Miami University, Ohio
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Crossing the digital divide : family caregivers' acceptance of technology
Get PDFThe purpose of this pilot project was to collect data on how electronic technology might be used to assist family members who are caring for a relative with dementia at home. In Phase 1, we conducted five focus groups with 26 caregivers of relatives with dementia to document the specific challenges faced by caregivers and assess their access to, and familiarity with, electronic technology. In Phase 2, a technology-based solution B the Xanboo Smart House Management System B was identified. The System allows monitoring of a residence through placement and control of video cameras and other enabled devices, including sensors that detect motion, the presence of water, or noise. Sensors may be set to provide a caregiver or other interested party with immediate notification by e-mail, pager, or text messaging cell phone. In Phase 3, a household was outfitted with The System and two focus groups comprised of 8 caregivers to relatives with dementia were conducted to evaluate its utility. The report concludes with an annotated bibliography on technology and aging, with special focus on caring for a relative with dementia.
Key Findings:
Caregivers and the relatives for whom they provide care are in an evolving struggle to maintain continuity of roles, relationships, and lifestyles. Challenges include the safety of the individual with dementia and keeping geographically distant family members aware of their relative s condition.
Caregivers used a range of technologies in their day-to-day lives, including low- tech solutions to challenges in caregiving. Caregivers felt strongly that technological solutions were neither appropriate nor useful across all situations, and were cognizant of the inherent trade-off between safety on the one hand and dignity, respect, privacy, and desires for independence and autonomy on the other hand.
Caregivers do not aspire to become technology whizzes ; rather, they are interested in easily obtained, affordable, easy to use, solutions to some of the challenges they face.
An affordable, easy to use, off the shelf, monitoring system (The System) was identified.
Caregivers attitudes regarding The System were generally quite positive. When prompted to identify barriers to using The System, caregivers identified the need for a computer and Internet access, and cost.
Conclusions:
The results from this pilot project suggest that there are affordable technologies that can assist family members in their efforts to care for relatives with dementia at home, and that these caregivers were amenable to the use of these technologies. Future efforts should evaluate the installation, use, and impact of The System in the homes of family caregivers to relatives with dementia
PASSPORT Quality Assurance and Quality Management
Get PDFThis report addresses findings related to the quality standards of the PASSPORT program. Although all evaluation components address aspects of quality assurance and improvement, this study addressed issues regarding the safety and welfare of program participants and the congruence of the PASSPORT program with the CMS Home and Community-Based Service Quality Framework. Findings show that there are numerous structures and processes in place to safeguard program participants. In addition, a strong consumer focus and the development of the Quality Management Improvement System show significant strides toward the CMS Quality Framework
PASSPORT cost neutrality
Get PDFThis report explores the costs of caring for a person age 60 and older in the community (through PASSPORT) versus caring for a person age 60 and older in a nursing home. Medicaid costs and all other public program costs are taken into consideration in this study