Assistive Technology

Jizza Z. Bultron
PPS Number: 1399184LA

Introduction
Assistive or Adaptive Technology commonly refers to "...products,
devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or
customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities..."
Assistive devices can enable people with disabilities to accomplish
daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or
recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independence
and enhance their quality of life. These devices can help improve physical
or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help prevent
the worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness,
and help improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a missing
limb (Rehabtool.com, 2004).
Put simply, assistive technology is any aid that can assist the frailest
and vulnerable members of our society to live safely and live well at home
or in a care home environment.
According to the Social Care for Excellences Assistive Technology
for Older People (2011) research briefing, some of the key benefits of
assistive technology include:

Increased choice, safety, independence and sense of control;

Improved quality of life;
Maintenance of ability to remain at home;
Reduced burden placed on care providers (the staff);
Improved support for people with long-term health conditions; and
Reduced accidents and falls in the home.

When considering the use of technology to help with care, the personal
needs and choices of the individual are critical. It is no use trying to mold
an individual to fit in with a certain technology. The proposed technology
must be able to support and suit the individual and their unique situation.
Keep in mind that individuals will react differently to the various types of
assistive technology.
Therefore, prior to the implementation of any new technology, the staff
may start by asking the following two questions:
1. Can the technology enable the person, or care provider to do
something that would not be possible without it?
2. Can the technology complement the care and support already being
provided by care provider in certain situations?
If the answer is yes, it is likely the proposed assistive technology
would have a positive impact on the quality of a persons life and in the
efficiency of the caring staff (iCareHealth, 2014).

Lifts and Hoists

This is an assistive device that allows patients in hospitals and nursing
homes and those receiving home health care to be transferred between a
bed and a chair wheelchair, to a commode or other similar resting places,
using hydraulic power. Economical manual-hydraulic lifts are easy to use
and provide the basic functions for the staff to safely transfer a patient
(Preferred Health Choice, 2014).

Sling Lifts The term sling lift is also known as Hoyer Lift. Sling lifts
are used for patients whose mobility is limited. They could be mobile
(or floor) lifts or overhead lifts (suspended from ceiling-mounted or
overhead tracks).

Sit-to-Stand Lifts The sit-to-stand lift is designed to help patients

with some mobility but who lack the strength or muscle control to
rise to a standing position from a bed, wheelchair, chair, or
commode. They use straps, vests, or belts (as opposed to slings) to
make the transition possible.

Mobility Aids
The word mobility is defined by the English Oxford dictionary as the
ability to move or be moved freely and easily. So, a mobility aid, in
general is used to give the user the ability to move more freely and easily
than they can without it if he or she is disabled or have an injury. Choosing
these devices takes time and research. If they fit, these devices give
support, but if they don't fit, they can be uncomfortable and unsafe.
Traditionally the phrase mobility aid has applied mainly to low technology
mechanical devices. Technical advances can be expected to increase the
scope of these devices considerably, for example by use of sensors and
audio or tactile feedback (MedlinePlus, 2013).
Examples:

Wheelchairs A wheelchair is a chair with fitted with wheels. The

device comes in variations where it is may be either manually
propelled by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hander
or electrically propelled by motors. Often there are handles behind
the seat for someone else to do the pushing. Wheelchairs are used
by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness,
injury, or disability.

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

legs to the upper body. It is often used for people who cannot use
their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from shortterm injuries to lifelong disabilities. Several different gait patterns

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

There are several types of crutches:

1. Forearm: A type of crutch with a cuff at the top to go around the
forearm, also known as the Lofstrand crutch. Forearm crutch is used
by inserting the arm into a cuff and holding the grip. The cuff,
typically made of plastic or metal, can be a half-circle or a full circle
with a V-type opening in the front allowing the forearm to slip out in
case of a fall.
2. Underarm or axilla crutch: It is used by placing the pad against the
ribcage beneath the armpit and holding the grip, which is below and
parallel to the pad.
3. Platform: These are less common and used by those with poor hand
grip due to arthritis, cerebral palsy, or other conditions. The arm
rests on a horizontal platform and is strapped in place. The hand
rests on a grip which, if properly designed, can be angled
appropriately depending on the user's disability.
4. Leg Support: These non-traditional crutches are useful for users with
an injury or disability affecting one lower leg only. They function by
strapping the affected leg into a support frame that simultaneously
holds the lower leg clear of the ground while transferring the load
from the ground to the user's knee or thigh. This style of crutch has
the advantage of not using the hands or arms while walking. A
claimed benefit is that upper thigh atrophy is also reduced because
the affected leg remains in use. Unlike other crutch designs these
designs are unusable for pelvic, hip or thigh injuries and in some
cases for knee injuries also.

