caring aids

7/24/2019 Caring Aids

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Assistive Technology

Jizza Z. Bultron

PPS Number: 1399184LA


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Introduction

Assistive or Adaptive Technology commonly refers to "...products,devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modied or

customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functionalcapabilities of individuals with disabilities..."

Assistive devices can enable people with disabilities to accomplishdaily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or

recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independenceand enhance their quality of life. These devices can help improve physical

or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help preventthe worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness,and help improve a persons capacity to learn, or even replace a missinglimb !ehabtool.com, #$$%&.

'ut simply, assistive technology is any aid that can assist the frailestand vulnerable members of our society to live safely and live well at home

or in a care home environment.

According to the (ocial )are for *+cellencesAssistive Technologyfor Older People!#$--& research brieng, some of the key benets ofassistive technology include

/ncreased choice, safety, independence and sense of control0

/mproved quality of life0

1aintenance of ability to remain at home0 educed burden placed on care providers !the sta2&0 /mproved support for people with long3term health conditions0 and

educed accidents and falls in the home.

4hen considering the use of technology to help with care, the personal

needs and choices of the individual are critical. /t is no use trying to moldan individual to t in with a certain technology. The proposed technologymust be able to support and suit the individual and their unique situation.5eep in mind that individuals will react di2erently to the various types of

assistive technology.

Therefore, prior to the implementation of any new technology, the sta2

may start by asking the following two questions

-. )an the technology enable the person, or care provider to dosomething that would not be possible without it6

#. )an the technology complement the care and support already beingprovided by care provider in certain situations6

/f the answer is 7yes, it is likely the proposed assistive technology

would have a positive impact on the quality of a persons life and in thee8ciency of the caring sta2 !i)are9ealth, #$-%&.


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Lifts and Hoists

This is an assistive device that allows patients in hospitals and nursinghomes and those receiving home health care to be transferred between abed and a chair wheelchair, to a commode or other similar resting places,

using hydraulic power. *conomical manual3hydraulic lifts are easy to useand provide the basic functions for the sta2 to safely transfer a patient!'referred 9ealth )hoice, #$-%&.

Sling Lifts: The term sling lift is also known as 9oyer ;ift. (ling lifts

are used for patients whose mobility is limited. They could be mobile!or theability to move or be moved freely and easily?. (o, a mobility aid, in

general is used to give the user the ability to move more freely and easilythan they can without it if he or she is disabled or have an in@ury. )hoosingthese devices takes time and research. /f they t, these devices givesupport, but if they dont t, they can be uncomfortable and unsafe.

Traditionally the phrase mobility aid has applied mainly to low technologymechanical devices. Technical advances can be e+pected to increase thescope of these devices considerably, for e+ample by use of sensors andaudio or tactile feedback !1edline'lus, #$-&.

*+amples

Wheelchairs: A wheelchair is a chair with tted with wheels. Thedevice comes in variations where it is may be either manuallypropelled by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hander

or electrically propelled by motors. =ften there are handles behindthe seat for someone else to do the pushing. 4heelchairs are used

by people for whom walking is di8cult or impossible due to illness,in@ury, or disability.

Crutches: A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the

legs to the upper body. /t is often used for people who cannot use

their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from short3term in@uries to lifelong disabilities. (everal di2erent gait patterns


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are possible, and the user chooses which one to use depending onthe reason the crutches are needed.

There are several types of crutches

-. Borearm A type of crutch with a cu2 at the top to go around theforearm, also known as the ;ofstrand crutch. Borearm crutch is usedby inserting the arm into a cu2 and holding the grip. The cu2,typically made of plastic or metal, can be a half3circle or a full circlewith a C3type opening in the front allowing the forearm to slip out incase of a fall.

#. Dnderarm or a+illa crutch /t is used by placing the pad against theribcage beneath the armpit and holding the grip, which is below and

parallel to the pad.. 'latform These are less common and used by those with poor hand

grip due to arthritis, cerebral palsy, or other conditions. The armrests on a horizontal platform and is strapped in place. The handrests on a grip which, if properly designed, can be angledappropriately depending on the users disability.

%. ;eg (upport These non3traditional crutches are useful for users withan in@ury or disability a2ecting one lower leg only. They function bystrapping the a2ected leg into a support frame that simultaneouslyholds the lower leg clear of the ground while transferring the loadfrom the ground to the users knee or thigh. This style of crutch hasthe advantage of not using the hands or arms while walking. Aclaimed benet is that upper thigh atrophy is also reduced becausethe a2ected leg remains in use. Dnlike other crutch designs thesedesigns are unusable for pelvic, hip or thigh in@uries and in somecases for knee in@uries also.

Incontinence Aids

/ncontinence aids are used as a precaution against urinary

incontinence. Drinary !or bladder& incontinence happens when a person isnot able to keep urine from leaking out of the urethra, the tube that

carries urine out of the body from the bladder. /ncontinence aids areusually placed in an undergarment or on a bed or chair under a person./ncontinence aids can either be reusable and laundered to re3use manytimes, or disposable. They are also sometimes used !incorrectly& as a

patient3transfer device. /ncontinence aids are manufactured in light andheavy grades which o2er a range of absorbencies, often referred to as a

working capacity 3 the true absorbency an incontinence aid o2ers when inuse !E9(, #$-F&.


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Absorbent Pads : Absorbent pads are the most popular

incontinence aids. They use the same technology as nappies andhave a hydrophobic layer which draws urine away from the surfaceof the pad, so the skin stays dry. /t is for a temporary measure that

can really improve the quality of life and save an individual frombeing housebound or spending all the time in the toilet.

