Unit 20: Tech to Support Independent Living in Health & Social Care

This report explores the multifaceted role of technology in supporting independent living for users of health and social care services. It begins by explaining how technology, particularly assistive technology, can empower individuals with disabilities to manage daily tasks and improve their quality of life, focusing on a case study of a woman with multiple sclerosis. The report then analyzes the barriers to technology adoption, including cost, lack of awareness, and the limitations of technology in addressing severe health conditions. It also highlights the benefits of these technologies for both users and healthcare organizations, such as improved efficiency and enhanced patient care. Furthermore, the report delves into the health and safety considerations, ethical implications, and the impact of emerging technologies on health and social care. Finally, it offers recommendations for technology implementation to support independent living and evaluates the overall usefulness of technology in this context. Desklib provides access to this report and many other resources for students.

Running Head: Supporting Independent Living
Supporting Independent Living

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Explain how technology can be used to support users of health and social care services
in living independently.................................................................................................................3
1.2 Analyse barriers to the use of technology to support users of health and social care
services in living independently...................................................................................................4
1.3 Explain the benefits of these technologies to health and social care organisations and
their users.....................................................................................................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Explain health and safety considerations in the use of technologies in health and social
care...............................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Discuss ethical considerations in the use of technologies in health and social care..............7
2.3 Explain the impact of recent and emerging technological developments on health and
social care services, organisations and care workers...................................................................7
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Identify the specific needs of an individual requiring support to live independently............9
3.2 Make recommendations for how technologies might support the independent living
arrangements..............................................................................................................................10
3.3 Evaluate the usefulness of technology for users of health and social care services............10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
Independent living is an opportunity for disabled, old-age people as well as for all those who are
weak in some aspects of life such as in terms of financial conditions, ability to manage things,
thinking power, etc. As all these aspects play vital role in respect of living independently and the
main motive of this essay is to discuss the requirements of diseased as well as disabled in
relation with providing them support for living freely as well as independently. This essay has
been segregated into three parts under which each part has its own specifications in relation with
the usage of technology and the impact of technology while supporting living independently. The
first part of the essay will focus over usage of technology for the purpose of supporting
independent living. Further, the second part of the essay will focus over the implications of
development over technologies in terms of usage of technology in health and social care centres.
The last of the essay will include recommendations in relevance with the independent living
especially for the users of health and care services.

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Task 1
1.1 Explain how technology can be used to support users of health and social care services
in living independently.
From past certain years, advancement in technology has speed up the rate of living of
individuals. Technological advancements are increasing with the effect of passing time, increase
in the requirements and demands of individuals. With the help of technology, various unique and
advance ways have been created and developed which have helped in smooth functioning of life.
In relation with living independently also, technological factors plays vital role and improvement
in medicines efficiencies as well as origination of unique machineries are creative as well as
innovative inventions of technological advancement. With this regard, technological factors help
individuals to face disabilities in an effective manner. Disabilities are the primary reasons which
become barrier in terms of accomplishment of the daily necessity tasks. Disabilities directly or
indirectly occur due to diseases and in relation with removing those barriers as well as for
confronting the challenges occurred due to disabilities, technology and its related inventions help
an individual1.
For continuous improvement in the technological factors and development of medicines, medical
practice and an individual’s positive attitude is necessary. Although, these practices does not
directly help an individual in improving his/her living but these two aspects definitely help in
inventing those aspects which helps the individual in terms of enhancing the rate of living
independently. It has been analysed that disabled people does not know much about the
advanced tools or medicines available in the market. Apart from this, lack of funds is another
major factor due to which disabled people could not avail the services and benefits of
advancements available in the market. In relation with the scenario given in case study, Sally, a
42 year old woman suffering from multiple disabilities such as tingling, double vision, and
numbness in left feet. She is also consulting a neurologist for diagnosis of the multiple sclerosis2.
1 Aveyard, H., 2014. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. McGraw-Hill Education
(UK).
2 Lluch, M., 2011, “Healthcare professionals’ organisational barriers to health information technologies—A
literature review”, International journal of medical informatics, vol. 80 (12), pp.849-862.

