Technological Aids for Self-Care and Environmental Adaptations: Difference between revisions

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== Introduction  ==
== Introduction  ==
[[File:Stephen Hawkings.png|right|frameless|355x355px]]Steven Hawking was a valuable role model for technological solutions for those with disabilities. With his recognizable wheelchair and computer-generated voice, he demonstrated the value of technological solutions  eg. liberating the voice of those with physical and communication disabilities.
[[Assistive Devices|Assistive technologies]] facilitate mobility and other functional abilities, like eating, seeing, hearing, etc. It includes the basic things to advance devices. From utensils with large handles to speech-generating devices, all are forms of assistive technology. It reduced and diminished the disparities between people with different abilities.<ref>Blair ME. [https://theconversation.com/stephen-hawking-as-accidental-ambassador-for-assistive-technologies-70627 Stephen Hawking as an accidental ambassador for assistive technologies]. The Conversation. 2018 [cited 2024 Feb 18].</ref>
[[Category:Assistive Technology Content Development Project]]
[[Category:Assistive Technology Content Development Project]]
So-called assistive technologies provide a means for people to move from place to place, to eat independently, to see and hear what they can’t otherwise perceive. They include basic things like wheelchairs to help people move around, magnifiers that increase the size of text or images to make them easier to see, even nonelectronic items like large-handled kitchen utensils that are easier to hold; assistive technologies range from the seemingly simple all the way to speech-generating devices (SGD) that provide a physical voice to those who don’t have one.  The use of assistive technologies in our everyday world diminishes the differences between people with different abilities.<ref>The Conversation  Stephen Hawking as accidental ambassador for assistive technologies Available:https://theconversation.com/stephen-hawking-as-accidental-ambassador-for-assistive-technologies-70627 (accessed 17.6.2021)</ref>


== Defining Self Care ==
== What is Self Care? ==
[[File:Assistive Technology.jpeg|right|frameless|390x390px]]Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), [[nutrition]] (type and quality of food eaten), lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure etc), environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.) [[Social Determinants of Health|socio-economic]] factors (income level, [[Personal Values and Beliefs|cultural beliefs]], etc.) and self-medication''.''<ref>ISF What is self care Available: https://isfglobal.org/what-is-self-care/ (accessed 10.7.2021)</ref>
According to a recent study, self-care is defined as "the ability to care for oneself through awareness, self-control, and self-reliance to achieve, maintain, or promote optimal health and well-being.<nowiki>''</nowiki> But the definition evolves over time and may be relative to the person to whom it may be defined. It may differ from person to person and condition to condition. For example, some people may need to spend more time on self-care and engage their caregiver, but others may need less.<ref name=":1">Martinez N, Connelly C, Perez A, Calero P. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8488814/pdf/main.pdf Self-care: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Sciences]. 2021 Oct 10;8(4):418–25.</ref>


* Self-care is  the fundamental level of health care in all societies and should be seen as a major public health resource.
== Examples of Self Care Activities and Assistive Technologies ==
* Self-care is often unrecognised and underappreciated.
[[Self Care Assistive Technology|Assistive technology for activities of daily living]] are variety of products, devices, and equipment used in everyday functional activities by the person with disabilities or the elderly. Potential activities of daily living which can be make more easier, safer and quicker with support from assistive technologies may be categories, but are not only included to,


== Examples ==
* eating,
[[File:Basic and Instrumental ADL's.png|right|frameless|399x399px]]Self Care and Environment Products adapt the environment, rather than the person, to support identified needs, choice, and control. These assistive devices may compensate for impairments and functional limitations and enable a quicker, safer, or more-efficient performance of everyday activities. Products may address vision, hearing, fine and gross motor, sensory, cognitive, communication, safety, and learning.<ref name=":0">Britannica AIDS for ADL Available:https://www.britannica.com/topic/aids-for-activities-of-daily-living (accessed 10.7.2021)</ref>
* cooking,
* grooming,
* bathing and showering,  
* dressing,  
* transferring to and from beds, vehicles, or wheelchairs,
* writing and basic communication,
* environmental control,  
* home management,  
* time management,  
* organisation and scheduling,
* money management,  
* shopping,  
* leisure/recreation/play,  
* community living, and  
* school and work activities.


