Supporting Independent Living and Education

This document provides a collection of research articles and studies related to supporting independent living and education. It includes papers on topics such as exercise and physical function in frail older adults, supporting students with visual impairments in physical education, and promoting educational aspirations among care leavers. The document also features studies on call center support for independent living, care robots, and evidence-based associations between childhood physical abuse and lifetime suicidal ideation.

Supporting Independent
Living

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Technology used to support health and social care services in living independently......3
1.2 Different types of barriers while using advanced technology..........................................4
1.3 Benefits of latest technologies to various health and social care organisation and users.5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Health and safety considerations in the use of technologies in healthcare.......................5
2.2 Different type of ethical considerations in the use of technology....................................6
2.3 Impact of development in technology in health and social care services.........................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Different needs of Jane's to support independently living..............................................7
3.2 Recommendation of how technologies support independent living.................................8
3.3 Usefulness of technology for users and social care services............................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Technology is an important factor which plays an essential role in the healthcare sector as
it assist individual to live their life independently and freely (Fischinger and et. al., 2016). As the
time is changing, advancement in technology also helps to diagnose the treatment and treat them
efficiently and effectively. This report is based on two different case studies i.e., sally and Jean
who are suffering from different type of disease which makes their life hard to live. Advantages
and disadvantages of technology in healthcare sector will be discussed. Moreover its ethical
conditions and positive or negative impact of technology on healthcare services will also be
explained with functional example. Different kind of techniques which are supporting
independent living in social care service will be elaborated.
TASK 1
1.1 Technology used to support health and social care services in living independently
Technology is one of the noted invention which society is facing as sometimes it makes
life easier and other side it also creates a negative impact on the living of individual. It helps
person who are suffering from disabilities to live their life independently and maintain their
dignity and freedom. Different types of technology is used in the case study to make sally life
easier. For instance, she was complaining about tingling and numbness in left foot and moreover
suffering from double vision. To cope up with that GP placed sally on disease modulating
medication which is used to decrease rheumatoid arthritis. Besides this various workshops is
been taken so that sally would be knowledgable about lifestyles which she should follow to
decrease fatigueness (Bedaf, Gelderblom and De Witte, 2015). In addition to this, individual
should be aware about numerous types of devices which is available in the market that's why her
GP has requested technology specialist to provide information about devices which could help
her to minimize effects of disease.
Sally was having difficulty to live their life due to weakness and numbness in left foot
and to solve this, technology called ankle foot orthosis (AFO) is used. It would help out her to
conduct daily operations like drive their children for school activities etc. Besides this, to remove
the difficulty of typing, her GP suggested advanced keyboards which would help her to type with
normal speed. Keyboard is equipped with latest ideas in which letter size has increase to a certain
level and nearby by yellow colour. Her driver training specialist suggested her to use vehicle

which is equipped with spinner knob and accelerator on her life side so to avoid the usage of her
right food. Moreover driving lessons is given to her to learn the new style of driving.
At last, sally and their family has also noticed that she was having some problem with her
memory functions. After thorough analysis by psychologist, she was suggested to use personal
digital assistant (PDA) which would help her to remember things which she could not remember
in the first time (Ruan, 2016). This device is used after carefully studied problem she was having
as sally have to press a single button on the machine and next activities which she would be
doing will come out on the device. Technology is a boon for healthcare sector as it helps doctors
and hospitals to understand the problem clearly and demolished it from the base by using
advanced treatment and diagnosis. Main motto of using this is to decrease dependency of
patients on other individual and live a life like a normal person.
1.2 Different types of barriers while using advanced technology
Healthcare sector is one of the complex industry in which not even a single mistake is
acceptable as it could cause of life of patient. But technology is less dependent in nature as it still
in its infancy stage. Different barriers which could be faced by sally while adopting technology is
given below,
Financial problem: Technology is made after many attempts due to which cost of
products becomes higher. It has not been clear about the funds which is used to acquire product
but still latest technology always comes up with higher prices. From the above case study,
technology will become a barrier if funds are not available to sally.
Inappropriate knowledge and Technical breakdown: Information and knowledge is
required by a patients to run the technology given to them (Rashidi and Mihailidis, 2013). If sally
is illiterate or does not know how to use it then it is of no use to her. Moreover she won't get the
desired results which she is expecting to come. For instance, sally is been suffering from her
memory and chances of forgetting the procedure of using products is also high. Besides this
chances of having problem like battery problem, products not working according to expectation
of doctors are high due to which she might feel hurdles in living their life independently.
Short term: Physicians or general practitioner work is to remove the disease due to
which patients is suffering from but on the other side technology is a just a way of diverting the
problem. For instance, by using PDA devices sally can remember things which she have to do in
future but the real problem is still unsolved i.e., how it can be removed. Apart from this, spinner

