Supporting Independent Living Report

SUPPORTING
INDEPENDENT LIVING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Technology can used to support users of health and social care...........................................1
1.2 Barriers to the use of technology to support users of health and social care services..........2
1.3 Benefits of these technologies to health and social care organisations.................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Health and safety considerations in the use of technologies.................................................3
2.2 Ethical considerations in use of assistive technologies.........................................................4
2.3 Affect of recent and emerging technological developments on health and social care
services........................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Particular needs of an individual requiring support to live independently...........................5
3.2 Recommendations for how technologies might support independent living arrangements. 6
3.3 Usefulness of technology for users of health and social care services.................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
.......................................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Supporting independent living provides individual choice regarding how and where they
live. It gives opportunities to persons in order to use their skills for living more independently.
Service users are those persons who have various requirements of the care and also want some to
the professionals of health and social care in order to make sure that the service users can able to
do their daily activities in an effective or systematic manner ((Brotherson and et. al., 2013). This
present report is based on two case studies; one is of Sally and the other one is of Jane. Under
this given business report mentions about the barriers at the time of using technology for support
the service users of the social and health care services. Technology plays an important role in
health and social care sector for making the life of service users better. Advantages of these types
of technologies to the health and social care will be discussed here as well.
TASK 1
1.1 Technology can used to support users of health and social care
From the last some time period, advanced technology as well as medicine provide
benefits to the people which are suffering from the disabilities. On the basis of United Kingdom
Parliament Publication that an independent living is concerned to the social and health care
activities which are explained that all disabled persons having same choice, freedom and also
control any other citizen at the workplace, home and also the people of society. It does not mean
that the disabled persons cannot do no work but they can do for themselves in order to make their
life better and effective (Caldwell and Heller, 2017). Technology is helpful in making the life of
disabled people better. In this context, modifications in the medical attitudes as well as practices
are necessary for developments in the technology as well as medicine for develop more impact
on those people which are disable. Generally, the disabled persons are not aware about the
technological and medical advancement which can help them to live the meaning life more.
Advancement in the technology have advantages particular care as well as treatment outcomes
with the help of improving the understanding about disease mechanism and have ability to rising
supporting independent living and diagnostic. As per the case study of Sally, she was suffering
from the double vision from an impairment of medical eye patch or her eye which minimized an
impact of the double vision. Eye patch was the first assistive technology which was provided
through eye specialist.
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On the other hand, Sally was also feeling weakness and numbness on the right side of
body and it was difficult to for to use normal keyboard. So, the solution of this problem given by
GP is that she was provided with a large keyboard with illuminating keys. She is also having the
problem of memory loss and to remind all things in a better way, she can use the personal digital
assistant (PDA) which is also known as Pocket Coach.
1.2 Barriers to the use of technology to support users of health and social care services.
Particular requirements can attributed to needs of people which are generated because of
some type of illness and disability. The barriers for support system of technology will act as the
burden in order to promote an assistive use of technology for making users of services
independent. Technological complexities, maintaining the equipment problems, high costs as
well as lack of training; all these are the common kinds of barriers which are faced by service
users at the time of using assistive technology (Farshchian, Vilarinho and Mikalsen, 2017). On
the other hand, gadgets or assistive technologies are produced for using the high level
technology, expensive processes and also some other materials. In context of case study of Sally,
she was using the PDA for doing her personal activities. PDA is a costly equipment and its
maintenance will need more internet data as well as battery replacement or can say it will be
more costly.
Those equipment or machineries will be technological advancement and also need the
more training for service users. Like Sally, require for special training to know about the use of
personal activities by supporting of PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and also the use of new
kind of keyboard which has been provide to her. PDA is helpful in remembering her memory
and after pushing single button, Sally remember that what she need to do next. This kind of
device is helpful in doing all her tasks as well as activities in a better manner. All items which
are related to the technical breakdowns will needed to the attention ofexperts in order to repair
those equipment, it is necessary that regarding any kind of equipment, take the suggestion or
advice of an expert to know about the guidelines for use. In order to use equipment, it is essential
to take training which will be helpful in removing the barrier of repairs and costs.
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