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- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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A theoretical framework for assessing the impact of ICT-based interventions for carers
- 2012
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Ingår i: Gerontechnology. - 1569-1101 .- 1569-111X. ; 11:2, s. 393-393
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose Initiatives using information and communication technologies (ICTs) as support for carers of dependent older people are reported since the early 1990s, mainly in form of phone services, computer networks, and video respite. Although the role of ICTs in home care gained increasing relevance in the last decades – for instance in the areas of social integration, care coordination and ambient assisted living (AAL) – few attempts have been made to systematically understand the potentialities of such technologies, overcoming single technology or intervention domains. In this respect, the issues of terminology ambiguity and lack of comparability represented major barriers, so that most of evaluation studies in this area led to mixed and/or inconclusive results. Drawing on the findings of the CARICT-project, this paper discusses the development of a theoretical and conceptual framework to assess the impact ofI CT-based interventions for carers. Method Literature review and a mapping exercise of 52 ICT-based initiatives for carers in 8 countries. Results & Discussion We will provide the results of a mapping exercise of 52 case studies, showing the diversity of existing good practices across Europe and carrying out a review of available impact assessment of these initiatives from a social ecological perspective (at micro-, meso- and macro-level). Subsewquently, we will discuss a theoretical and conceptual framework that is built on the basis of available evidence, leading toa proper classification of ICT-based interventions in relation to types of interactions between actors they support: an attempt is made to group the solutions in coherent and comprehensive classes, with related implications for impact assessments and comparative analysis. Main classes include: alarms, home automation, auto-communication, meta-services, information and training, cognitive stimulations and mental exercises, support group sessions, individual care and support services, and social participation tools. Finally, recommendations for future research in the field are formulated with regard to the assessment and comparability of these services, as well as to the testing and development of new solutions.
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| 2. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Alcuni profili dell’assistenza nelle regioni
- 2013
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Ingår i: L'assistenza agli anziani non autosufficienti in Italia. - Rimini : Maggioli Editore. - 8838735646 ; , s. 29-43
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)
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| 3. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing the Impact of ICT-based Solutions for Carers in Europe : Preliminary Findings from the CARICT Project
- 2012
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Ingår i: Conference “Challenge Social Innovation: Innovating innovation by research – 100 years after Schumpeter”. - : ZSI.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Some evidence suggests that information and communication technologies (ICT) can be an efficient mean to improve not only the quality of care provided to dependent older people but also the support for informal carers and privately employed care workers. However, there is a lack of research on ICT-based initiatives and their impact on carers in the European context. Moving from the preliminary findings of the CARICTproject, the paper discusses the first attempt that has been made in Europe to assess the impact of ICTbased initiatives for carers. First, an overview of the developed methodological framework is presented: it includes both a conceptual framework and an impact assessment methodology (IAM) for evaluating multidimensional outcome. Furthermore, an overview of ICT-based solutions in Europe is provided through the analysis of 52 operational initiatives and selected as good practices. Finally, some recommendations and guidelines for further research in the field are discussed.
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| 6. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of ICT-based interventions on family caregivers : A cross-analysis of 54 good practices in Europe
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. - 1279-7707 .- 1760-4788. ; 17:Supplement, June/July, s. S447-S447
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have gained an increasing relevance for delivering innovative care and support services for dependent older people and their family caregivers. Although ICT-based interventions can vary remarkably in terms of functions, target users, operational aspects and technologies used, little knowledge is available concerning their implementationand impact in Europe, a gap that the CARICT project (http://is.jrc.es/pages/EAP/eInclusion/carers.html) has tried to fill.Method: 54 ICT-based interventions addressing needs of older peopleor their family caregivers have been identified in 12 European countries through internet search, literature review and expert interviews. Reports have been delivered for each case studied, and cross-analysed to better understand their potential impact at micro, meso and macro level.Results: Little evidence was found for positive outcomes at micro-level, including improvements in users’ health relatedquality of life and social inclusion. At meso-level, implementation of 1st/2nd generation telecare contributes to reduce hospitalization and institutionalization rates of older users, as well asto cost savings for local care providers. At macro-level, only one intervention shows concrete effects on a larger scale through a targeted program evaluation, while most ICT-based interventions do not useany tool to assess their impact, and can thus demonstrate only technology acceptance or users’ satisfaction.Conclusion: The lack of relevant evidence at all levels, as well as difficulties in comparing and generalising results, strongly urge practitioners to improve impact assessment methodologies and researchers to develop a better general framework of ICT potentials at a conceptual, theoretical and methodological level in this area.