knob and accelerator is placed on the left side of sally because she was having problem in her
right foot. But still, problem is still not solved. So it can be concluded that technology is just a
way of living life independently rather than removing diseases from the patients body (Driscoll,
2013).
1.3 Benefits of latest technologies to various health and social care organisation and users
There are numerous benefits which comes with the use of latest technology to
organisations and users. Benefits from the perspective of social care organisation is given below,
 Higher productivity and sales: Social care professional work is to provide high quality
of product to their user so to increase customer experience engagement. If their products
are fully satisfying the problem of patients then they would also refer it to person who
are also suffering from the same diseases.
 Cost savings: Technology can do many things on their which an individual or group of
people can not do. So it reduces cost of labour to an organisation which makes an
positive impact on the profitability of organisation.
For user
 Due to advanced technology, products are become smaller in size and light in weight
which makes it easily handleable to user. For instance, sally is using PDA device which
is easy to handle all times and also assist her to reduce the negative effect of loss of
memory function. To innovate this their parents can also set a GPS chip in it so that they
can trace her every time they wanted (Groenendijk and et. al., 2013).
 Latest technology enables sally to life their life like a normal person as she is not
dependent on any other human being and can live their life independently.
TASK 2
2.1 Health and safety considerations in the use of technologies in healthcare
Health and safety of patient is important while using the technology assigned to them.
Though it comes with various advantages and disadvantages. There are various rules and
precautions on packet of product which should be follow by patients while using it as it avoids
any type of causalities in future. For instance, while using PDA, sally should read and aware
themselves about the harmful effect of product and then she should be the only one to decide
whether she wants to use it or not. There are many safety problems which are arising in the

recent past like negative effect of machinery on human body, failure to provide accurate results,
increasing patients violence due to frustration etc. For instance, sally has transform her vehicle
from right side to left side so that it would be easier for her to conduct her daily working
operations. But on the other side, if she is not using her affected leg then it would deteriorates the
conditions of it also (Morishita, Miyoshi and Lee, 2013). So general practitioner should give her
proper medication and exercises for her right leg so that it would still be mobile in nature. Apart
from that, sally is using ankle foot orthosis to make to leg running like a normal person legs but
still it is not for the individual who is physically weak and its also makes the joint stiffer if it is
used for continuous hours. According to the case study, she was having problem with her left
foot and to reduce it proper medications has been used but after 18 months she complained about
double vision and it goes on for years. So patients should follow precautions before using the
product.
2.2 Different type of ethical considerations in the use of technology
Ethics is an amalgamation of rules and regulations which should be follow of individual
to avoid any legal issues. Assistive technology refers to product or equipments used by the
disable person to improve their functional lifestyles. Different ethical considerations is given
below,
 When technology assigned to the patients which taking consent of them or their family
members. As by using of these devices it could be persuade to dementia.
 All the advantages and disadvantages of products with their medications should be
informed to the patients before starting their treatments.
 Doctors or general practitioner should treat every patients equally and avoid favouritism
& other personal matters etc.
According to the case study, GP of sally should not disclose her private identify and information
to other person without informing her (Farshchian, Vilarinho and Mikalsen, 2017). For instance,
her PDA device has all the things which she would be doing in their daily life so the provider
should not share it to the beneficiary person. Besides this, if GP is consulting any other
physicians for her then they should ask them before doing this.
2.3 Impact of development in technology in health and social care services
Development in any sectors brings positive as well as negative impacts on their working
operations. There are many positive impacts of technology like after getting advanced

