| 1. |
- Astell, A. J., et al.
(författare)
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INLIFE - Independent Living Support Functions for the Elderly: Technology and Pilot Overview
- 2018
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Ingår i: INTELLIGENT ENVIRONMENTS 2018. - 9781614998747 - 9781614998730 ; , s. 526-535
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this paper, we present the European H2020 project INLIFE (INdependent LIving support Functions for the Elderly). The project brought together 20 partners from nine countries with the goal of integrating into a common ICT platform a range of technologies intended to assist community-dwelling older people with cognitive impairment. The majority of technologies existed prior to INLIFE and a key goal was to bring them together in one place along with a number of new applications to provide a comprehensive set of services. The range of INLIFE services fell into four broad areas: Independent Living Support, Travel Support, Socialization and Communication Support and Caregiver Support. These included security applications, services to facilitate interactions with formal and informal caregivers, multilingual conversation support, web-based physical exercises, teleconsultations, and support for transport navigation. In total, over 2900 people participated in the project; they included elderly adults with cognitive impairment, informal caregivers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders. The aim of the study was to assess whether there was improvement/stabilization of cognitive/emotional/physical functioning, as well as overall well-being and quality of life of those using the INLIFE services, and to assess user acceptance of the platform and individual services. The results confirm there is a huge interest and appetite for technological services to support older adults living with cognitive impairment in the community. Different services attracted different amounts of use and evaluation with some proving extremely popular while others less so. The findings provide useful information on the ways in which older adults and their families, health and social care services and other stakeholders wish to access technological services, what sort of services they are seeking, what sort of support they need to access services, and how these services might be funded.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Derbring, Sandra, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of a digital reminiscing intervention on people with dementia and their care-givers and relatives
- 2023
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Ingår i: Ageing & Society. - 0144-686X .- 1469-1779. ; 43:9, s. 1983-2000
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dementia is a source of growing concern globally, and often impacts on social and communicative functioning. INdependent LIving Support Functions for the Elderly (IN LIFE) was a project carried out within the European Commission Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 that resulted in the development of two digital communication aids for reminiscence intervention for elderly people with dementia and their communication partners. The purpose of this intervention study was to investigate the effects on quality of life for people with dementia when using these aids. People with dementia (N = 118) and their formal care-givers (N = 187) and relatives (N = 9) were given the communication aids for a period of 4–12 weeks. To assess a range of outcomes, questionnaires developed within the project were used along with the EQ-5D (European Quality of Life – 5 Dimensions) and QoL-AD (Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease) questionnaires. Quality of life improved among people with dementia when measured using EQ-5D (p < 0.05). There was also a correlation between the impact on the participants’ health and wellbeing, the carers’ rating of the usefulness of the digital communication aids and the care-givers’ satisfaction with using technology (p < 0.05). These results indicate that digital communication aids may be useful in social interaction where one partner has dementia.
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| 4. |
- Astell, A. J., et al.
(författare)
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Developing a pragmatic evaluation of ICTs for older adults with cognitive impairment at scale: the IN LIFE experience
- 2021
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Ingår i: Universal Access in the Information Society. - Heidelberg, Germany : Springer. - 1615-5289 .- 1615-5297.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Implementing information and communications technology (ICT) at scale requires evaluation processes to capture the impact on users as well as the infrastructure into which it is being introduced. For older adults living with cognitive impairment, this requires evaluation that can accommodate different levels of cognitive impairment, alongside input from family and formal caregivers, plus stakeholder organisations. The European Horizon 2020 project INdependent LIving support Functions for the Elderly (IN LIFE) set out to integrate 17 technologies into a single digital platform for older people living with cognitive impairment plus their families, care providers and stakeholders. The IN LIFE evaluation took place across six national pilot sites to examine a number of variables including impact on the users, user acceptance of the individual services and the overall platform, plus the economic case for the IN LIFE platform. The results confirmed the interest and need among older adults, family caregivers, formal caregivers and stakeholders, for information and communications technology (ICT). Relative to the baseline, quality of life improved and cognition stabilised; however, there was an overall reluctance to pay for the platform. The findings provide insights into existing barriers and challenges for adoption of ICT for older people living with cognitive impairment.
