Improving health and safety for elderly people through an ethic-of-appreciation

• IntroductionThis paper uses data from My Health @ Age (2008-2010), an EU, Northern Periphery funded project. Its aim is to offer the rapidly ageing population in the northern periphery regions of Europe, improved health, safety and well-being through the use of new services and new mobile ICT products. The project methodology is informed by the values and processes of Participatory Design, Form-IT and appreciative action research. The project's aim and its approach raise a fundamental ethical question, namely, ' In what ways do ICT solutions for improving the quality of life for older people (over 65 years) in the northern periphery regions, have an ethical dimension?MethodsOur developing ethical awareness uses data from focus group meetings and storyboarding activities conducted with a group of 20 elderly persons, with/with out functional limitations, in Norrbotten, Sweden. Using conversational analysis, thematic elucidation, semiotic and iconographic analysis, we present our efforts to do the 'right thing' and the 'best thing' to enhance the well-being of elderly people.ResultsThis paper illustrates ethical conflicts and dilemmas associated with trying to balance user needs ( e.g. elderly people, health care professionals) with technological (product) design requirements and commercial or market opportunities. Four ethical themes have emerged which, collectively, form an etic-of-appreciation. They are the need to clearly demonstrate an;* Ethic of respect: Where the lived experiences of older people are actively listened to.*Ethic of empowerment: Where older people feel they have a voice in descisions about their well-being.* Ethic of critique: Where power differentials that often constrain and marginalise older adults, are confronted.* Ethic of concern: Where ICT solutions enable older people to feel dignified and treated with kindness.ConclusionICT and ethics need to be creatively synthesised into an ethic-of-appreciation. This is imperative for projects based on participatory design principles.ReferencesGhaye, T., Melander Wikman, A., Kisare, M., Chambers, P., Bergmark, U., Kostenius, C. and Lillyman, S. (2008) Participatory and appreciative action and reflection (PAAR) - democratizing reflective practices. Reflective Practice, 9(4) 361-397Melander Wikman, A., Jansson, M. & Ghaye, T. (2006) Reflections on an appreciative approach to empowering elderly people in home healthcare. Reflective Practice, 7; 4:423-443

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Systemvetenskap, informationssystem och informatik med samhällsvetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Information Systems, Social aspects (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Sjukgymnastik

Physiotherapy

Social Informatics

Informatik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)