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‘I feel so much safer’: unravelling community equipment outcomes
- Authors:
- SAINTY Mandy, LAMBKIN Christopher, MAILE Louise
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(11), November 2009, pp.499-506.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study looks at the impact of community equipment services on the health and wellbeing outcomes of choice and control, quality of life, and personal dignity. Questionnaires were sent out to 483 adults who had been prescribed community equipment by social or primary care services to meet mobility needs (97), domestic activity needs (99), bathing needs (150), toileting needs (93) and sensory needs (44). A response rate of 52% was achieved. Seventy-eight per cent of respondents reported that they were using all the equipment prescribed. Of those who were using the equipment, 91% reported feeling safer and over 80% said that it made a positive difference to their independence, quality of life or ability to do things when they wanted. Bathing equipment was either very successful or not used at all, and the authors suggest that there is scope to maximise the effective use of bathing equipment. The provision of equipment had less of an impact on reducing the need for assistance at home, particularly from paid carers.
Process requirements for building sustainable digital assistive technology for older people
- Authors:
- OLPHERT Wendy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 3(3), September 2009, pp.4-13.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
“Digital assistive technology” refers to information communications technologies (ICTs) to support older people’s everyday tasks. These could range from online shopping to information seeking and searching the Web in a variety of ways. Research under the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, and other research, tries to improve older people’s quality of life through the exploitation and exploration of new developments in computing and information technology. However the acceptance rate of digital assistive technology by older people is still low, while the abandonment of already existing technologies increases. This purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to inform the decision-making of designers and implementers of digital assistive technologies. The aim is to facilitate the development of more adaptable user centred systems that can dynamically accommodate the changing needs of older people and decrease the rate of abandonment of digital assistive technologies. Technologies referred to include digital television (DiTV), the Internet, with or without a volunteer acting as intermediary, for information seeking and shopping, and “smart flats” or “smart houses”, which support the automation of domestic tasks and other social activities such as shopping, banking and healthcare through the use of sensor microchips and detectors. The proposed framework includes provision for learning and capacity-building, collaboration and knowledge sharing and participation in decision-making for older people during the design and implementation process.
Time to adapt: home adaptations for older people: the increase in need and future of state provision
- Authors:
- ADAMS Sue, ELLISON Mike
- Publisher:
- Care and Repair
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 49p.
- Place of publication:
- Nottingham
An accessible, adapted home can make a significant contribution to improving older and disabled people’s quality of life. Adaptations can enable independence; help to prevent accidents particularly falls, and reduce hospital and care admission rates. This report sets out the key policy and practice issues that are arising as a consequence of an increasing older population, rising disabilities levels, and the growth in owner occupation. It describes financial assistance for home adaptations, especially the Disabled Facilities Grants, and shows how they are failing to meet needs. The consequences of the failure of assistance to meet the ongoing rise in the need for adaptations are discussed. The potential impact of letting the current situation continue includes increased accidents amongst older people in their own homes, rising demand for help, greater demand on social services and worsening quality of life for a growing number of older people. The report concludes that exactly what practical help a person can expect from the State needs to be decided and made clear as a matter of urgency.
Evaluation and value for money analysis of a new telecare service from a user perspective
- Authors:
- AP DAFYD Ellen G., ROBERTS Janet, DOUGHTY Kevin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Assistive Technologies, 3(3), September 2009, pp.43-49.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Many telecare services will in the future rely on service users to subsidise their existence through a charging policy. This will reduce the level of use, and hence the economic efficiency, unless services are shown to offer value for money. As part of a wide audit and evaluation of telecare provision in Gwynedd, service users were asked both about the value of the service to them and to their families. Twenty-five percent of active service users were selected. The responses showed that the service was perceived to be valuable to 95% of service users, but even more so to their families. Most thought that telecare played a valuable role in helping them to maintain their independence. This is consistent with results in other local authorities in England and Scotland, though it should be noted service users might exaggerate satisfaction with free services for fear they might be withdrawn if criticised. When asked about the financial value of the service, more than half felt that it was worth £4.50 per week or more without a dedicated response team. All were prepared to pay at least £3 per week, 25% up to £6 per week and approximately 8% up to £8 per week. The majority would not wish to pay extra for a response team. One conclusion was to recommend pooling of resources between health and social care authorities, which together with payments for service users, may produce a sustainable service.
