Supporting Independent Living: Technology in Healthcare Report

This report delves into the application of technology to support independent living within health and social care, using Mary's case as a practical example. It explores the use of assistive technology, such as advanced monitoring systems, modified vehicles, and specialized household appliances, to address the specific needs of individuals with physical disabilities like arthritis. The report analyzes the benefits of technology, including increased independence, improved communication, and enhanced mobility, while also acknowledging the barriers, such as cost and the need for user training. Furthermore, it examines health and safety considerations, ethical implications, and the overall impact of technological advancements on the lives of care users and the operations of care-providing organizations. The report emphasizes the importance of customized technology solutions and the role of care providers in ensuring the effective and safe use of these technologies.

SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT LIVING IN HEALTH AND
SOCIAL CARE
STUDENT NAME:
STUDENT ID:
PROFESSOR NAME:
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Table of content
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Task 1.........................................................................................................................................3
LO: 1 Understanding how technology can be used to support independent living...................3
AC1.1 Explaining the use of technology in health and social care............................................3
AC 1.2 Analysing the barriers in using technology...................................................................5
AC1.3 Explaining the benefits technology................................................................................6
LO: 2..........................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Explaining health and safety considerations........................................................................6
2.2 Discussing ethical considerations........................................................................................7
2.3 Explaining the impact of technological development..........................................................8
LO: 3..........................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Identifying specific needs of individuals.............................................................................9
3.2 Recommending ways by which technology can be supportive.........................................10
3.3 Evaluating usefulness of technology..................................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................12
Reference list............................................................................................................................13
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Introduction
The disability right UK was coined with the aim of assisting the physically handicapped a
better and a more developed way of living and conducting daily activities. Traditionally the
physically disable were considered to be dependent and incapable of maintaining the basis
needs of life without the help and support of others. The concept of independent living aims
to enhance confidence and self-sufficiency in the attitude of the patients. The concept of
independent living allows the person with physical disability to live the life with dignity and
independence. The concept however does not disregards the assistance from the care workers
rather allows an individual to make more informed and specific decisions. The nature and
degree of disability of different individual demands that the use of assistive technology is
designed based on the specific customised needs of the care users. The care users aiming to
provide assistive technology have to take the input of the care users in designing technology
and assisting the care users. To make an analysis of the theory of independent living here the
case of Mary is taken as an example. She is has been rendered as nearly immobile owing to
her acute arthritis. The use of the assistive technology will allow enhancing the self-
confidence as well and independent living to carry out the basic needs of the life.
Task 1
LO: 1 Understanding how technology can be used to support independent
living
AC1.1 Explaining the use of technology in health and social care
The change in the health and social care technologies, as well as the attitudes of the care users
in dealing with the patients with special demands, has led to the development of assistive
technology. The technology aims to provide an equal opportunity to the patients in leading a
life on their own. The concept of independent living as opined by Mladenov et al. (2015,
p.320) allows the care users to gain specific assistance based on their needs and gain the
benefits of technologies in their daily activities. In the opinion of Gabrielsson‐Järhult and
Nilsen (2016, p.140), the change in the social outlook of the healthcare sector has lead to the
outlook where the care users are invested in designing advanced medical process for the
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disabled and allowing them to overcome the social barriers. The concept of independent
living has gained importance in the modern age owing to the development of the advanced
medical are technologies as well as the invention of modern medicines that are designed to
assist not only a healthy but active life for the physically challenged care users. The
development of the health care technology as pointed out by Arif et al. (2014, p.680) is the
overall development of the process as well as techniques in the health care sector. The
technological impact on the independent living can be realised by the process of better
understanding of the exact needs of the care users and providing the exact assistance to the
care users.
The specific needs of the care users can be defined using the example of Mary, who is
suffering from acute arthritis that has made it really made it difficult it difficult for her to
commute and conduct her regular activities. Assistive technology has helped Mary in the
following manner
Independence needs
Reduced bone power has made here lethargic and prone to pain. It can also be mentioned her
that being an independent person marry has a life of her own that is being disrupted by the
chronic diseases that she is suffering from. This inability on her part to deal with the regular
activities demands that she is assisted but at the same time allowed to perform on her own.
