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The enigma of Japanese ageing-in-place practice in the information age: does digital gadget help the (good) practice for inter-generation care?
- Author:
- LAI On-Kwok
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 32(3), September 2008, pp.236-255.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
Against the background of Japanese demographic transition towards a very aged one, the socio-familial reluctance for ageing-in-institutions, and the limited (already the inadequacy of) institutional care, ageing-in-place is both the socio-familial desirable and the policy solution. This paper examines the coping strategies of Japanese society, in the shortage of caring services, with socio-techno innovations derived from information and communication technologies (ICT), towards ageing-in-place. It examines and discusses the socio-familial-spatial (social networking, location and place) relevance of mobile communication, emphasizing the use of ICT and mobile communication by/with/for ageing population, for realizing the benefits of ageing-in-place. It especially considers elderly and their families, in the need for socially and geo-spatially fixed anchors (the essence of ageing-in-place), despite (or perhaps because of) the ‘mobility’ through ICT.
Supporting the most vulnerable customers through digital switchover
- Author:
- OFCOM CONSUMER PANEL
- Publisher:
- OFCOM Consumer Panel
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 39p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Digital television switchover will be the biggest challenge for people who have to cope with it on their own, without the help of family, friends or neighbours. A realistic way to meet this challenge is to mobilise existing community networks. This will cost money. But it will be the key to providing the support that vulnerable people will need if they are to be helped to keep their access to television. Financial assistance should be offered to people currently eligible for TV licence fee exemptions or concessions (people over 75 or registered blind) to meet the costs of one-off purchases of equipment and any necessary aerial upgrade work needed to make the transition to digital.
Extending the scope of community alarm services
- Authors:
- DOUGHTY Kevin, FISK Malcolm
- Journal article citation:
- Housing Care and Support, 4(2), May 2001, pp.24-27.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The rapid evolution of the social alarm network in the UK during the 1980s is one of the greatest success stories of the local authority housing departments which championed their growth. Yet, during the past decade, when 'care in the community' became a reality and the number of older people living alone in society increased significantly, the number of connections has often grown slowly and investment in new technology has been relatively low. This article describes the features of new generations of 'telecare' using systems with increasing potential.
Building social inclusion for rural older people using information and communication technologies: perspectives of rural practitioners
- Authors:
- WARBURTON Jeni, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 67(4), 2014, pp.479-494.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The literature identifies rural, older people as at risk of social exclusion, as a result of rural disadvantage. In this context, improved access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) has potential to build social inclusion, yet current evidence shows that rural, older people are the lowest current users of technology. This paper draws on the practice and local knowledge of rural practitioners from one Victorian region in order to explore: (a) the practice issues associated with ICT use among rural, older people; and (b) the characteristics of effective practice models in the rural, social work context. An analysis of findings highlights the need to respond to the diverse skills, needs, and learning styles of older people, to demonstrate the benefits of ICTs, involve users, and build confidence. Major barriers include poor ICT usage by many rural agencies and low practitioner capacity, as well as access and resources. (Publisher abstract)
A reality check on virtual communications in aged care: pragmatics or power?
- Authors:
- KING Christopher, WORKMAN Barbara
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 31(4), 2006, pp.253-262.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
This article reports on the use of videoconferencing technologies to deliver specialist pain management services to frail older nursing home residents in Australia. Observational and client satisfaction data indicated that participants readily adapted to using the technology, and expressed preference for virtual consultations over-face-to-face consultations. These data suggest a need to revisit the assumptions about the use of technologies in aged care; how the technologies should be used, and who should be making these decisions, the belief that technology cannot and should not replace face-to-face health consultations, and the role of technology in doctor-patient interactions. The theoretical and practical implications for aged care are explored, including the design of IT systems for aged care and policy principles that encourage the view of older people as passive recipients of health services.
Long-term improvements in cognitive performance through computer-assisted cognitive training: a pilot study in a residential home for older people
- Authors:
- GUNTHER V. K., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 7(3), May 2003, pp.200-206.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate the effects of computer-assisted cognitive training on aging-associated memory deficits, information processing speed, learning, and interference tendency in older people. Residents of a home for older people (15 women, four men; mean age 83.5; range 75-91) participated in a 14-week computer-assisted cognitive training programme. The Nurnberg Aging Inventory and the California Verbal Learning Test were administered prior to the programme, immediately after the program and after a period of five months to assess the effectiveness of the cognitive training. After the cognitive training programme there were significant improvements in primary working memory and also secondary working memory (for verbal and visual stimuli), on parameters of information processing speed, learning and interference tendency. Improvements in the last two cognitive parameters were maintained five months after completion of the training programme. The present study indicates that computerized cognitive training programs can be used in older people to achieve long-term improvements in some important aspects of fluid intelligence. It is suggested that computers could be employed more extensively to prevent and treat cognitive deficits in older people.
Moving forward
- Author:
- RANGE Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, March 2001, pp.17-18.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
Head of Telecare at Motion Media, designers of video communications technologies, reports on the prospects for virtual social care in the community.
System error
- Author:
- CAREY Kevin
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 27.6.96, 1996, p.6.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Argues that the Internet is creating new avenues of communication at the expense of visually impaired people.
Using simple technology to prompt multistep tasks in the home for people with dementia: an exploratory study comparing prompting formats
- Authors:
- BOYD Hazel C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 16(4), 2017, pp.424-442.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Objectives: To investigate the relative effectiveness of different prompts for people with dementia during multistep tasks in the home, to inform prompting technology design. Methods: Nine pairs of participants (one with dementia and a partner or relative) participated at home. The participants with mild to moderate dementia (5M/4F, aged 73–86 years) functioned at the Planned or Exploratory levels of the Pool Activity Level instrument. A touchscreen computer displayed different prompts during two set tasks: “card-and-envelope” and “CD player.” The trials were scored to establish the relative effectiveness of the prompts. Individual tasks were also explored. Results: Text and audio prompts were each more effective than video or picture prompts for a card-and-envelope task, but this was not seen in a CD player task. The differences may be related to the type of actions within the tasks; the card-and-envelope actions were easier to convey verbally; the CD player actions lent themselves to visual prompts. Conclusions: Designers of technology-based prompts for people with dementia should consider that the effectiveness of different prompts is likely to be task dependent. Familiar, unambiguous language can increase the success of tailored prompts. There are significant practical challenges associated with choosing and deconstructing everyday tasks at home. (Publisher abstract)
Learning and using technology in intertwined processes: a study of people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease
- Authors:
- ROSENBERG Lena, NYGARD Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 13(5), 2014, pp.662-677.
- Publisher:
- Sage
People with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease are likely to be challenged by the multitude of everyday technology in today’s society. The aim of this study was to explore how they try to prohibit, avoid or solve problems in everyday technology use, maintain skills, and learn to use new technology. To explore how the participants applied and reasoned about using everyday technology in real-life situations interviews were conducted while the participants used their own technology in their homes. Interviews were conducted with 20 participants with mild cognitive impairment (n = 10) or Alzheimer’s disease (n = 10). The analyses were inspired from grounded theory and resulted in one core category and three sub-categories that represent sub-processes in the core. The core finding presents a continuous, intertwined process of learning and using everyday technology, highlighting how the context was interwoven in the processes. The participants used a rich variety of management strategies when approaching technology, including communication with the everyday technologies on different levels. The findings underscore that it is important to support continued use of everyday technology as long as it is valued and relevant to the person with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. The intertwined process of learning and using everyday technology suggests how support could target different sub-processes. (Publisher abstract)