Improving Independent Living: Assistive Technology and Dementia Care

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Support Independent Living
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Task 1 (LO1, P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, D3, D2).....................................................................................3
Task 2 (LO2, P2.1, P2.2, P2.3, M3)...........................................................................................5
Task 3 (LO3, P3.1, P3.2, P3.3, M1, M2, D1)............................................................................8
Strengths of technology are as follows:...................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
Reference List..........................................................................................................................12
Appendix 1:..............................................................................................................................15
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Introduction
Every people living have equal rights of spending their lives as per their own way. Any
person does not have any rights of interrupting in other lives, even in case of their close
family members also. Not only for the normal or healthy people, are such rights also
applicable in case of the physically and mentally disabled people. However, since the
physically or mentally disabled population could not properly understand the differences of
good or bad for themselves, therefore, they often need some external support during the
decision-making process. The care providing organisations and care-giving people often
require giving such supports to the challenged people, which is the discussable point of this
assignment. The study focuses on a case study of Mr. P, suffering from different types of
diseases, for the identification of his specific needs, role of assistive technology, and the
specific technologies suitable for this case.
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Task 1 (LO1, P1.1, P1.2, P1.3, D3, D2)
1.1 Concept of independent living
As per the statement of Baharin et al. (2015), the concept of independent living is based on
the ideation of living without any internal or external assistive materials, which often
becomes reliable in maintaining human’s inner characteristics of independent nature. It is
evident that there are generally two group of population, one who always remains dependent
on others, whereas the other group who does not like dependency in their personal lives.
Based on the case scenario, it can be stated that Mr. P belongs from the second group, as he
did not like dependency on others. People like Mr. P do not like interruptions, while they
perform various regular tasks or activities, such as bathing, walking, taking medications, and
eating. In many cases, the aspects of independent living remains connected with self-respect
and self-value creation, through which they can understand their worthiness in their internal
or external lives.
Based on some recent survey, it is proved that the concept of independent living often
provides the opportunities regarding prevention of associated isolation, to the older adults,
like Mr. P. Fischinger et al. (2016) mentioned that independent activities would help in
managing their social connection, with the surrounded like-minded people, along with
retaining the habit of making new friends. Besides this, the processes of independent living
maintain their internal strengths, through which they can easily deal with the external
uncertainties and adversities. During the older age, especially after retirement, independent
living often helps people in fulfilling their young-aged dreams or hobbies, such as gardening,
cake baking, or many others. Such hobbies support in keeping them active, through which
their immunisation power remains at a higher level. Additional to that, psychology says that
at certain age like Mr. P, people can also learn several new things from the external
environment, which would be beneficial for their personal growth (Farshchian et al. 2017).
1.2 Potential barriers of using technologies
Cost of the assistive technology is around $700 and it guides the service users to execute on
their daily activities irrespective of their disabilities. Burgess et al. (2017) opine that lack of
effective team model based on assistive technology eliminates performance level of care
providers and they cannot tackle all issues care users in a precise way. It has been monitored
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that lack of systematic training to employees based on assistive technology and insufficient
funding reacted to new technology eliminate its demand. On the other hand, Rothman (2018)
argue that assistive technology deals with occupational therapy sources so that they can
manage their issues as per the recent demand of care users. Therefore, correct medical
diagnosis is important before applying assistive technology so that service users can get right
support within short time interval.
Additionally, Dowse et al. (2016) opine that maintenance cost of assistive technology is high
as technicians are not conversant with its maintenance requirement and spare parts.
Moreover, it has been observed that flat batteries reduce efficiency of technology. Ladybird
care home needs to increase their assistive technology and needs to provide training to
employees based on modern service technology that can guide Mr. P to execute his daily
activities precisely.
