I had just started using a walker for the first time in my life and I wanted to invent something that would help me to remember to use it,” she told “Good Morning America.”
The Walker Squawker is a puppet-like bird that perches itself on top of walkers and sings songs and plays music. It also mimics the sound of a real bird and has “built-in sensors” that detects movement, light, touch and sound, according to the product’s description.
“Not only are the Walker Squawkers cute little fellas, but they serve a purpose,” Melone explained.
According to a September 2022 press release from Ageless Innovation, Melone wanted to “improve her own experience with her walker.”
“Walkers can be so cumbersome and dull – I wanted to create a device that would make the experience more fun and enjoyable for me and my friends. I thought to myself ‘what could be better than having a cute little feathered friend to come along for the ride?’” she said of the little “sidekick.”
Ted Fischer, co-founder and CEO of Ageless Innovation, the parent company of Joy For All, who manufactured the invention, explained why he took Melone and her product under his wing.
“Ageless Innovation prides itself on designing products that are based on extensive input from older adults. When this incredibly intelligent and spunky 93-year-old woman approached us with the idea of the Walker Squawker, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to create a new product that would deliver smiles and joy to Rita and her peers. We are honored to partner with Rita to bring her invention to life,” he said.