* Physical modifications in the built environment, including ramps, grab bars, and wider doorways to enable access to buildings, businesses, and workplaces.
The example may described simply by reachers, modified utensils, printing with large size fonts, etc. Such technologies should both, environment and person friendly to adapt the environment to support identified needs, choice, and control.<ref name=":0">Hammel J. [https://www.britannica.com/topic/aids-for-activities-of-daily-living Aids for activities of daily living.] Encyclopedia Britannica. 2023.</ref>
* [[Assistive Technology: Mobility Products|Mobility Products]].
* Adaptive switches and utensils to allow those with limited motor skills to eat, play games, and accomplish other activities.
* [[Assistive Devices|Devices and features of devices to help perform tasks]] such as cooking, dressing, and grooming; specialized handles and grips, tub benches abs shower stools, devices that extend reach, and lights on telephones and doorbells.
* [[What is Assistive Technology|Assistive Technology]].<ref>NIH Assistive Devices Available: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/rehabtech/conditioninfo/device (accessed 10.7.2021)</ref>
* [[Wheelchair Fitting|Wheelchair]]<nowiki/>s and [[Walking Aids]]
* [[Positioning the Child with Cerebral Palsy|Posture control aides for cerebral palsy]]
* [[Guidelines on Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers|Pressure mattress]]
* [[Cushions]]
* [[Transfer Aids|Sling or hoist]]
* Complex home modifications
* Mobile or ceiling hoist
* Reminders applications<ref>Ability action.Assistive Technology available:https://abilityactionaustralia.com.au/assistive-technology-equipment-aids-occupational-therapy/ (accessed 10.7.2021)</ref>
<br>
Home adaptation, using these devices, is a complex procedure whose implementation involves the execution of multiple actions


* Detection of individual needs
Some pictures of assistive technologies for self care added below for better understanding of the concept,
* Contact with several specialised professional profiles
 
* Visits to orthopaedics or companies in the sector
<gallery widths="250" heights="350">
* Selection of the right device
File:Assistive keyboard and Joystick.jpg|''Keyboard with larger text and Joystick''
* Search for financing options
File:Pen with wide handle.jpg|''Pen with wider gripper''
* Purchase and installation of the selected assistive products<ref>Plos one  Exploring the use of assistive products to promote functional independence in self-care activities in the bathroom Available: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0215002 ( accessed 10.7.2021)</ref>
File:Modified utensil.jpg|''Modified utensil''
File:Thermo Mug.jpg|''Mug with angles on lower side to have drinks by less tilt''
</gallery>With the universal design movement have revolutionary impact on assistive technologies for self care. Now a days the customised assistive devices available in local departmental stores and online stores. It helps to maintaining, increasing and delay in declining the everyday functions of a person with disabilities. <ref name=":0" />
 
Talking clocks may helps to the person with dementia and person with visual impairment to do their daily activities timely. A medication dispenser with alarm may help to take medication on time for person with dementia. Large variety of mobile app also helping person with with visual impairment by providing visual cues and screen reader facilities.<ref name=":0" /><br>For improve the [[Functional Independence Measure (FIM)|functional independence]] at bathroom assistive technologies play pivotal role. The common types of assistive technologies at bathroom are grab bar or hand rail, toilet arm support, height adjustable toilet, shower stall, bath seat, bath transfer bench, etc. The home adaptation should be consider during the planning process of building a home to integrate the assistive technologies to improve the self care. <ref>De-Rosende-Celeiro I, Torres G, Seoane-Bouzas M, Ávila A. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6453482/ Exploring the use of assistive products to promote functional independence in self-care activities in the bathroom.] Moody EJ, editor. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2019 Apr 8;14(4).</ref>  


== Cost Barriers ==
== Cost Barriers ==
[[File:Money Bag.png|right|frameless]]Despite the growing need, one of the primary barriers to obtaining needed or wanted self care and environmental products is cost; ie a large number of people with disabilities cannot afford them and get no reimbursement for them through existing funding systems. Eg tub benches have been found to support function and safety, they are typically not funded through third-party reimbursement systems, as they are considered “optional” and do not qualify as durable medical equipment. In response, a number of initiatives have occurred to increase access.  Eg In the United States, a national network of alternative financing programs offers a consumer-directed program and range of alternative financing strategies to increase access to funding for these products and other technologies; Canada and Sweden, have implemented delivery systems that offer more-extensive access to these products as part of integrated community living plans<ref name=":0" />.
Access to assistive technologies have lots of challenges and barriers. Among them the expenses considered as one of the primary barrier. Although the need is growing day by day for self-care and environmental products the cost affordability is not available for every places equally. Still a large number of people with disabilities unable to have them. No social financing system in place for the purchasing self care related assistive technologies. Few developed countries started to implementing some initiatives. For example, the United States, a national network of alternative financing programs offers a consumer-directed program and a range of alternative financing strategies to increase access to funding for these products and other technologies; Canada and Sweden have implemented delivery systems that offer more extensive access to these products as part of integrated community living plans.<ref name=":0" />
 
It may also possible to reduce the cost barriers by [[Resource Mobilisation for Assistive Technology in Community Based Rehabilitation|resource mobilisation for assistive technologies]] for self-care.