Washable Bed Pads: 4ashable bed pad is a type of an

incontinence bedding, which sit on top of the mattress and soak up

any overnight leakage. The pads stay dry to the touch and they canbe useful for trips away from home. /t is used due to serious leakage

problems.

Personal Care Aids'ersonal care aids are the solutions to challenges with activities and

functions that aging individuals used to take for granted. Also known asself3help devices, these are the aids that assist persons with disabilities in

daily living activities such as dressing, personal hygiene, bathing, homemaintenance, cooking, eating, etc. 9owever, it does not generally include

architecturalGhome adaptations or modications !Tom, #$-%&.

eacher: A reacher is commonly used after a surgery because the

rehabilitation process requires individuals not to bend at the knees

or the hips. A reacher is a great device to grab something high orlow or in a tight space. /t is for grabbing heavy or large items or forindividuals that have arthritis or are recovering from a stroke.

ubber !oor"nob #ri$s: ubber doorknob grips added to the

door knob will provide with the solution to opening a door or using akey being very problematic. Arthritis is a very common condition asan individual age that can cause problems with opening doors.

Co%%unication Aids

A communication aid helps a person with severe di8culties inspeaking or writing to communicate more e2ectively with those around

them. )ommunication aids come in many shapes and sizes. 1ost need tobe customized to match the physical, intellectual and social needs of theindividual. This includes personalizing the vocabulary and content andconsidering issues such as how the person will carry the aid, point to

items, and update and maintain the aid !(cope, #$-%&. These aids greatlyhelp in the communication between the patients and the care providers

since clear communication is one of essentials in e2ective and safe care.


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There are four di2erent types of communication aids

-. )omprehensive *+pressive Aids These aids aim to meet most of apersons communication needs throughout their day. They includealphabet boards and communication boards and books, with a wide

range of messages represented by letters, words, photos andGorsymbols.#. Targeted *+pressive Aids These aids are designed for specic

situations when limited message sets are needed, such ascommunity request cards, or ob@ect symbols to allow a person tomake basic requests.

. Cisual (upports Cisual supports assist a person to make sense oftheir day, remember events, or help with the completion of tasks.1any people with comple+ communication needs have di8cultywith memory and understanding abstract information. *+amples ofvisual supports are picture or ob@ect calendars, picture shopping

lists, and picture social stories.%. (upports for )ommunication 'artners These provide details about

an individual with comple+ communication needs, hisGher means ofcommunication, and other routine related information that assist acommunication partner to consistently support this personthroughout the day. *+amples are a 7Hook About 1e, 'ersonal)ommunication Iictionary or 'ersonal 9istory.

*+amples

Al$habet Board: An alphabet board may be suitable for people

who have literacy skills. /t can be designed specically to suit thepersons needs : e+ample using either an AH) or J4*TK format :with direct access or partner3assisted auditory scanning. A non3tech

option such as this is also helpful as a backup for those people whomay have an e+isting electronic communication device.

&lectronic Co%%unication !evices ' (verlays: =verlays are

required by people who use some electronic communicationdevices. These devices have speech andGor print output and manyneed an ob@ect, photo, picture or word based overlays that

communication partners can change for the individual whenrequired. (tandardized overlays can be developed to t any device

foe any activity.

Conclusion

Assistive technology can enable people with disabilities or theelderly and their care providers to accomplish daily living tasks, assist

them in communication, education, work or recreation activities,

ultimately, help them achieve greater independence and enhance theirquality of life.


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These assistive devices can help improve physical or mentalfunctioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help prevent the

worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness, andhelp improve a persons capacity to learn, or even replace a missing bodyparts.

9owever, most importantly, when considering the use of technology to

help with care, the personal needs and choices of the individual arecritical. The proposed technology must be able to support and suit theindividual and their unique situation. /n essence, keep in mind thatindividuals will react di2erently to the various types of assistive

technology. These technologies must be personalized to t eachindividuals needs.


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Bibliogra$hy

i)are9ealth. !#$-%& 9ow assistive technology can help to improvedementia care. L=nlineM Available from

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1edline'lus. !#$-& 1obility Aids. L=nlineM Available fromhttpGGwww.nlm.nih.govGmedlineplusGmobilityaids.html1obility Aids.

LAccessed #Fth Nanuary #$-FM.

E9( )hoices. !#$-F& /ncontinence products. L=nlineM Available fromhttpGGwww.nhs.ukG;ivewellGincontinenceG'agesG/ncontinenceproducts.asp+/ncontinence products. LAccessed #Fth Nanuary #$-FM.

'referred 9ealth )hoice. !#$-%& 'atient ;ifting Ievices ;ifts O ;ift (lings.

L=nlineM Available from httpGGwww.phc3online.comG9oyerP;iftP(upplyPsG%%.htm. LAccessed #Fth Nanuary #$-FM.

ehabtool.com. !#$$%& 4hats Assistive Technology. L=nlineM Availablefrom httpGGwww.rehabtool.comGat.htmlQIailyR#$;ivingR#$Aids.LAccessed #Fth Nanuary #$-FM.

(cope. !#$-%& )ommunication Aids. L=nlineM Available fromhttpGGwww.scopevic.org.auGinde+.phpGsiteGresourcesGcommunicationaidsQ*lectronic )ommunication Ievices. LAccessed #Fth Nanuary #$-FM.

Tom, N. !#$-%& Iaily ;iving Aids. L=nlineM Available fromhttpGGwww.medichair.comGinde+.phpGlearning3centreGdaily3living3aids.LAccessed #Fth Nanuary #$-FM.

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