Technological use that can be made in a case of Mary is the advanced monitor and use of
medicines that have a minimum effect on Mary's health.
Communications needs
Arthritis had also has affected her eyesight making it difficult for her to observe the minute
details. Furthermore, the decrease eyesight has also made it difficult for her to concentrate on
the laptop for a very long time. An important use of technology to assist Mary is the use of
anti-reflector glasses to reduce the harmful effects of the UV rays that is emitted by the
laptops. Here another technological assistance that can be used is the UV ray protection
screens that reduce the rays that are emitted.
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Fig 1: UV ray glasses
Fig 2: UV ray protected laptop screens
Mobility needs
The arthritis is affecting Mary’s ability to drive. Thus, use of technology that like hand breaks
and accelerators can be used to reduce the stress that her legs are facing while driving Cook
and Polgar (2014, p.58). Mary is also facing problems in mobility. To cater the technological
demand of mobility Mary can be given the option of using an automated moving chair that
reduces the need of moving on her own foot. Furthermore Mary demands a custom-made
shoe that will reduce the pain that Mary is facing.
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Fig 3: Hand breaks and accelerators
Control in her daily living
Mary is living alone and is facing severe problems in conducting the activities like cooking
and cleaning. In the case of Mary, the use of assistive technology is considered to be highly
effective as it will allow here to gain confidence and control over her daily activities. More
advanced cleaning and cooking appliances can be helpful for Mary. The idea of the
technological assistance as mentioned by Carver et al. (2016, p.470) is the process of
providing the much-needed assistance in the daily activity rather than rendering them
incapable owing to the disability faced by them. The technological assistance further
enhances the effectiveness of the medicines and the process that are used by the care users.
Fig 4: Advanced Cleaning and Cooking Appliances
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Health and safety needs
The constant pain has also made her allergic to a number of food products as well as the
medicines. The regular use of the pain medicines has also affected her metabolism and
created a number of side effects like nausea, drowsiness etc. Apart from using the
technologies, Mary is to be given assistance in dealing with the technologies. The assistance
has to be the use of a modern exercise machine that allows Mary to engage in the regular use
of the working out.
Fig 5: Workouts for physically disabled
AC 1.2 Analysing the barriers in using technology
The assistive technology in case of the health care sector is the use of advanced technologies
and process in meeting the specific demands of the care users. The advancement of the
technologies and the development of the moral responsibilities of the care users as pointed
out by Drake (2014, p.580) in the health care sector have led to the development of more
holistic approach in the sphere of health care and reduce the inability of the physically
challenged care users. The technological use in the assistance has further allowed the care
users to gain the equal opportunities in the society. However, the use of the assistive
technologies in the health care sector has a number of barriers. The most important barrier
that the propagation and the use of the technological assistance in the health care sector face
is the cost of the technology as well as the maintenance of the technologies and equipment
used. According to Hargreaves et al. (2014, p.310) in many cases, the care users fails to use
the benefits of the technological owing to the cost and the complications in maintaining the
equipment. In the scenario, Mary has been given the option of using an advanced movable
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chair that will allow Mary to conduct the household chores while sitting in the chair. The
chair is itself is costly and requires further regular maintenance. This it may not be possible
for Mary to opt for the technology. Use of a higher advanced technology to reduce the cost of
production at the same develop the product to meet the basic requirements of Mary can be
effective in dealing the situation. Moreover, it can also be mentioned the use of hand brakes
and accelerator demands that Mary is given proper training in using the technologies. The
barrier of using the technologies in assisting independent living in the sphere of health care
includes the initiatives on the part of the care user to use the technologies. In the case of
Mary, the use of advanced exercise machines may not be lucrative owing to the complexities
of the machines. Thus, detailed guidance from a professional to handle the technologies
effectively may reduce the apathy that Mary is facing towards the modern technologies.
Moreover a proper training will also enhance the effectiveness of the technologies used. The
use of the advanced technologies will also require communication with the care users.
