ERIC Number: EJ987391
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1043-7797
EISSN: N/A
Technology and Web-Based Support
Smith, Carol
Journal of Social Work Education, v44 suppl 3 p75-82 Fall 2008
Many types of technology support caregiving: (1) Assistive devices include medicine dispensers, feeding and bathing machines, clothing with polypropylene fibers that stimulate muscles, intelligent ambulatory walkers for those with both vision and mobility impairment, medication reminders, and safety alarms; (2) Telecare devices ranging from ordinary telephones to picture phones. Electronic stethoscopes, glucometers, respirometers, pulse oximeters, and vital sign sensors are among the available telemonitoring devices; (3) Computer-based services include read-only Internet information, software for cognitive improvement exercises, caregiving decision-making support driven by artificial intelligence, and Web-camera conferences that connect family members in different locations; (4) "Smart" homes with sensors identify patterns in daily activities, provide caregiving prompts to administer medications, and send an alert to a monitoring party if a problem such as wandering is detected; (5) Robotic assistants follow older adults to guide them to specific locations in the home and connect electronically to health care professionals, improve orientation by playing recordings of the date and time and of daily activities, and offer social and mental stimulation; and (6) Caregivers with no technologic experience can use such devices and services. Public demand is high for telemonitoring systems, which are sold by unlicensed and unregulated private manufacturers. This article discusses some of these types of technology and briefly describes several Web-based support programs for caregivers.
Descriptors: Disabilities, Assistive Technology, Caregivers, Accessibility (for Disabled), Computer Uses in Education, Technology Uses in Education, Caseworker Approach, Technical Support, Computer Software Reviews, Evidence, Ethics, Research Needs, Health Services, Social Services, Delivery Systems
Council on Social Work Education. 1725 Duke Street Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 703-683-8080; Fax: 703-683-8099; e-mail: info@cswe.org; Web site: http://www.cswe.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A