== References  ==
== References  ==
<references /> 
<references /> 

Latest revision as of 14:26, 29 February 2024

Original Editors - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Mahbubur Rahman, Naomi O'Reilly, Kim Jackson and Ewa Jaraczewska      

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Assistive technologies facilitate mobility and other functional abilities, like eating, seeing, hearing, etc. It includes the basic things to advance devices. From utensils with large handles to speech-generating devices, all are forms of assistive technology. It reduced and diminished the disparities between people with different abilities.[1]

What is Self Care?[edit | edit source]

According to a recent study, self-care is defined as "the ability to care for oneself through awareness, self-control, and self-reliance to achieve, maintain, or promote optimal health and well-being.'' But the definition evolves over time and may be relative to the person to whom it may be defined. It may differ from person to person and condition to condition. For example, some people may need to spend more time on self-care and engage their caregiver, but others may need less.[2]

Examples of Self Care Activities and Assistive Technologies[edit | edit source]

Assistive technology for activities of daily living are variety of products, devices, and equipment used in everyday functional activities by the person with disabilities or the elderly. Potential activities of daily living which can be make more easier, safer and quicker with support from assistive technologies may be categories, but are not only included to,

  • eating,
  • cooking,
  • grooming,
  • bathing and showering,
  • dressing,
  • transferring to and from beds, vehicles, or wheelchairs,
  • writing and basic communication,
  • environmental control,
  • home management,
  • time management,
  • organisation and scheduling,
  • money management,
  • shopping,
  • leisure/recreation/play,
  • community living, and
  • school and work activities.

The example may described simply by reachers, modified utensils, printing with large size fonts, etc. Such technologies should both, environment and person friendly to adapt the environment to support identified needs, choice, and control.[3]

Some pictures of assistive technologies for self care added below for better understanding of the concept,

With the universal design movement have revolutionary impact on assistive technologies for self care. Now a days the customised assistive devices available in local departmental stores and online stores. It helps to maintaining, increasing and delay in declining the everyday functions of a person with disabilities. [3]

Talking clocks may helps to the person with dementia and person with visual impairment to do their daily activities timely. A medication dispenser with alarm may help to take medication on time for person with dementia. Large variety of mobile app also helping person with with visual impairment by providing visual cues and screen reader facilities.[3]
For improve the functional independence at bathroom assistive technologies play pivotal role. The common types of assistive technologies at bathroom are grab bar or hand rail, toilet arm support, height adjustable toilet, shower stall, bath seat, bath transfer bench, etc. The home adaptation should be consider during the planning process of building a home to integrate the assistive technologies to improve the self care. [4]

Cost Barriers[edit | edit source]

Access to assistive technologies have lots of challenges and barriers. Among them the expenses considered as one of the primary barrier. Although the need is growing day by day for self-care and environmental products the cost affordability is not available for every places equally. Still a large number of people with disabilities unable to have them. No social financing system in place for the purchasing self care related assistive technologies. Few developed countries started to implementing some initiatives. For example, the United States, a national network of alternative financing programs offers a consumer-directed program and a range of alternative financing strategies to increase access to funding for these products and other technologies; Canada and Sweden have implemented delivery systems that offer more extensive access to these products as part of integrated community living plans.[3]

It may also possible to reduce the cost barriers by resource mobilisation for assistive technologies for self-care.

References [edit | edit source]

  1. Blair ME. Stephen Hawking as an accidental ambassador for assistive technologies. The Conversation. 2018 [cited 2024 Feb 18].
  2. Martinez N, Connelly C, Perez A, Calero P. Self-care: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Sciences. 2021 Oct 10;8(4):418–25.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Hammel J. Aids for activities of daily living. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2023.
  4. De-Rosende-Celeiro I, Torres G, Seoane-Bouzas M, Ávila A. Exploring the use of assistive products to promote functional independence in self-care activities in the bathroom. Moody EJ, editor. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2019 Apr 8;14(4).