AC1.3 Explaining the benefits technology
The benefit of assistive technology for service users
The benefits that Mary has gained from the effective use of the technological assistance are
long term and can be realised by the increasing ability of the care users in leading a confident
life. The ability of Mary in handling the daily chores with an ease and reduced pain is the
direct impact of the benefits of the use of technology in the health care sector. Furthermore, it
can be pointed out that the ability of the Mary in working on the laptop on a continuous basis
is also the result of the effective of technology. Here it can also be mentioned that the use of
technology has further enhanced the mobility by allowing her to handle the car through the
hand breaks and accelerator. Apart from the immediate implications that the Mary has gained
from the use of the technologies is the enhanced sense of confidence and independence in her
daily life. Among the physically disabled as defined by Fichten et al. (2014, mp.370) the
sense of independence is considered to be the most important criteria that enhance the
acceptability of the technology. The use of advanced glasses and less harmful medication that
reduces the drowsiness and lethargy Mary has further reduced the reduced the risk that Mary
could face due tom her failing health.
Benefits of assistive technology for an organisation
Apart from the care users, the care-providing organisation also faces a number of benefits.
The most important benefit that the health care organisation faces as pointed out by Anderson
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and Wiener (2015, p.430) is the satisfaction of the care users. Moreover, the care-providing
organisation can use the effective technology developed on other care users thus enhancing
their reliability. It can also be mentioned the effectively developed technology used in the
healthcare sector further reduces the cost that the organisation has to spend on regular
monitoring and evaluating the impact of the technologies.
LO: 2
2.1 Explaining health and safety considerations
The success of the technological development apart from being based on the specific demand
of the care users has to deal with the safety considerations that are to be taken to be taken into
considerations. The most important consideration that the care providers have to take into
account is the health hazard that the care users can face while using the technologies
(Legislation.gov.uk, 2017). The organisation developing the equipment has to make sure that
the instruments develop care assisted with the required manuals that can assist the care users.
The policies of the UK government have made sure that the organisation uses the advanced
training and assistance in using the technologies. The effective training on the part of the
caregivers reduces any chance of misfortune while using the technologies. The health and
safety act 1974 the health and safety act developed by the legislation mandated the
organisation proving the health care facilities as well as the employees involved in paying
additional attention to the harmful effects that the selected health care technologies can cause
to the care users (Legislation.gov.uk, 2017). It can further be mentioned that the organisation
involved in the healthcare facility has to make a regular evaluation of the effects that the
selected technology has on the care users. The evaluation of the selected process reduces the
chance of the harmful effects of the technologies and enhances the effectiveness of the
technologies.
2.2 Discussing ethical considerations
While using the technology with a health and social care centre, the concerned organisation
has to maintain some of the ethical considerations. In the opinion of Munn-Giddings and
Winter (2013, p.12), by following the ethical considerations, the health and social centre can
conserve the value of their profession. There are a number of the ethical considerations for
the use of technology in a positive way. While talking about the health and social care centre
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the major ethics is the autonomy according to which the concerned organisation provides the
chances to make individual choices. The service receiver needs to gets the opportunity to
make the choices of the technology and to acknowledge the individual regarding the diseases.
In the opinion of Aveyard and Sharp (2013, p.11), the working principles within the health
and social care centre are the major ethics. The care workers of the health and social care
centre have to follow some principle, which includes love, dignity etc. in order acquire the
ethical considerations the care worker has to follow this working principle. The technological
adaptation should not be acquired by the health and social care centre for the benefit of the
care worker in a financial matter. With the help of the technology, the care worker needs to
fulfil the service user’s requirements from the health and social care worker. The ethical
consideration of the health and social care worker is to provide proper care to service user
with the help of the technological advancement.
In the opinion of Munn-Giddings and Winter (2013, p.13), the care worker should not use
technology in order to harm the service user and to get financial benefits. The care worker
needs to be very cautious and acre while using the technological equipment and solutions by
doing several experiments with the observation of the expertise. The care worker needs to
maintain the moral obligation so they can negotiate properly in the conflicting situation. In
the opinion of Gellert et al. (2015, p.1316), in order to avoid any discrepancy or failure, the
care workers need plan the each step to use the technological advancement of their services.
This plan will enable the health and social care centre to negotiate with the claims if any
accident or mistake happens.