technology, patients are becoming empowered as they can check their prescriptions or schedule
their appointments with the doctor in just one click. It has become patient centric instead of
doctor centric. In organisation context, their working hours and pressure have reduced as most of
the clinical practices is been done by machine only (Pecora, 2012). Fraud practices which is
done by doctors to earn more money is reduced as patients now can check their credibility of
treatment with the help of assertive technology. For doctors, they can now predict disease which
patients would get in a coming future.
Negative impacts are also there for organisation as they have to invest in technology on
the first place and moreover training would be given to the employees as then only they can use
it. It would incur more cost to the organisation with less ROI rate (Conroy, 2012) . For patients,
chances of breach of data is also high as it is easily hackable by anyone. Besides this, acquiring
technology is an expensive process as ample of money is required to buy assertive technology.
TASK 3
3.1 Different needs of Jane's to support independently living
Jane is 59 years of age and have different types of diseases like learning disability,
limited mobility, epilepsy and diabetes type 2. Different needs which is required by her to live in
her sunshine sheltered accommodation is given below,
 As Jane is suffering from limited mobility, she should have wheelchairs so that she can
roam and do their work like a normal person. Ramp facilities should also be there as it is
hard Jane to walk on a stairs. Moreover, lift, ramp, grab bars etc should be present in
Jane's house if she is living in upper floor of building as it will enable her to easily access
into the apartment she is going to live.
 As Jane is suffering from diabetes type 2, she must have sugar test product as it is hard
for her to visit hospitals on a regular basis. She must avoid junks food and sugar that's
why diet of her should be set by dietician. At last injection of insulin must be there in her
flat.
 Epilepsy refers to unprovoked seizures in the brain of patients. All the things which could
cause death for an individual must be removed from house. Doctors or nurses should visit
Jane on regular basis and medication should be check before prescribing to Jane.

Telephone facilities or buzzer for serious conditions should be there in every room as it
would be easier for Jane to convey it to the doctors if her conditions is deteriorating.
3.2 Recommendation of how technologies support independent living
Technology is very important for growing and ageing population who are living alone as
they assist in guiding and importance of technology and recommendations are discussed below :-
 Use of assistive technology will be useful in addressing the growing and increasing
needs of ageing population. If used appropriately then it has the potency to minimise the
disability of learning and the way services are delivered (Fuller‐Thomson, Baker and
Brennenstuhl, 2012).
 Hospital must provide that technology equipment for free of charge for limited period
when she was discharged as a part of re-enablement task. This will enhance confidence
in patient regarding assistive technology. Moreover doctors and hospitals staff should
regularly visit her home so that technical breakdown would be avoided.
 Telecare line services to private clients is very important as this will help them in
detecting fire, flood, gas, sensors. As it is linked with GPS so they will remind them in
doing meditation, etc (Chou, Hwang and Wu, 2012). This is more beneficial for her as
she has a learning disability,
 As she has diabetes, use of tele health equipment will help her in monitoring diabetes,
this will also help in measuring blood pressure, pulse rate, etc. Besides this her house
should be well equipped with advanced reminder assistance which would help her to
remind things which she have done it or have to do in coming future.
 Different types of mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers or crutches could be use by
Jane to reduce her limited mobility. By using this, it would be easier for her to roam
around their houses without taking help of others.
Motto of using assertive technology is to remove the hurdles of patients in daily life so that they
can live independently and without affecting other's life.
3.3 Usefulness of technology for users and social care services
Technology assist disable person to enhance the working which they could not do due to
various lethal diseases (Wagner and Newman, 2012). It will compensate the working problem
which Jane is having while living their healthy lifestyles due to diabetes type 2, learning