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With regards to her condition, it has been recommended to the Sally to use assistive technology
and tools related with this technology. This technology is sufficient enough to deal with the
multiple disabilities and patients could execute its daily operations in an effective manner along
with the ease. Role of assistive technology is also effective in enhancing learning capacity of an
individual and this feature helps the disabled people in relation with executing the required tasks
of the daily life3. In addition to the learning capacity, assistive technology also helps an
individual to mark up the communication skills due to which disabled people like Sally could
easily communicate with other people along with consulting with the neurologists and doctors in
an effective and appropriate manner. Following are certain benefits of using assistive technology
for Sally:
 Technology advancements like assistive technology help the individuals like Sally to
enhance their quality of life.
 With the use of tools of assistive technology, Sally would easily be able to communicate
her issues and challenges to other people and doctors through which appropriate
measures could be taken at the right time.
 Using assistive technological tools, Sally could also live independently and freely at her
home along with performing the basic tasks as well as avoiding admission in health and
social care centres in regular intervals for support4.
1.2 Analyse barriers to the use of technology to support users of health and social care
services in living independently.
Needs of ever individual differs from each other and same goes with the diseased as well as with
the disabled people. This is because diseased people require special attention with regards to
providing support. This helps them to get recover at fast pace. As per the case study, Sally is
facing multiple sclerosis, double vision, etc. diseases which have made her a disabled woman
and in relation with improving her state of condition, it is necessary for health and social care
services with the help of technological tools5.
 Multiple sclerosis cannot be detected at initial stage;
3 Bennett, P., 2010. “Oxford University Press”, Risk communication and public health.
4 Brett, J., Staniszewska, S., Mockford, C., Herron‐Marx, S., Hughes, J., Tysall, C. and Suleman, R., 2014.
5 MacDonald, R., Kreutz, G. and Mitchell, L. eds., 2013. Music, health, and wellbeing. Oxford University Press.

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 There is no antidote available in the market to cure multiple sclerosis;
 Number of symptoms is associated with the multiple sclerosis.
In relation with providing appropriate measures for curing the diseases and for providing
support, assistive technology and medicines play vital role. In certain conditions, users face
various barriers in relation with using assistive technology.
 Technological factors do not create much impact on severe diseases.
 Depressing patients cannot use assistive technology.
 Due to multiple symptoms and ailments of multiple sclerosis, assistive technology
cannot offer expected relief.
 Lack of information about of technology and low skills for operating technology is
another major barrier for the users in terms of using it.
 Apart from the above barriers, lack of awareness and the lack of belief over
technological improvement also act as barrier.
 Insufficient funds are another barrier in terms of using advanced technological measures
for supporting living independently and freely6.
1.3 Explain the benefits of these technologies to health and social care organisations and
their users.
Using assistive technology and its related tools and measures provide benefits to both health and
social care organizations as well as to their users. Primary reason for advancing technology as
well as for inventing unique measures is providing support for disabled people in relation with
living independently and freely7. Multiple sclerosis has multiple symptoms and to cure every
symptom, patient requires to get admitted in the health and social care centres8. Technologies
used by health and social care centres and by individuals are different. Health and social care
organizations also treat patients with multiple sclerosis diseases with assistive technology in
6 Munn-Giddings, C. and Winter, R., 2013. A handbook for action research in health and social care. Routledge.
7 Mapping the impact of patient and public involvement on health and social care research: a systematic review.
Health Expectations, 17(5), pp.637-650.
8 Marmot, M., Allen, J., Bell, R., Bloomer, E. & Goldblatt, P., 2012, “WHO European review of social determinants
of health and the health divide”, The Lancet, vol. 380 (9846), pp.1011-1029.