The care worker also needs to assess the possible risk, which can acquire while using the
technological advancement. Thos enable the care workers to check the service quality of the
technological equipment, which is being provided. The technological solutions, which are
being provided by the care worker to the service user needs to be informed to the concerned
service user and the family member of the same. The ethics of the care work and the trust
between the care worker and the service users will be maintained and the quality of the
services will be given by maintaining the concerned ethical considerations.
2.3 Explaining the impact of technological development
In the opinion of Miller (2017, p.3), the impact of the technological development in the health
and social care can be discussed through the treatment procedure of Mary. As Mary has
serious arthritis, problem and she cannot walk properly the technology specialist of the health
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and social care centre has introduced technological equipment with the help of which Mary
can walk properly with the support of that technological equipment. This technological
support will help Mary to recover her situation make the miserable life easier. To make the
improvements in the health of Mary the technological solution like the technically advanced
wheelchairs and the UV-ray the care worker can prescribe protected glasses.
The major impact of this emerging advancement of the technological solution in the health
and social care centre is increasing day-by-day. In the opinion of Munn-Giddings and Winter
(2013, p.14), this impact mainly influences the role of the care worker with the health and
social care centre. As the care worker need not stand still beside the service user for
monitoring the health of the same, but they can use the technological support for monitoring
the health of the patients. A proper training of the staffs is also required so that they can use
these technological solutions for the betterment often services users. If a health and social
care organisation use the Bluetooth technology for monitoring the service user. Then the
staffs of the health and social care centre need to be accustomed to the new technology.
In the health and social care centre the technological equipment advancement refers to the
medicine reminders, pulse-monitoring watches etc in order to monitor a patient who is in the
long distance then the care worker can use the Telecare, which has become one of the major
technological advancement adapted by the health and social care organisation.
Medicine reminders and security reminder are also being used by the health and social care
organisation. In the opinion of Miller (2017, p.4), with the help of the medicine reminders,
the care workers can provide medicines to the service user timely. The security reminders
help the care worker to maintain the privacy of the health and social care centre. If any of
children tries to go out of the centre without informing anyone then the care workers can
track that child with the help of the security reminders.
Even the business of the health and social care centre is being improved with the help of the
technological advancement. Different facilities are being provided to the service user with the
help of this technology.
LO: 3
3.1 Identifying specific needs of individuals
Scenario: Ana is an elderly woman who is suffering from several diseases and lives alone, as
her husband is dead. In her young age, Anna was very much active and was able to do every
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work by herself. By now with her old age, her children also left her. Now she needs the
monitoring system for her health issues. This monitoring system is needed especially in the
time of night.
Specific needs of the needs of the individual who wants to live independently:
In order to live independently, Ana has many needs, which include the needs, which arises
from the diseases from which Ana is suffering. The anxiety of the Ana also considers being
the needs of the individuals. Ana is an elderly woman she needs to be monitored every time.
Ana can suffer from the problem regarding the eating or remember things. Due to the old age
Ana, she may start forgetting things for which she need get the reminder of the locator so that
she can find her stuff, which needs. Even Ana is suffering from several diseases for she needs
to take her medicine on time but her nature to forget things she has some medicine reminders.
In the opinion of Gabrielsson‐Järhult and Nilsen (2016, p.136), in order to live alone, any
accidental case may happen for which an individual needs the support. Thus, accidental
support is another need of a person to live independently. Another need of Ana is the support
while facing difficulties in cooking or driving. These needs can be fulfilled or may solve with
the help of the technological advancement. Ana being old women, she requires support and
needs which can be satisfied with the technological advancement and this will enable her to
live independently.
3.2 Recommending ways by which technology can be supportive
Appropriate support devices
1. Medicine Reminders:
This reminder helps the service user to work on the disorientation. If a service, user is living
alone then this reminder can help the individual to maintain the health by taking the medicine
on time. This reminder will enable the service user not to skip any kind of medicines. in the
opinion of Bleijenberg et al. (2014, p.167), this technological advancement will help the
service user to live independently by satisfying the individual needs.
2. Locator device:
In old age, people start forgetting the location of the product. In the opinion of Gabrielsson‐
Järhult and Nilsen (2016, p.137), this locator device will help the old people to find out any
product if they have forgotten the actual place of the same. By adding sounds and colours, the
user of the service can find out their stuff.
3. Telecare:
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