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| 5. |
- Buchholz, Margret, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Digital Communication and Social Media for People with Communicative and Cognitive Disabilities
- 2019
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Ingår i: Everyday Technologies in Healthcare. - Boca Raton : CRC Press. - 9781351032186 ; , s. 193-211
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Remote communication means communication between people who are not physically in the same place. For instance, using everyday technology like smartphones, tablets and computers, including services for calls (e.g. WhatsApp), messaging (e.g. Messenger), video calls (e.g. Skype) and social media are common means of communication in contemporary society (Statista, 2018; Zhou, 2017). Communication through digital channels is increasing as a required means of communication for interactions for daily activities, like contact with healthcare, insurance or banks and, therefore, has become a prerequisite for participation in society. Remote communication is used for social interactions with friends and groups and finding or signing up to participate in leisure activities that are commonly advertised through social media. It is also used to book activities, like haircuts, restaurant reservations or sport club sessions. Citizens are expected to have access to the Internet and digital devices for taking care of one’s health by booking healthcare appointments, handling medication prescriptions and having contact with healthcare insurance providers. E-health is a relatively recent healthcare practice supported by electronic communication, and it is developing rapidly (WHO, 2018). Physical, more old-fashioned means (e.g. tellers and reception desks) of contact are being shut down, making access to remote communication a must in order to handle essential daily life activities.
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| 6. |
- Buchholz, Margret, 1968
(författare)
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Let’s stay in touch! Remote communication for people with communicative and cognitive disabilities
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Being able to use remote communication through digital channels is a prerequisite for participation in contemporary society, but some people have difficulties in accessing it. Aim: The overall aim was to explore and describe remote communication for people with communicative and cognitive disabilities. This thesis explored remote communication in relation to self-determination and participation from users’, professionals’ and support persons’ perspectives. Methods: This thesis is based on four studies: three qualitative (I, III, IV) and a mixed method (II). For study I, semi-structured interviews were used, and they were analysed by content analysis. In study II, semi-structured interviews were combined with Talking Mats, a pictorial communication tool, where qualitative data for systematic text condensation and ordinal scale data were obtained. Study III and IV’s focus groups were analysed by focus group analysis. Results: In study I, professionals described how text messaging with both pictures and speech could increase independence and participation, and how individual assessments and user-friendly technology were important. For study II, people with communicative and cognitive disabilities described how remote communication related to self-determination. Having a choice between types of remote communication and levels of independence was important, and technological limitations forced them to find their own strategies to communicate. Support persons discussed how remote communication enabled users to have more control and feel safer while increasing self-determination and participation for study III. The results suggest communicative rights were not met, and there was a need for better provisions of technology and support. In the final study, support persons discussed what enhanced and hindered remote communication. Conclusion: This thesis contributes to the understanding of how people with communication difficulties need access to remote communication to have control, be self-determined and participate in society. It provides knowledge on the needed improvements for access, support and development to improve remote communication use.
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| 7. |
- Buchholz, Margret, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Remote communication for people with disabilities: Support persons’ views on benefits, challenges, and suggestions for technology development
- 2020
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Ingår i: Technology and Disability. - 1055-4181 .- 1878-643X. ; 32:2, s. 69-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Being able to communicate through digital channels is a prerequisite for participation in contemporary society. People with communicative and cognitive disabilities (CCDs) face challenges in this area, thus often being excluded from participating fully in society. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study focuses on aspects of technology that facilitate or impede remote communication in people with CCDs. METHODS: Support persons for people with CCDs (N= 21) participated in five focus groups to discuss this topic. RESULTS: Data analysis yielded two themes: using standard technology and using assistive technology. Each theme encompasses categories describing aspects and functions of technology that facilitated or impeded remote communication. The support persons felt that standard and assistive technology needed possibilities for personalization for ease and accessibility. There is a need for increased compatibility between assistive and standard technology and between platforms. Remote communication technology must be made more accessible and easier to use for both people with CCDs and those in their networks. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides an overview and illustrative examples of how technology can enhance or hinder remote communication. We offer suggestions on how technology can be developed to meet the specific needs of people with CCDs and simplify remote communication for them.