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order to gain positive outcomes. In relation with dealing with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis,
following technologies plays vital role:
 Decision supper System (DSS), IT and telecommunication.
 Usage of robotics in surgeries
 Development of super specialised surgeries
 Mobility of assistive technology
 Disease modulating medication 9
 Personal digital assistants
Benefits of these technologies to users:
 Helps in improving living standard
 Improves behaviour of users
 Interactive abilities increases along with learning capacity
 Helps in performing basic daily tasks on time along with ease
Benefits of these technologies to health and social care organizations:
 Improves efficiency of treating patients with multiple disorders
 Experience increases and as a result, severe diseased patients could also be cured easily
 Dealing with patients with multiple sclerosis also becomes an easy task
9 Burton, J., 2010, "WHO Healthy workplace framework and model: Background and supporting literature and
practices”, World Health Organization.

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Task 2
2.1 Explain health and safety considerations in the use of technologies in health and social
care.
Every individual analysis his/her condition in daily routine and find difference which cannot be
felt by anyone else. In relation with this, when they does not find as per the normal daily routine,
they take medicines or reach to the doctors for resolving the challenge or issue faced by them. In
relation with, health and social care centres provides treatment for every challenge and issue
faced by the individuals so that they could get back to the normal state10. With regards to the
treatment provided to the patients, health and social care centres are required to adopt
appropriate and effective safety considerations. This helps the centres to enhance their efficiency
along with building a reliable image amongst the patients and their family members. Along with
this, for the continuous improvement in the functionality of organization, they are require to
adopt appropriate training and development programs through which they could treat the patients
in the required manner as per their condition. Below are some of the safety considerations which
are required to be followed by health and social care centres in relation with using assistive and
other technologies:
 Information regarding the diseases and disabilities faced by patient needs to be given to
the employees working in the health and social care centres.
 Along with this, it is required to provide them information regarding the utilisation of
technological measures available with the centre in relation with treating patients in more
effective manner11.
 Quality measures and benchmarks needs to be set up while using the technology
 All legal consideration should be considered while implementation of technology in order
to avoid glitches.
 Regular training and development sessions needs to be conducted for the employees of
health and social care centres so that assistive technology and other related tools could be
10 Carpenter, J., Webb, C., Bostock, L. and Coomber, C., 2017. Effective supervision in social work and social care.
Health.
11 Coughlan, M. and Cronin, P., 2016. Doing a literature review in nursing, health and social care. Sage.

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used in an effective manner along with analysing the situation in terms of requirement of
thee technology.
 Controlling and monitoring measures needs to be imposed while using the technology so
that miss-utilisation could be avoided12.
 Usage of technology could also result in negative outcomes, thus, negative outcomes
needs to be analysed before implementation of technological measures in relation with
generating positive outcomes13.
2.2 Discuss ethical considerations in the use of technologies in health and social care
Following ethical considerations needs to be considered while application of technologies in
health and social care organisation:
 Confidentiality: It is the duty of every health and social care centre to adopt certain
measures through which clients’ details could be kept in safe and secured manner. With
regards to this, it should be ensured that patient’s private details, their disease related
details, etc. could not get leaked. Although, health and social care centres promote their
work by showcasing their achievements and in relation with this, they are required to
take permission from patient first in order to avoid any type of copyright or other types
of glitches14.
 Right to self-determination: In relation with this act, every individual has right to
choose appropriate services with regards to the health and social care centres to choose
one of the best amongst the available options.
 Along with these requirements, it is the duty of health and social care centres to serve
effective services to the patients without considering organization’s benefit. People with
specific needs and severe cases should be treated on priority basis in comparison to the
patients with other diseases15.
12 Dahlgren, D. and Whitehead, M., 2017. European Strategies for tackling social inequalities in health: levelling up
part 2. Health.
13 Mensah, L.D. & Julien, D., 2011, “Implementation of food safety management systems in the UK”, Food
Control, vol. 22 (8), pp.1216-1225.
14 Ding, D., Cooper, R.A., Pasquina, P.F. and Fici-Pasquina, L., 2011. Sensor technology for smart homes.
Maturitas, 69(2), pp.131-136.
15 Farzadfar, F., Murray, C.J., Gakidou, E., Bossert, T., Namdaritabar, H., Alikhani, S., Moradi, G., Delavari, A.,
Jamshidi, H. and Ezzati, M., 2012. Effectiveness of diabetes and hypertension management by rural primary health-