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| 7. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Increasing inclusion and participation of the young-old and the old-old
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. - 1279-7707 .- 1760-4788. ; 17:Supplement, June/July, s. S132-S132
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: While healthy ageing represents a pre-condition for older people to enjoy a longer and disability-free life span, quality of life in older age is dependent also upon society’s ability to grant individuals social protection, as well as to promote their active participation in the community until the very end of life. These issues constitute a challenge for current and future research on ageing.Method: A 2-year consultation process with over 70 international experts was conducted within the FUTURAGE work-stream focussedon social and economic resources in ageing research. This process allowed a comprehensive discussion on most relevant social participation and protection issues involving scientists, users’ organisations, policy makers and other stakeholders, which led to a set of specific research priorities.Results: The main challenges identified for future ageing research concerning social participation are: ageism; migration; life-long learning; digital divide; spirituality; volunteering; mobility and accessibility; discrimination in the labour market; consumption and access to products and services; and work-life balance. As for social protection, the following core issues have been spotted: sustainability; support to informal carers (also through ICT-based services); efficiency; access to care; cost-effectiveness and quality of interventions; initiatives to improve intergenerational solidarity.Conclusion: Societal challenges related to social participation and sustainability of social protection systems clearly urge new actions in research, practices and policy on ageing. In particular, the identification of over-arching issues, barriers and enablers contributes to strengthen scientific research in the field, as well as to support policy makers in improving social life and quality of life of older people.
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| 9. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Opportunities and challenges of migrant work in the Italian long-term care system
- 2013
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Ingår i: The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. - 1279-7707 .- 1760-4788. ; 17:Supplement, Juny/july, s. S133-S133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Italy is one of the most aged countries in the world, with a longstanding tradition of family care of the dependent elderly. Inrecent times, however, Italy has been witnessing in-depth social and cultural changes, which have been negatively impacting on informal care provision. In addition, the public long-term care (LTC) system highly relies on cash-for-care schemes for supporting older people, whereas “formal” care services are characterised by weak coverage and intensity. This situation has led to a remarkable increase in theprivate employment of migrant care workers (MCWs), whose number increased by four times in the last two decades.Method: An overview of MCWs phenomenon in Italy is provided through the analysis of empirical data retrieved by available official sources at national level, as well as by results from own surveys conducted in recent years on large samples of MCWs.Results: The following opportunities and challenges concerning MCWs’ employment in the LTC sector were identified: improve MCW’s capacity to deliver quality care; reduce therisk of elder abuse and neglect and of meeting MCWs’ own care needs; increase their social integration in destination countries and reduce “care drain” in sending countries; and how to improve stakeholders’ involvement for a better exchange of good practices and more effective policy measures.Conclusion: In these years, privately employed MCWs have contributed to change the traditional Italian “family care model” into a new “migrant-in-the-family care model”. However, the issue concerning the sustainability of this model within the Italian LTC system in the future is still open.
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| 10. |
- Barbabella, Francesco, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Personnes âgées dépendantes : la technologie au service desproches soignants
- 2013
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Ingår i: Securité Sociale - CHSS. - 1420-2689. ; 6, s. 325-328
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Si la Suisse dispose d’un réseau bien organisé de structures de soins professionnelles, elle manque en revanche toujours de services d’assistance aux proches soignants. Les technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC), connues pour leur souplesse et leur disponibilité, pourraient contribuer à combler cette lacune, puisqu’elles apportentde nouvelles réponses aux besoins des usagers. Toutefois, pour que leur potentiel et leur efficacité puissent être pleinement compris, il faut que les recherches se poursuivent, comme le montre une étude européenne récente.
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