Day: February 7, 2017

What is assistive technology?

Assistive technology can be defined as “any device or system that allows an individual to perform a task that they would otherwise be unable to do, or increases the ease and safety with which the task can be performed”. [1] This includes a wide range of devices that can grouped according to their purpose. Supportive technologies help the individual to complete tasks; responsive technologies help manage risk and raise alarms; and preventative technologies prevent harm and raise alarms.[2] These technologies may include simple ‘low tech’ items such as basic mobility devices -walking sticks, walking frames, bath aids, calendar clocks through to more ‘high tech’ items such as automatic lighting and telecare. The term ‘telecare’ is used to describe sensors or detectors (for example movement, flood, gas, smoke or fall detectors) that automatically send a signal via a base unit connected to a telephone line (‘tele’) to a carer, community alarm or monitoring service and which can call for assistance (‘care’) when it is needed.[3]

Examples of assistive technology include:

• Electronic location devices which let carers know if the people they care for have left the room or building. This includes GPS technology that can locate people who have left the home and become lost or disorientated.
• Temperature, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These can be linked with a number of devices, enabling gas or electricity supplies to be shut off automatically, or power operated windows to be opened.
• Memo minders – can help people who have difficulty in remembering to carry out tasks.
• Medication dispensers – these devices can help people who have difficulty in remembering to take their medicine

2. How assistive technology can benefit people with dementia and their carers

Getting the right support in place early may mean that an individual can continue to live in an environment of their choice with independence and dignity, and help to ensure that the appropriate assistive technology package is provided to them. However, access to assistive technology should not require a formal diagnosis.

Lack of public awareness and information

The lack of public awareness relating to assistive technology means that people with dementia and carers do not know what to ask for. There is also a lack of good quality information around assistive technology. This means that the right equipment at the right time is not provided to people with dementia. This is not just an issue for the provision of assistive technology, rather a lack of information more generally especially for people with dementia and, to a lesser extent, their carers.

The priority given to assistive technology by different local authorities is variable and there is no national guidance on how assistive technology should be provided. In some areas of the country people with dementia have much poorer access to assistive technology than others. Depending on where an individual with dementia lives, eligibility for assistive technology may vary, only a limited range of products might be available and there may be a considerable wait for assistive technology to be provided.

Assistive technology must be personalised

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20091/position_statements/85/assistive_technology/2

In order to develop an understanding of how my proposed idea can help and individual, and also learn more about my target audience I decided to research the effects of Dementia and how people with this condition can be assisted.

 

Dementia is more than just memory loss – most people associate dementia with memory loss, but the condition affects people in a wide variety of ways. That might include changes in behaviour, confusion and disorientation, delusions and hallucinations, difficulty communicating, problems judging speeds and distances and even cravings for particular foods. Everyone’s experience of dementia is different.

It’s possible to live an independent and active life with dementia – there are many people in the UK and across the world who are facing dementia head on and developing support mechanisms and strategies to live well with the condition. That includes anything from taking up new hobbies to making new friends or taking part in research.

As dementia affects a person’s mental abilities, they may find planning and organising difficult. Maintaining their independence may also become a problem. A person with dementia will therefore usually need help from friends or relatives, including help with decision making.

 

Living at home when you have dementia

In the early stages of dementia, many people are able to look after their homes in the same way as before their diagnosis. However, as the illness gets worse, it is likely that someone who has dementia will find it difficult to look after their home and they may need help with daily activities, such as housework and shopping. The home of a person with dementia may also need to be adapted to enable them to stay safe, mobile and independent.

 

Living alone with dementia

As your condition progresses, you will need extra support to help you cope, and it’s better to get this in place early. Talk to family, friends and health professionals about how they can help you to stay independent. They can advise on how to cope with practical tasks, such as shopping.

 

How telecare technology can help with dementia

Telecare is a term used to describe personal alarms and health-monitoring devices that can help people with disabilities and long-term conditions to live more independently. Telecare can be particularly helpful if you’re caring for someone with dementia.

Telecare and telehealth services can give peace of mind to the person with dementia and their relatives, by confirming that they are safe at home and their health is stable. For example, telecare can help reassure you – from a distance – that the person you care for has got out of bed (through a bed pressure sensor) but hasn’t left the house (front door sensor).

After conducting research on the effects of dementia I have realised that there could be a significant set back with individuals forgetting to use the app itself. Although this app could aid some individuals in the early stages of the condition, it could prove to be more of a hindrance than a help. Due to the complexity of dementia and how it differs so vastly between person to person. It would be diffcult to taylor the concept to meet the needs of a large number of people.

I think it may be more helpful to people who have learning difficulties that struggle to complete everyday tasks correctly and on time. I aim to conduct some further research into how this could benefit individuals who have these issues, and whether this would be helpful to them.

 

Sites Used:

http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-dementia/facts-stats/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-dementia/

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/dementia-guide/Pages/about-dementia.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/dementia-guide/Pages/staying-independent-with-dementia.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/dementia-guide/pages/dementia-care-at-home.aspx#Mobility

Working title: Assist Me

What is the intended idea / concept behind the proposed project?

To aid people with memory loss or who struggle with daily activities. This product will use your smartphones camera to scan every day items and the play a short instructional animation on how to complete tasks.

Justify the idea / concept in terms of the needs for its existence (if purely for entertainment, state this and how the output will be innovative/original and creative):

This concept will hopefully allow people with difficulties doing everyday tasks to maintain their independence and allow them to take control in their own lives. Family members can also benefit by knowing that they have a guide on how to do tasks and they could also add the option of monitoring the app to see progress.

Describe the intended audience:

Patients with memory loss / learning difficulties who struggle to complete or remember to do simple everyday tasks. I want to make this available to a wide range of people who have different needs. I want it to be adaptable to each individual.

How will this project extend your or your team’s creative and technical skills?

For this project, I will need to conduct extensive research on my target audience and what needs they have. This will hopefully enable me to tailor the concept to suit them. I aim to talk with people who have experience with memory loss or people with learning difficulties so that I can get a good understanding of their needs when designing this concept.

Outline how the practical work will be carried out by you / the team (division of labour) and the time-scales involved for each task:

After an initial period of research, I want to make a start on the design for the app. I want to keep it clean and simple so that it is user-friendly and not too difficult to navigate around. This may take a few tweaks after showing the design to some potential users.

After the initial interface design is complete, I will start on the animation side of the application. Using After Effects and Photoshop I aim to make at least two 10 second animations to assist the users.

If the work so far is progressing well, I want to then use my knowledge of motion tracking and create a simulation of a person using this application for real.

Concept

An application that uses a smartphone camera to scan everyday objects and shows short animations on how to use these items. I aim to target this at people with memory loss, such as those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Also possibly looking at people with learning difficulties. This hopefully would help individuals gain independence.