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 While treating employees, it should be taken care that no small mistake would occur
because it could generate huge negative results.
 Before changing treatment, using technological measures or while operating patients, it
is necessary for the supervisors and doctors of the health and social care centres to take
permission the guardians or family members of patient in order to avoid glitches.
 Developing public relation is also necessary for the health and social care organization
and in relation with their operations, developing and maintaining public relations is very
necessary in order to enhance the performance of the organization along with gaining
sustainable growth and development.
2.3 Explain the impact of recent and emerging technological developments on health and
social care services, organisations and care workers
It is required for every organization irrespective of their nature, scope and industry type to adopt
change management after a certain period of time. This is done with the objective of meeting
customer’s requirements. In health and social care centres, certain part of revenues and
profitability needs to be invested in the research and development department so that rapidly
increasing new diseases could be controlled by making an effective antidote in the initial stage
only16. Along with this, technological advancement has also been a great invention in the health
and social care centres for the betterment and sustainable development.
Creativity and innovation has also always been a major aspect of the in terms of dealing with the
latest and dynamic requirements in every field. Health and social care centres are also required to
adopt unique and innovative measures with the objective of dealing with the severe diseases in
an effective manner17. Impact of technology over health and social care centres, its employees as
well as over its users is huge and it would be analysed by following aspects:
 Technological aspects have eased health and social care centre’s employees job because
treatment have become effective as well as easy with the adaptation of technology18.
care workers (Behvarz workers) in Iran: a nationally representative observational study. The Lancet, 379(9810),
pp.47-54.
16 Mensah, L.D. & Julien, D., 2011, “Implementation of food safety management systems in the UK”, Food Control,
vol. 22 (8), pp.1216-1225.
17 Glasby, J., 2017. Understanding health and social care. Policy Press.
18 Piwek, L., Ellis, D.A., Andrews, S. and Joinson, A., 2016. The rise of consumer health wearables: promises and
barriers. PLoS Medicine, 13(2), p.e1001953.

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 Sally and other people could live freely and independently with the use of assistive
technology. As per the case study, Sally is not even able to perform its daily tasks but
with the help of assistive technology, she has been able to manage its daily basic tasks.
 Employees as well as the health and social care centres could easily enhance their skills
with the implementation of technology in its operations19.
19 Gretton, C. and Honeyman, M., 2016. The digital revolution: eight technologies that will change health and care.
[Online] The Kings Fund. Available at: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/eight-technologies-will-change-
health-and-care [Accessed 29 June 2018].

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Task 3
3.1 Identify the specific needs of an individual requiring support to live independently
According to case study, Jane is a 59 year old woman suffering from multiple diseases like
Diabetes, Epilepsy. Along with this, Jane was also suffering from learning disability along with
low mobility. Due to chronic heart issues, she had a heart attack few months back and for the
same she was admitted in the hospital for almost one month for curing heart and other diseases.
After such severe diseases, Jane decided to live independently and this decision was not going in
her favour20.
With regards to maintaining the needs of these patients, government has set up certain health and
social care centres where patients who want to live freely and independently without taking
support from anyone else could live. Patients that have specific needs require smooth operations,
special care and an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)21. Following are different specific needs
that assist in supporting Jane in her condition. Following are certain specific needs of Jane:
 Less sleep
 Partial seizures
 Amputations
 Damaging nerve
 Less vision
 High stress level
 Balance problems
 Lack of communication
The above discussed symptoms of diseases faced by Jane, following issues and challenges may
also be confronted by Jane are as follows:
 Blurred vision, urine increase and weight loss
20 Heslop, P., Blair, P.S., Fleming, P., Hoghton, M., Marriott, A. and Russ, L., 2014. The Confidential Inquiry into
premature deaths of people with intellectual disabilities in the UK: a population-based study. The Lancet,
383(9920), pp.889-895.
21 Hii, P.C. and Chung, W.Y., 2011. A comprehensive ubiquitous healthcare solution on an Android™ mobile
device. Sensors, 11(7), pp.6799-6815.