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| 8. |
- Buchholz, Margret, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Support persons’ views on remote communication and social media for people with communicative and cognitive disabilities
- 2020
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Ingår i: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 42:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2018, © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore support persons’ views on remote communication for persons with communicative and cognitive disabilities, and on factors enabling self-determination and participation. Materials and methods: Five focus groups with 21 support persons were conducted. They were recorded and transcribed and data were analyzed qualitatively using focus group analysis methodology. Results: The participants experience how remote communication can enable users to have increased control in their lives and how remote communication can enable self-determination and participation. Access to remote communication has a dual effect on safety. There are experiences about communicative rights of the users not being met and there is a need for better access to technology, information, and experts. There is also a need for more competence and coordination among staff and support to the users. Challenges emerge in the support persons’ dedication to the users’ right to communicate. Conclusion: People with communicative and cognitive disabilities need access to remote communication in order to have control over their own lives and to achieve self-determination and participation in society. Support persons carry a large responsibility and can provide valuable insights of users’ communication situation.Implications for rehabilitation Remote communication is important for safety; it is necessary to be able to call for help independently. To ensure the communicative rights of people with communicative and cognitive difficulties, professionals must provide assessments of standard technology or assistive technology for remote communication. There is a need for more support to and education of staff from the professions. The users themselves are also in need of long-term support. Support persons face ethical dilemmas regarding user safety on social media and internet and need guidelines and support.
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| 9. |
- Buchholz, Margret, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Text messaging with pictures and speech synthesis for adolescents and adults with cognitive and communicative disabilities – professionals’ views about user satisfaction and participation.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Technology and Disability. - 1055-4181 .- 1878-643X. ; 25:2, s. 87-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Complex communication needs and problems with accessibility may restrict people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate on the phone. New technology is promising. People with limited skills in reading and writing can communicate on the phone by using symbols representing words or phrases. METHODS: This interview study examines professionals' views of satisfaction, participation and involvement in daily life in seven individuals with cognitive and communicative disabilities who tried text messaging with picture symbols and speech synthesis in smartphones. The users' experiences of text-messaging are reported elsewhere. RESULTS: The results suggest that texting with picture symbols and speech can increase independence and participation in adults with cognitive and communicative disabilities. Results also point to the necessity of individual assessments. Important factors for user satisfaction include products which can be adapted according to the individual's needs. Speech synthesis, user friendly lay-out and functions making devices easy to handle are necessary. CONCLUSIONS: This study is promising and informative for professionals working with communication technology. It supports enabling of texting today as well as future development of smartphone applications for persons with cognitive and communicative disabilities.
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| 10. |
- Buchholz, Margret, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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"That is how I speak nowadays" - experiences of remote communication among persons with communicative and cognitive disabilities.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Disability and rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1464-5165 .- 0963-8288. ; 40:12, s. 1468-1479
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of remote communication (i.e., communication between persons who are not in the same place) among people with communicative and cognitive disabilities.Eleven adolescents and adults were interviewed using Talking Mats and interview data was analyzed qualitatively with systematic text condensation.The use of remote communication varies between the participants. The participants also value remote communication differently. Having the possibility to choose between different means of remote communication is important. Being able to determine whether to communicate independently or with support from another person is also valued as relevant. Strategies used to manage remote communication include facilitating for the communication partner and preparing for future communication situations. Those who are able to use writing as an alternative to problematic spoken remote communication like phone calls, for example by using chat or text messaging. Decisions regarding means of communication and human support relate to the concept of self-determination.Better access to remote communication trough assistive technology such as speech synthesis and picture symbols would make remote communication easier and facilitate participation for people with communicative and cognitive disabilities. Implications for rehabilitation People with communicative and cognitive disabilities face challenges with access to remote communication. Access to communication technology including remote communication is important for self-determination, for personal safety and for overall participation in society. Communication technology should be considered in the rehabilitation process and training is crucial. To understand the possible benefits of remote communication, people with communicative and cognitive disability need to get the possibility to practice. Professionals play a key role in the assessment and intervention of remote communication for their patients.
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