1.3 Benefits of technology in health care services
Assistive technology guide care users to keep them functionally independent in nature,
therefore, it decreases need of formal caregivers. Burgess and Mathias (2017) stated that this
assistive technology aids the care users to enhance their independence empowerment and it
increases their confidence while executing their daily activities. On the other hand, Balogh et
al. (2016) argue that assistive technology maximises maintenance cost; however, it saves
money of care users based on their treatment. In this case, Mr. P is trying his level best to
conduct his daily activities without any support and this technology is useful to him as it
improves his confidence level.
Assistive technology deals with safety precautions and it decreases risk of injury. It has been
found that this technology reduces extra burden from caregivers as it prevents injury and
makes the treatment safer in nature (Federici et al., 2016). With the help of assistive
technology, caregivers can easily communicate with care users and therefore, it improves
monitoring approach of service providers’. Additionally, it enhances precision of medical
recording and caregivers can easily execute their medical treatment against care users’ health
issues (Lorenz et al., 2019). (Refer to appendix)
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Task 2 (LO2, P2.1, P2.2, P2.3, M3)
Introduction
In this section, importance of safety consideration is selected by the health organisation to
improve their medical treatment facilities. Ethics related to technology will be highlighted in
the section. Importance of recent technology in medicinal service will be discussed in the
report.
2.1 Health and safety consideration after implementing technology in the service care
It has been found that prolong use of computers can enhance strain injuries such as backache,
wrist pain, neck pain. Lv et al. (2016) depicts that eye problems of user can occur due to
prolong usage of personal computers display units and it leads to visual impairment.
Moreover, Federici and Borsci (2016) mention that electrocution is another issue when
electricity devices are not properly serviced and maintained properly. In the case, Mr. P
mobility issues along with dementia decreases his capability to execute to his own work.
However, caregivers of the ladybird care home needs to improve their knowledge based on
assistive technology and need to take precautionary steps so that they decrease adverse
effects of this technology usage. Furthermore, intercom systems and defective panic bottoms
can expose care users to potential harm and it automatically creates an adverse effect on their
health status (Gibson et al., 2016).
Care providers should check and maintain medical appliances before usage so that they can
provide right medication to care users along with accurate dosages. Gibson et al. (2015)
opine that faulty gas appliances in the health organisation can maximise the chance of fatal
fire accidents and faulty gas detector can raise the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Additionally, it has been observed that when medication dispenser is faulty, service users can
overdose and omit medication due to which service providers’ performance level is adversely
affected (Gibson et al., 2018). Therefore, it is important for service organisation to keep them
updated about medical appliances current condition before using for treatment so that they
can provide right medication against service users diseases.
Ladybird care home needs to maintain their medical appliances perfectly. They should
provide accurate training to staffs based on precautionary factor in their working
environment. This precautionary system and grooming session of care providers enhance care
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users and providers’ safety factor. Additionally, Mr. P social contacts’ and recent demands
should be highly monitored by Ladybird care home so that they can handle all demands of
care users such as Mr. P precisely. This plan can guide concerned care home to increase
medical diagnosis in order to decrease negative sign of dementia-affected people in a
systematic way.
2.2 Ethical consideration of technology in heath care service
Assistive technological devices should follow ethical principles so that care providers can
provide effective medical support to each care users in order to enhance health status of care
providers. Novitzky et al. (2015) stated that assistive technological devices provide primary
support to care users, who are primarily suffering in dementia. In the case scenario, Mr. P
needs support of assistive technological devices so that he can get adequate support to
decrease dementia issues perfectly.
It has been observed that assistive technology is beneficial for care providers, as it acts as
complementary to health service. The help of assistive technological devices can easily
reduce Mr. P’s dementia issue and it will improve their health status in a systematic manner.
On the other hand, devices based on assistive technology are harmful in nature if it is not
maintained properly and it can adversely effects care users heath condition.
Because of assistive technology support, care users can easily enhance their independence
and can raise their privacy dignity. On the other hand, Chaurasia et al. (2016) argue that this
technology is important due its autonomy and beneficence; however, sometimes these
devices suppress other capability and skills of care users that decreases their privacy rate.