Incontinence Aids
Incontinence aids are used as a precaution against urinary
incontinence. Urinary (or bladder) incontinence happens when a person is
not able to keep urine from leaking out of the urethra, the tube that
carries urine out of the body from the bladder. Incontinence aids are
usually placed in an undergarment or on a bed or chair under a person.
Incontinence aids can either be reusable and laundered to re-use many
times, or disposable. They are also sometimes used (incorrectly) as a
patient-transfer device. Incontinence aids are manufactured in light and
heavy grades which offer a range of absorbencies, often referred to as a
working capacity - the true absorbency an incontinence aid offers when in
use (NHS, 2015).

Absorbent Pads Absorbent pads are the most popular

incontinence aids. They use the same technology as nappies and
have a hydrophobic layer which draws urine away from the surface
of the pad, so the skin stays dry. It is for a temporary measure that
can really improve the quality of life and save an individual from
being housebound or spending all the time in the toilet.

Washable Bed Pads Washable 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 can
be useful for trips away from home. It is used due to serious leakage
problems.

Personal Care Aids

Personal care aids are the solutions to challenges with activities and
functions that aging individuals used to take for granted. Also known as
self-help devices, these are the aids that assist persons with disabilities in
daily living activities such as dressing, personal hygiene, bathing, home
maintenance, cooking, eating, etc. However, it does not generally include
architectural/home adaptations or modifications (Tom, 2014).

Reacher 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 or
low or in a tight space. It is for grabbing heavy or large items or for
individuals that have arthritis or are recovering from a stroke.

Rubber Doorknob Grips Rubber doorknob grips added to the

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

Communication Aids
A communication aid helps a person with severe difficulties in
speaking or writing to communicate more effectively with those around
them. Communication aids come in many shapes and sizes. Most need to
be customized to match the physical, intellectual and social needs of the
individual. This includes personalizing the vocabulary and content and
considering issues such as how the person will carry the aid, point to
items, and update and maintain the aid (Scope, 2014). These aids greatly
help in the communication between the patients and the care providers
since clear communication is one of essentials in effective and safe care.

There are four different types of communication aids:

1. Comprehensive Expressive Aids: These aids aim to meet most of a
persons communication needs throughout their day. They include
alphabet boards and communication boards and books, with a wide
range of messages represented by letters, words, photos and/or
symbols.
2. Targeted Expressive Aids: These aids are designed for specific
situations when limited message sets are needed, such as
community request cards, or object symbols to allow a person to
make basic requests.
3. Visual Supports: Visual supports assist a person to make sense of
their day, remember events, or help with the completion of tasks.
Many people with complex communication needs have difficulty
with memory and understanding abstract information. Examples of
visual supports are picture or object calendars, picture shopping
lists, and picture social stories.
4. Supports for Communication Partners: These provide details about
an individual with complex communication needs, his/her means of
communication, and other routine related information that assist a
communication partner to consistently support this person
throughout the day. Examples are a Book About Me, Personal
Communication Dictionary or Personal History.
Examples:

Alphabet Board An alphabet board may be suitable for people

who have literacy skills. It can be designed specifically to suit the
persons needs example: using either an ABC or QWERTY format
with direct access or partner-assisted auditory scanning. A non-tech
option such as this is also helpful as a backup for those people who
may have an existing electronic communication device.

Electronic Communication Devices Overlays Overlays are

required by people who use some electronic communication
devices. These devices have speech and/or print output and many
need an object, photo, picture or word based overlays that
communication partners can change for the individual when
required. Standardized overlays can be developed to fit any device
foe any activity.

Conclusion
Assistive technology can enable people with disabilities or the
elderly 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 their
quality of life.

These assistive devices can help improve physical or mental

functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help prevent the
worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness, and
help improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a missing body
parts.
However, most importantly, when considering the use of technology to
help with care, the personal needs and choices of the individual are
critical. The proposed technology must be able to support and suit the
individual and their unique situation. In essence, keep in mind that
individuals will react differently to the various types of assistive
technology. These technologies must be personalized to fit each
individuals needs.

Bibliography
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MedlinePlus. (2013) Mobility Aids. [Online] Available from:
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[Accessed: 25th January 2015].
NHS Choices. (2015) Incontinence products. [Online] Available from:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/incontinence/Pages/Incontinenceproducts.aspxI
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Preferred Health Choice. (2014) Patient Lifting Devices: Lifts & Lift Slings.
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[Accessed: 25th January 2015].
Scope. (2014) Communication Aids. [Online] Available from:
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Tom, J. (2014) Daily Living Aids. [Online] Available from:
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