In the realm of sensors
- Author:
- MICKEL Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 18.6.09, 2009, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Telecare systems can make saving whilst helping people to stay independent for longer. This article reports on the use of flood and fire prevention monitors by Hanover Housing in Hackney, and the use of telecare in Cheshire East Council to help in the reablement of older people returning home.
Brave new world
- Authors:
- MISKELLY Bronagh, MICKEL Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 11.5.09, 2009, pp.22-24.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
New technologies can help older people live independently for longer. This article discusses the promises of telecare and assistive technology, and the barriers to its implementation.
Technology in care for the aged in Japan: two case studies
- Author:
- JAPAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTRE
- Publisher:
- Japan Local Government Centre
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper describes two case studies outlining the use of assistive technology in Japan. The first, from Okuizumo town in the Shimane prefecture, relates to the use of video phones which have been installed in 70% of all households of people 65 years and over. This allows for visual interaction with the Health and Welfare Division, who keep a watch over the well-being of its clients. This, among other benefits, frees up resources and reduces the burden on nursing and medical care centres. The second case study describes ‘Paro’, the world’s first therapeutic robotic harp seal. Paro is designed to have a therapeutic effect on patients with cognitive disorders. To date, more than a thousand models have been sold. In studies, Paro has shown to improve the brain functioning of 50% of older users with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Also, subjects that showed a positive attitude towards Paro were found to show a greater response to therapy.
Caring for older people in the community
- Editors:
- HUDSON Angela, MOORE Lesley, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 245p.
- Place of publication:
- Chichester
This book is a compilation from 9 academics and practitioners, including the two editors. The first section (Chapters 1-3) discusses the past and current influences on physical, psychological and social ‘nursing’ practices and ethical tensions, when working with older people. Topics covered in the second section (chapters 4-6) with regard to contemporary challenges with older people who may have learning disabilities and dementia as well as experiencing ageing are, health education, sexual health, substance misuse, and the role of assistive technology. Examples of lived scenarios from service users and reflections from professionals are included. Current issues of kinship care for older people, ethics, palliative care and end of life decision making, complementary therapies, vulnerability, citizenship, informed consent, advocacy, empowerment, personalisation and a person centre approach are also mentioned. The third section from the joint editors, is on future challenges and covers: community hospitals, bringing diagnostic technology and chemotherapy interventions closer to cancer patients, the national panel for information and communications technology, ‘whole system demonstrators’, moving towards seamless care, and partnership with older people projects.
Telecare
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 5p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing paper outlines the role of telecare as a key component of the government’s strategy for older people's preventative services. It provides a clear overview of what telecare is, briefly describes different types of telecare available such as environmental sensors and security devices and how it can be used to support older people. Other assistive technologies such as telehealth and telemedicine are also briefly mentioned. Two short case studies are included which show how telecare was used enable two individuals to remain at home.
The fictions, facts and future of older people and technology
- Author:
- ROBERTS Simon
- Publisher:
- International Longevity Centre UK
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 14p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The author discusses technology usage by older people focusing on consumer technologies. He argues that older people are not a homogeneous “user group” and that their experience and usage of technology varies. He also points out that most realise they are ageing but don’t consider themselves as “old” and therefore may resist using something which they perceive as being designed for an “old person”. He suggests that consumer technologies are developed with a wide audience in mind but often fail to excite or invite use by older people. On the other hand, assistive technologies whose intended uses are usually much more limited often assume a rather one dimensional users with a clear set of needs and can stigmatise their users. Their design often focuses on function over form with the result that such devices are strongly suggestive of decline, disability and dependency. Older people who do not consider themselves “old” may resist using these devices. Suggestions for the improvement of the delivery of new technologies to older people are then made. The author suggests that current designers should think less about themselves as designers for “them” who are already “old” and more about designing for themselves and society as they age.