disability etc. Many disadvantages which Jane will have after using advanced technology is
given below,
 It will increase motivation and maintain her dignity as she can conduct all activities
which other can also do.
 It increased motivation level of Jane as she won't faced any issues which is caused by her
diseases. Besides this it will also expand life experiences, quality of life, potential risk
from diseases of Jane.
 It will assist Jane to live at home rather than admitted in a hospitals for longer period of
time as all the facilities can be provided in a home. For instances, Jane does not have to
regularly visit hospitals for sugar test as she is equipped with all the materials which is
necessary for conducting various test (Hess and et. al., 2012).
 For social care services, it would be easier for them to handle many disabled person at
the same time as half of the work is done with the help of technology.
 Cost of using assistive technology is low then hiring a full time care taker because cost
incurred in acquiring technology is one time as compare to nurse.
For social care organisation, by using different and latest technology like remote check-up would
enhance the quality of living of many people which will persuade to better profitability for them.

CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from above mentioned report that independent living is important for
everyone especially for patients as it motivates them to live with dignity and freedom.
Technology brings pros and cons with them and its the user and social care organisation
responsibility to use it with proper instructions. Physicians should follow all the rules and
regulations which is been set to protect the informations of patients to unauthorized person.
Every patients has various needs and demands to live their life independently and its doctors
responsibility to assess it and fulfil it. It includes proper equipments, proper knowledge of
products from expert, ramp in home etc.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bedaf, S., Gelderblom, G.J. and De Witte, L., 2015. Overview and categorization of robots
supporting independent living of elderly people: what activities do they support and
how far have they developed. Assistive Technology.27(2). pp.88-100.
Chou, C.H., Hwang, C.L. and Wu, Y.T., 2012. Effect of exercise on physical function, daily
living activities, and quality of life in the frail older adults: a meta-analysis. Archives of
physical medicine and rehabilitation.93(2). pp.237-244.
Conroy, P., 2012. Supporting Students with Visual Impairments in Physical Education: Needs of
Physical Educators. Insight: Research & Practice in Visual Impairment &
Blindness.5(1).
Driscoll, J., 2013. Supporting care leavers to fulfil their educational aspirations: Resilience,
relationships and resistance to help. Children & Society.27(2). pp.139-149.
Farshchian, B.A., Vilarinho, T. and Mikalsen, M., 2017. From episodes to continuity of care: A
study of a call center for supporting independent living. Computer Supported
Cooperative Work (CSCW).26(3). pp.309-343.
Fischinger and et. al., 2016. Hobbit, a care robot supporting independent living at home: First
prototype and lessons learned. Robotics and Autonomous Systems.75. pp.60-78.
Fuller‐Thomson, E., Baker, T.M. and Brennenstuhl, S., 2012. Evidence supporting an
independent association between childhood physical abuse and lifetime suicidal
ideation. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior.42(3). pp.279-291.
Groenendijk and et. al., 2013. Supporting activities of daily living. U.S. Patent 8,361,989.
Hess and et. al., 2012. Understanding and supporting cross-platform usage in the living room.
Entertainment computing.3(2). pp.37-47.
Maresova, P. and Klimova, B., 2015. Supporting technologies for old people with dementia: a
review. IFAC-PapersOnLine.48(4). pp.129-134
Morishita, M., Miyoshi, T. and Lee, J.H., 2013. A Teleoperated Manipulator for Supporting
Independent Living of People with Disabilities. Innovations in Information and
Communication Science and Technology, pp.113-118.
Pecora, P.J., 2012. Maximizing educational achievement of youth in foster care and alumni:
Factors associated with success. Children and Youth Services Review.34(6). pp.1121-
1129.
Rashidi, P. and Mihailidis, A., 2013. A survey on ambient-assisted living tools for older adults.
IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics.17(3). pp.579-590.
Ruan, W., 2016, March. Unobtrusive human localization and activity recognition for supporting
independent living of the elderly. In Pervasive Computing and Communication
Workshops (PerCom Workshops), 2016 IEEE International Conference on (pp. 1-3).
IEEE.
Wagner, M. and Newman, L., 2012. Longitudinal transition outcomes of youth with emotional
disturbances. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal.35(3). p.199.