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How personalised technology can play an important role in supporting people with learning disabilities as they age and face the onset of dementia
- Author:
- NICHOLS M
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 5(3), 2011, pp.158-163.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
HfT is a national learning disability charity. This article reports on its work at Old Quarries, a mix of residential and supported living accommodation in Gloucestershire for people with learning disabilities. The article presents case studies featuring individuals with the onset of dementia who were able to use personalised technology to empower them to live more independently and to remain in their homes rather than being moved into alternative, unfamiliar accommodation. The personalised technology described includes a bedroom door sensor alerting staff when a door is opened, a talking photo album, a fingerprint lock for a front door, and a radio frequency identification device worn by individuals which alerts staff when the wearer is about to move from a lower to a high risk area.
Exploring unforeseen outcomes - examining the potential that personalised technology can have for changing the behaviour patterns of people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- HARRISON Jo
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 5(1), March 2011, pp.45-50.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Hft is a national charity providing local support for people with learning disabilities and their families. It works with people with learning disabilities and family carers across the UK through its Family Carers Support Service, and develops personalised technology, including assistive technologies and telecare. This article, written on behalf of Hft, looks at how personalised technology could have the potential to change the behaviour of people with learning disabilities, enabling them to take more control of their lives and increase their independence. It discusses the impact of personalised technology on behaviour, and presents brief case studies to illustrate the potential of personalised technology to change behaviour and enhance lives. It also describes Hft's Virtual Smart House project, a virtual simulation designed to showcase how personalised technology can be used to support independence, safety and security in the home for people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Virtual reality
- Author:
- BABIC Irena
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, April 2011, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
An online virtual house is being used to raise awareness of the benefits of personalised technology among people with learning disabilities. The computer programme simulates how personalised technology can be used to support independence, safety and security. A short case study also explains how personalised technology enabled three women with learning disabilities to move into supported living.
Improving person centred technology for disabled people in Europe
- Author:
- BARNARD Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Llais, 101, Winter 2011, pp.3-5.
- Publisher:
- Learning Disability Wales
ImPaCT was a three year European project exploring how assistive technology, used in a person-centred way can benefit people with disabilities. During the project, Learning Disability Wales worked alongside eight other disability organisations from Europe. One of the project partners reports on its aims and achievements, now that the project is coming to a close.
Robots, social networking sites and multi-user games: using new and existing assistive technologies to promote human flourishing
- Authors:
- MACKENZIE Robin, WATTS John
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 16(5), 2011, pp.38-47.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The authors of this article argue that assistive technology and ehealth policy initiatives in the UK and Europe currently emphasise conserving health care resources, but that technologies aimed at enhancing users' lives rather than saving money could lead to design and production of devices promoting happiness and social well-being for all citizens. The article covers research evidence, the concept of human flourishing or well-being, and issues associated with introducing robotics and assistive technologies aimed at enhancing human flourishing. It notes that many technologies can be adapted to assist people with disabilities, such as Robot Companions for Citizens, an EU project aiming to develop humanoid robots enabled to engage in social interactions. Using clinical case study vignettes, the article explores some of the ethical and legal implications of the use of new and developing technologies to push the boundaries of assistance and enablement. It concludes that technologies which become ubiquitous, such as social networking sites and mobile phones, can offer socially isolated and disabled people and their carers opportunities to enhance their lives, and that in this way they function as assistive technologies although not designed as such.
'A home of my own': developing cost effective housing options for people with learning disabilities across the East Midlands
- Author:
- EAST MIDLANDS IMPROVEMENT AND EFFICIENCY PARTNERSHIP
- Publisher:
- East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 8p.
- Place of publication:
- Melton Mowbray
This Good Practice Case Study describes a housing solutions programme to reduce reliance on residential care for people with learning disabilities. The programme was stimulated by the initiative taken by Nottinghamshire County Council to engage the Care Services Efficiency Delivery programme (CSED) to undertake a local strategic housing analysis. Nottinghamshire’s findings were shared at a regional housing event in July 2009 and resulted in the other 8 local authorities in the East Midlands signing up to undertake a similar programme of support. The programme set out to achieve a target of a 5% reduction in the number of people with learning disabilities who live in residential care, whilst increasing other local housing options. Phase one of this project will support over 200 people with learning disabilities moving back into the community, with a further 110 identified. The potential to save over £10.8 million has been identified across the 8 local authorities through the development of a range of new housing and support options.
Bringing people together
- Author:
- MARSHALL Debbie
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, July 2011, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
People & Places is an online community networking site which enables an individual, their family and the professionals to communicate safely. It also enables them to gain access to groups and services that had not been available to them, and to more effectively use these resources.
Illustrative cost models in learning disabilities social care provision
- Author:
- ROE David
- Publisher:
- Laing and Buisson
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 62p.
- Place of publication:
- London
There has been considerable innovation in the housing options and support available for those with learning disabilities, including individual and shared supported living, residential care, extra care, shared lives and shared ownership. A better understanding of the relative unit costs of different types of service and approach should be beneficial in aiding better choices by individuals with learning disabilities, and their advisors, existing local authority commissioners and providers. This report addresses some of the questions relating to relative costs and unit costs, and comments on specific cost-effectiveness considerations. It compiles and describes a range of illustrative cost models, depicting relative unit costs of different approaches, based on input from providers. It focuses on the description of different types of provision, with additional comments on economies of scale, efficiencies and other cost considerations and issues, in the main body of the report. Accompanying illustrative cost models, with further explanation, are set out in the appendices. These illustrative cost models relate to: residential care; supported living; housing benefits; social housing provision through a registered social landlord; examples of the use of assistive technology; a case study of deregistration; shared lives; and extra care.