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Usability of a new electronic assistive device for community-dwelling persons with mild dementia
- Authors:
- MEILAND Franka J.M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(5), July 2012, pp.584-591.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
COGKNOW is a three-year project supported by the Inclusion unit of the European Commission’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Research Programme. The project commenced in September 2006 and concludes in late summer of 2009. The goal of COGKNOW is to develop an integrated cognitive prosthetic solution that supports people with mild dementia in four areas: memory, social contact, recreational activities and experiences of safety. A user participatory method was applied to evaluate the development process of the COGKNOW Day Navigator (CDN), and consisted of three iterative 1-year cycles with field tests in Amsterdam, Belfast and Luleå. In the successive cycles 16, 14 and 12 persons with dementia and their carers participated. Data on usability were collected by means of interviews, observations, questionnaires, logging and diaries. The CDN prototype consists of a touch screen, a mobile device, sensors and actuators. The evaluation showed that persons with dementia and carers valued the CDN overall as user-friendly and useful. CDN was expected to be a useful tool for supporting community-dwelling persons with mild dementia and their carers. Implication for practice are discussed.
A pilot study on the use of tracking technology: feasibility, acceptability, and benefits for people in early stages of dementia and their informal caregivers
- Authors:
- POT Anne Margriet, WILLEMSE Bernadette M., HORJUS Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(1-2), January 2012, pp.127-134.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Caregivers and clinicians may be confronted with the dilemma whether to allow people in early stages of dementia to go outside independently with the risk of getting lost, or to limit their autonomy and mobility. Newly available technology such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) may offer a solution, allowing the person with dementia to go outside independently while the caregiver is able to monitor their position. This pilot study investigated the impact of a 3-month use of GPS by 33 dyads care receivers and caregivers. The feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness for both the people with dementia and the caregivers were measured using a pre-post test design. Of the 33 dyads of care receivers and caregivers, 28 remained in the study. The majority of the caregivers was able to use the technology and integrate the use into their daily routines and would recommend the use of GPS. Almost half of the participants with dementia experienced more freedom and were less worried when they were outside unaccompanied, a quarter mentioned that they were more outside independently, and a fifth that they had less conflicts with their caregiver after 3 months. Caregivers showed a trend to feel less worried, especially caregivers who could reach their relative using the telephone connection. No changes in caregivers’ feelings of role-overload were found.
Assistive robots to improve the independent living of older persons: results from a needs study
- Authors:
- FIORINI Laura, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16(1), 2021, pp.92-102.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: More than 70% of elderly people age 80 and older are experiencing problems in personal mobility. Assistive robotics can represent a concrete support providing also a support for caregivers, clinicians and nurses by reducing their burden. Methods: A total of 20 older people and 34 caregivers (formal and informal) were interviewed in Italy and the Netherlands to investigate and prioritize their needs concerning the personal mobility domains and their attitudes towards assistive robots. The data were analysed from a user point of view by means of thematic content analysis by underlying recurrent topics. Results: The results revealed four categories of needs from the perspective of the older individuals: instrumental needs, rehabilitation needs, personal safety and indoor activities of daily life. Additionally, the results underline how personal mobility issues influence different aspects of daily life. Complementarily, three categories of caregiver needs were also distinguished: instrumental needs, rehabilitation monitoring needs and checkup needs. The highest percentage of participants showed a positive expectation towards assistive robotics. Conclusions: The results were clustered according to the robot abilities (i.e., motion, interaction, manipulation, decision support and perception abilities) as a list of functional and technical requirements that should be developed to address all the needs related to the personal mobility. Robotic developer teams that work in this context could take advantage of this research. Additionally, this work can be used as a basis for clinicians and nurses working in geriatric units to understand how the robots can support and enhance their work. (Edited publisher abstract)
Two-year use of care robot Zora in Dutch nursing homes: an evaluation study
- Authors:
- HUISMAN Chantal, KORT Helianthe S.M.
