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The promise of assistive technology in institutionalized old age care: economic efficiency, improved working conditions, and better quality of care?
- Authors:
- SIREN Anu, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16(5), 2021, pp.483-489.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: Assistive technologies in care work are expected to alleviate the challenges related to population aging, namely the pressure on public budgets and a shortage of care professionals. This study examines how various stakeholders view the potentials of assistive technology in an institutionalized care setting in Denmark. Method: Using ethnographic field observations, interviews, and document analysis, we explore the residents’, the staff’s, and the municipality’s perspectives on the technologies and analyze whether they live up to the stated expectations. Results: We identify three parallel narratives representing each of the stakeholder’s perspectives. The municipality’s triple-win narrative emphasizes expected gains in terms of efficiency, improved working conditions, and better quality of care. The staff’s ambiguity narrative contains both negative views regarding the motive for using technologies to save resources and positive accounts of how technologies have reduced work-related pain. The residents’ limited agency narrative reflects an internalization of the staff’s perspectives. Conclusions: We conclude that, despite both the staff and the municipality highlighting the residents’ well-being and comfort as important outcomes of assistive technologies, the residents’ wishes have limited influence on whether and, if so, how assistive technologies are used. (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)
In control: help with incontinence
- Author:
- MARES Penny
- Publisher:
- Age Concern
- Publication year:
- 1990
- Pagination:
- 87p.,tables,illus.
- Place of publication:
- London
Self-help guide. Aims to provide older people and their carers with information and advice. Covers how to get professional help; treatment; and financial help. Also looks at useful products, equipment and services. Includes a chapter on help in residential and nursing homes.
“She had a smile on her face as wide as the great Australian bite”: a qualitative examination of family perceptions of a therapeutic robot and a plush toy
- Authors:
- MOYLE Wendy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 59(1), 2019, pp.177-185.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Background and Objectives: Recent years have seen social robotic pets introduced as a means of treating behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and many show promising potential. This study sought to explore family members’ perceptions of the Japanese-developed baby harp seal, Paro (version 9), and a look-alike, nonrobotic Plush Toy, when used by their relative with dementia for 15 min, 3 afternoons per week for 10 weeks. Research Design and Method: The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach, which was nested within a larger cluster randomized controlled trial. A convenience sample of 20 family members (n = 10 each from the Paro and Plush Toy conditions) with relatives in 9 long-term care facilities in Queensland, Australia, completed individual semi-structured interviews (telephone or face-to-face). Inductive, data-driven thematic analysis of the data was undertaken with the assistance of the qualitative management software, ATLAS.ti. Results: Family members of long-term care residents with dementia expressed positive perceptions of the Paro, perceiving that it improved mood, reduced agitation, and provided opportunity for communication for their relative. Negative perceptions of the Plush Toy were given by family members, primarily because of its lack of movement and engagement. Conclusion: Family members were keen for their older relative with dementia to use a social robot that moved and engaged with them, and Plush Toys that were static and unresponsive were perceived as being unimportant in improving quality of life. However, the current cost of Paro was identified by family members as a major limitation to use. (Edited publisher abstract)
Sound barriers: a study of the needs of older people with hearing loss living in residential care and nursing homes
- Author:
- COUNSEL AND CARE
- Publisher:
- Counsel and Care
- Publication year:
- 1993
- Pagination:
- 21p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Older people with hearing impairment are being denied vital help. This report suggests constructive steps to be taken. Some require mere adjustments in the outlook and attitudes of staff. Services are inadequate, lack direction and suffer from lack of trained staff. These services share in a general poverty of provision for older people.
How are we to grow old?
- Author:
- BURLEY Robin
- Journal article citation:
- New Technology in the Human Services, 14(1/2), 2001, pp.3-8.
- Publisher:
- Centre for Human Service Technology
In our society the phrase ‘the elderly’ conjures up a picture of passive recipients of care tended by nurses in a stone built Victorian mansion at the end of a long drive. None of us would want this for ourselves in later life and yet we seem to accept it as the inevitable consequence of ageing, at least when we think of the ageing of others. For us, no doubt, things will be different, or will it? The Royal Commission on Long Term Care reminded us that in recent years it has become common for older people to go into residential or nursing home care after a crisis in their own home or on discharge from hospital. (Sutherland S, 1999) Despite the evidence around us, most of us will assume we have some sort of immunity to the physical slowing down and dependence on others that goes with this image of ageing. But if we, as a society do not take action, many of us will be driven down that long one-way drive to the Victorian mansion. Professor Tom Kirkwood, in the first of his Reith Lectures, drew attention to the prejudice that exists in relation to older people. “On a regular basis we read, hear, or ourselves make flippant, jokey or negative remarks about the state of being old. ‘Grumpy old’, ‘silly old’, ‘boring old’, ‘dirty old’ - the linkages are so familiar that we fail to notice what we are doing.” These are the underlying cultural prejudices that permeate the social environment in which our grandparents and parents have grown old. When we design services for them we seem to overlook their capacity to be contributors or their desire to be independent. If we do nothing to change the way we regard ageing, these will be the cultural influences that will shape the way we grow old.
Unachievable staffing ratios dumped but rules on room sizes remain a threat to many homes
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Caring Times, September 2000, p.4.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Discusses how many care homes remain at risk of being obliged to close following the enactment of the Care Standards Act.
Continuing care for older people
- Editor:
- DENHAM Michael J.
- Publisher:
- Stanley Thornes
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 422p.,diags.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Cheltenham
Examines the issues surrounding the long term care available to older people. Includes papers on: quality issues for older people in continuing care accommodation; standards; audit and quality management; ethical dilemmas; role of the purchasers in continuing care; the mixed economy and long term care; patients and residents rights; quality of life; community care; the physicians role; nursing care; occupational therapy for older people with mental health problems; the role of the physiotherapist; communication; nutritional care; furniture and equipment; education and creativity; and art, music and drama therapy. Concludes with a series of case studies looking at improving quality of life.