Henceforth, it can be easily analysed that lack of effective detector in devices can decrease
security factor and it can even eliminate capability and skills of care users.
In order to improve safety factor for dementia care users, implementation of security is
important in order to keep them in safe situation. However, Asghar et al. (2017) opine that
this safety sensor decreases social contact of care users and they cannot call other people
during their emergency. In this case, it has been monitored that family members of Mr. P take
him away from ladybird care home in order to increase his social contact and communication
level. Therefore, it can be easily analysed that dementia patients should improve their social
contacts so that other people can give him adequate support based on their mental issue.
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Assistive technological devices have situational technology concept such as door sensor to
increase safety factor of care users and on the other hand, it reduces their social contacts with
other people of society. Yusif et al. (2016) mentioned that these modern devices have
monitoring safety factor where care users can easily share their present condition with care
providers and other family members. However, this monitoring approach and sharing
information of care users to other people can decrease their safety factor as wrong people can
misuse it. Therefore, these assistive technology devices violate Data Protection Laws as it
adversely affects freedom and privacy of care users (Mulvenna et al., 2017). It has been
found that care organisation often execute survey based on assistive technology to person
centred approach so that no one can violate ethical principles. Before implementation of
modern technological devices, service providers firstly identify basic needs of dementia
affected care users and its beneficiaries’ for treating the diseases. Financial condition of care
users is examined by service sector before implementing the devices in order to decrease
extra financial pressure from care users’ family members. Asghar et al. (2018) depicts that
negative responses based on assistive technical devices are thoroughly examined by care
sector in order to decrease negative impact of these devices from care users’ life.
2.3 Impact of emerging and recent technological development on social and health care
service
Remote diagnostics allows care providers to diagnosis issue and problems of care users from
remote distances. Federici and Borsci (2016) mention that this caring set up guides care
providers to enable their monitoring approach outside the conventional clinical setting in
order to increase interaction in between service users and service providers. In case of
Ladybird care home, the service providers can follow this remote diagnosis so that they
improve their interaction level with all dementia-affected users. Moreover, this allows
patients to enhance their independence rate, decreases personal cost, and prevents
complication so that care users can perform their daily activities effectively.
Operative processes focus on preserving quality of medical services so that care organisation
can maintain their primary goals in a precise manner. Lv et al. (2016) opine that health care
sector refers to public health, primary, secondary and tertiary care so that they can prevent
illness, injuries, and mental impairment issues of care users. On the other hand, it has been
monitored that heath improvement facilities with right price enhances medical treatment
opportunity for each individuals in community (Federici et al., 2016). In case of Ladybird
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care home, service providers try their level best to maximise independent capabilities of care
users due to which Mr. P can live his life independently as far as possible.
Work scheduling as per care providers’ creativity decreases extra workload and it creates a
positive effect on staff development needs. Gibson et al. (2018) depicts that care organisation
provides systematic training to employees so that they can manage their modern technical
devices and can provide right treatment to employees based on their performance level.
Moreover, CBA (cost benefit analysis) is another effective approach that guides care
organisation to use right medical tool in order to raise their societal perspectives. Lv et al.
(2016) stated that CBA follows guideline of WHO (World Health Organisation) to improve
medical diagnosis standard with low cost so that each service users can get right treatment
against their diseases. Henceforth, it can be said that Ladybird care home should implement
right diagnosis tool and procedure against each diseases in order to raise health status of each
service users.
Conclusion
In the report, assistive technology does not follow data protection laws due to which it
hampers security factor of care users. Ethics based on advanced technology has been
discussed in the report. Importance of this advanced technology in medical science has been
included in the report.