- Journal article citation:
- Healthcare, 7(1), 2019, p.31. Online only
- Publisher:
- Molecular Diversity Preservation International and Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
The use of the Zora robot was monitored and evaluated in 14 nursing care organizations (15 locations). The Zora robot, a Nao robot with software, is designed as a social robot and used for pleasure and entertainment or to stimulate the physical activities of clients in residential care. In the first year, the aim was to monitor and evaluate how the care robot is used in daily practice. In the second year, the focus was on evaluating whether the use of Zora by care professionals can be extended to more groups and other type of clients. Interviews, questionnaires and observations were used as instruments to reveal the progress in the use of the robot and to reveal the facilitators and barriers. Care professionals experienced several barriers in the use of the robot (e.g., start-up time and software failures). The opportunity they had to discuss their experience during project team meetings was seen as a facilitator in the project. Furthermore, they mentioned that the Zora robot had a positive influence on clients as it created added value for the care professionals in having fun at work. (Edited publisher abstract)
A multi-perspective evaluation of a service robot for seniors: the voice of different stakeholders
- Authors:
- BEDAF Sandra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 13(6), 2018, pp.592-599.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: The potential of service robots for older people is given increasing attention as the ageing population in Western countries will continue to grow as well as the demand for home care. In order to capture the experience of living with a robot at home, a multi-perspective evaluation was conducted. Methods: Older adults (n = 10) were invited to execute an actual interaction scenario with the Care-O-bot® robot in a home-like environment and were questioned about their experiences. Additionally, interviews were conducted with the elderly participants, informal carers (n = 7) and professional caregivers (n = 11). Results: Seniors showed to be more keen to accept the robot than their caregivers and relatives. However, the robot in its current form was found to be too limited and participants wished the robot could perform more complex tasks. In order to be acceptable a future robot should execute these complex tasks based on the personal preferences of the user which would require the robot to be flexible and extremely smart, comparable to the care that is delivered by a human carer. Conclusions: Developing the functional features to perform activities is not the only challenge in robot development that deserves the attention of robot developers. The development of social behaviour and skills should be addressed as well. This is possible adopting a person-centred design approach, which relies on validation activities with actual users in realistic environments, similar to those described in this paper. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supportive living environments: a first concept of a dwelling designed for older adults with dementia
- Authors:
- VAN HOOF Joost, KORT Helianthe S.M.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 8(2), May 2009, pp.293-316.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Dementia has severe implications to the quality of daily life, in particular to independent functioning. This sets extra demands to living environments. Older adults with dementia and their partners ask for living environments that support independence, compensate for declining vitality, and lower the burden of family care. For this purpose, a first concept of a design for a dementia dwelling is presented in this paper, which incorporates modifications in terms of architecture, interior design, the indoor environment, and technological solutions. These design features were derived from literature search and focus group sessions. Current design guidelines are frequently based on practical experience only, and therefore, more systematic field research should be carried out to find evidence for the various design modifications. Also, it needs to be studied how the design features of the dementia dwelling can be incorporated into the existing housing stock.
Technology implementation in delivery of healthcare to older people: how can the least voiced in society be heard?
- Authors:
- VAN ZAALEN Yvonne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Enabling Technologies, 12(2), 2018, pp.76-90.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on ethical and judicial themes related to technology and the older adults. Design/methodology/approach: Different consecutive phases in technology design and allocation will be discussed from a range of perspectives. Findings: Longevity is one of the greatest achievements of contemporary science and a result of development of social relations. Currently, various non-communicable diseases affect older adults and impose the greatest burden on global health. There is a great emphasis across Europe on caring for the older person in their own homes. Technology has a mediating role in determining the possibilities for good quality of life (QOL). The concept of assisting the older adult through the use of technology so as to access healthcare services has enormous potential. Although the potential of technology in healthcare is widely recognised, technology use can have its downsides. Professionals need to be aware of the risks, namely, those related to the privacy of the older person, which may accompany technology use. Research limitations/implications: By 2050, there will be more people aged over 65 than there are children. This phenomenon of global ageing constitutes a massive challenge in the area of health protection. Practical implications: Professionals need to be aware of the risks, for example, related to the privacy of the older person, that may accompany technology use. Social implications: There is a great emphasis across Europe on caring for the older person in their own homes. Technology has a mediating role in determining the possibilities for QOL. Originality/value; The concept of assisting the older adult through the use of technology to avail of healthcare has enormous potential. Assistive technology, social media use and augmentative and alternative communication can have a positive effect on the QOL of older people, as long as they are supported enough in use of these technologies. However, ethical and juridical considerations are at stake as well. (Edited publisher abstract)
EFORTT: ethical frameworks for telecare technologies for older people at home: final research report
- Author:
- LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
- Publisher:
- Lancaster University
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 31p.
- Place of publication:
- Lancaster
EFORTT (Ethical Frameworks for Telecare technologies for older people at home) is an EU funded project which aimed to examine the ethical, social and gender implications of telecare interventions (remote care technologies worn, installed or embedded in homes) for older citizens in Spain, England, Norway and the Netherlands. The project involved the use of fieldwork (including documentary analysis, practice observations, and interviews with users, carers and practitioners) to gather information about preventive and responsive remote care practices, and recruitment of citizens' panels of older people and carers in each of the 4 partner countries as forums for views on telecare and future directions of care. Analysis of findings from the research was used to identify key themes and issues to inform discussion at the September 2010 Ageing with Technologies participative conference on care in Europe for practitioners, users, carers, policy makers and academics, the concluding session of which brought together proposals and priorities for future action on telecare which emerged from the discussions. This report describes the context and main findings of the research and its implications for policy and practice. The recommendations for ethical telecare development include providing care at home that is meaningful, sufficient and dignified, and ensuring engagement of older people in designing, developing and decision making about care.