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Task 3 (LO3, P3.1, P3.2, P3.3, M1, M2, D1)
3.1 Specific needs of individual so that they can live independently
In most of the cases, it has been found that dementia care users attitude are mistakenly taken
by social care trainer due to which they feel isolated in present society. Yusif et al. (2016)
opine that there are several symptoms’ against the diseases such as care users banged their
head against wall due to headache and this attitude become challenging for care providers to
serve their medical service. Ladybird care home allows Mr. P to lead his life independently
so that they can improve his social contacts and interaction level with other members of
community. It has been observed that emergency sensors reduce independent move of care
users due to which it adversely affects their performance level.
Dementia affects intellectual development of care users as declination of mental functions
reduce thinking ability and decreases age related disorders. Asghar et al. (2018) mentioned
that this disease adversely affects problem solving criteria, perception, and concentration of
care users.
Automation of activities such as emergency sensor decreases social factor of the care users
due to which they cannot communicate with other people of community. Moreover, abrupt
attitude and unusual behaviour of dementia-affected people creates huge psychological gap in
between them due to which they cannot interact with other people of community effectively.
In order to express their emotion and health issues, mental misbalance people shows unusual
attitude that becomes quite challenging for other people to understand their needs and
demands. Chaurasia et al. (2016) mention that service providers should improve their
monitoring approach so that they can guide care users to tackle their abrupt attitude in a
systematic manner. Automatic activities of assistive technological devices increase
interaction gap due to which it makes them isolated and separated from modern community
members.
3.2 Recommendations based on technology
Public AT provision system can be implemented in the assistive technological devices in
order to eliminate legal issues and obligation in a perfect manner. Burgess and Mathias
(2017) comment that main issue regarding these modern technical devices are intense cost of
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treatment and lack of effective professionals who can accurately implement technical devices
against service users’ demand.
The care professionals can use EASTIN (European Assistive Technology Information Search
Engine) so that they can check all medical reports of users and can give right treatment.
Burgess et al. (2017) state care providers can follow national equipment database in order to
raise their knowledge based on assistive technology, therefore, it will guide care professional
to use the technical devices in a correct way.
Development eligibility model can be use by care professionals in order to manage their
major sensor issue of this technical devices and this might reduce chances of security issues.
It has been noticed that disruptive available resources can decrease the chance of data
misleading issues and it enhances medical treatment factor. Special education and training
based on modern technology can guide the modern service providers to manage mental and
health issues of care users. This effective training will bring psychological understanding in
between care users and providers and this can create a huge positive impact on heath status of
service users (Burgess and Mathias, 2017).
3.3 Advantages of technology in health care services
Strengths of technology are as follows:
It brings social link between service providers’ and users so that they can tackle all abrupt
attitude of care users in a perfect manner. Rothman (2018) opine that it guides professionals
to work on their own pace due to which they can improve psychological understanding in
between their service users.
It has been found that assistive technical devices improve monitoring approach of service
professionals, therefore, care users get constant guide from their professionals. It is noticed
that this advanced technology increases organisational skills and it guides the service sector
to manage heath issues of care users precisely.
Weaknesses of technology are as follows:
Cost factor is major issues due to which all service organisations cannot implement this
assistive technical devices in their medical treatment. Burgess and Mathias (2017) state that
sensor of technical devices reduces interaction level of care users and therefore, it makes
them isolated from modern community. Moreover, wrong people can misuse data of care
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users due to which it maximises security and privacy error. Lack of effective training to
employees based on the modern technology decreases service givers professionalism attitude
and it creates negative impact on care users’ health.
Conclusion
In the report, Benefits and importance of independent living has been discussed. Plan has
been included based on assistive technological devices so that professionals can use the
service in a precise way. Additionally, weakness and strength of this advanced technology
has been included in the report so that care sector can improve their medical treatment rate. It
has been noticed that most of the care organisation cannot afford assistive technology devices
due to its high maintenance cost and it reduces effectiveness of care sector based on medical
treatment. Recommendations based on advanced technical devices are included so that
security factor of service users can be enhanced. This modern technology increases
monitoring approach of service professionals due to which they can easily tackle abrupt
attitude of mental disable people such as Mr. P.
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