ABSTRACT The UK population is ageing. At the time of the 2001 census there were 8.1 million peopl... more ABSTRACT The UK population is ageing. At the time of the 2001 census there were 8.1 million people aged over 65 living in the UK, 3.1 million of them living alone. By 2011 the number of over 65s is projected to reach just under 12 million, and by 2026 over 13 million [1]. The extra workload this will place on health and care services will be compounded by political ambitions aimed at meeting the challenges of rising patient expectations [2]. In addition to this, the Department of Health aims to promote the independence of older people by providing enhanced services from the National Health Service (NHS) and councils to prevent unnecessary hospital admission [3]. As a result we can expect to see a continuing rise in the number of elderly people living at home and requiring good-quality health and social care services.
Challenges of User-Centred Research in the Development of Ambient Assisted Living Systems
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2012
ABSTRACT The SOPRANO (Service-oriented programmable smart environments for Older Europeans) proje... more ABSTRACT The SOPRANO (Service-oriented programmable smart environments for Older Europeans) project was an EU-funded project to develop an ambient assisted living (AAL) system to enhance the lives of frail and disabled older people. A major aim of the project was to shift away from ‘technology-push' and ‘problem-focused' approaches to user-driven approaches and map out an AAL system that will provide practical benefits for users in their everyday lives. The SOPRANO project involved users at all stages in the iterative development of an AAL system. This paper presents the main findings from the study, reflects on the key challenges in adopting a user-centred approach, and identifies some of the barriers to the widespread implementation of AAL systems within the spectrum of care for older people.
To support an aging population there has been a move towards developing surveillance technologies... more To support an aging population there has been a move towards developing surveillance technologies that observe the movements, behaviours and health status of older people. These technologies are meant to support health and independence within the context of limited resources. Although there have been studies about the development of new devices and systems, there has been less research examining the impact of surveillance technologies that monitor those residing and working in care facilities. This paper reports the findings from a qualitative study of a residential care facility that instituted video surveillance. The findings revealed how surveillance was used as a care management tool-to provide access to real-time data, to preserve the safety of older people and to monitor the working practices of formal carers. However, there may also be some unintended consequences of the implementation of video surveillance in residential care.
Toward Information Systems for Ambient-Assisted Living
gerontechnology.info
... AAL systems include activity monitoring which implies a multi-sensor data acquisition in the ... more ... AAL systems include activity monitoring which implies a multi-sensor data acquisition in the home [1] to ... A growing aging population is the main reason to enable new ambient technological solutions for ... by informal social support such as the family and friend network which need ...
Influence of occupation and home environment on the wellbeing of European elders
International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 2005
ENABLE-AGE was a EU-funded project involving research teams in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Sweden a... more ENABLE-AGE was a EU-funded project involving research teams in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Sweden and the UK. A main aim was to study the relationship between home and healthy ageing for very old people living alone at home. In all, 1918 older people from the five EU countries were surveyed. This article addresses results from a sub-set of in-depth interviews, conducted with 80 octogenarians in Sweden and the UK. The impact of the home environments and patterns of occupational engagement on individual wellbeing is presented. Findings indicate that occupational pursuits are diverse, and not dictated by chronological age. Social activities outside the immediate home environment are particularly valued, as is easy access to favourite local venues. Additionally, being able to leave the home to pursue chosen activities is enjoyed and nurtured. House-bound elders find their occupational satisfaction increasingly dependent upon both their own ingenuity and the accessibility of the interior h...
Journal of gerontological social work, Jan 26, 2017
Housing First is a model and philosophy for housing homeless people in immediate and permanent ho... more Housing First is a model and philosophy for housing homeless people in immediate and permanent housing. In order to implement and deliver Housing First, research is essential to understand the system of support services as they currently exist. Guided by principles of community-based participatory research, this paper presents the findings from a senior-focused deliberative dialogue workshop in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Participants (16 service providers and 1 service recipient) identified services and resources available to support seniors in maintaining housing and barriers and facilitators for accessing services. Broadly, data were organized into seven themes: (1) Housing; (2) Home support; (3) Transportation; (4) Information availability, accessibility, and navigation; (5) Cultural diversity; (6) Discrimination; and (7) Funding and financial support. Results found that affordable housing that adapts to changing health conditions, income supports, health services, homecare, transp...
Activities people with cognitive deficits want to continue mastering – A scoping study
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2016
Introduction To date, potential difficulties that people with cognitive deficits meet in everyday... more Introduction To date, potential difficulties that people with cognitive deficits meet in everyday life are relatively well known, but in which activities mastery is desired, and why, is less researched. The aim of this study was to develop deeper knowledge about activities that people with cognitive deficits want to continue mastering in everyday life and the reasons why these activities were desired. Method In the frame of a scoping study, articles were gathered and charted. Sixteen qualitative studies were selected as meeting the aim of the study and analyzed with a descriptive-interpretative method. Findings The analysis of the studies showed that the desired activities conveyed social values or independence, supported significant roles, diminished negative influence on other people, and increased health and safety. Linkages, in the form of dependencies between the desired activities, were also identified. Conclusion When planning for interventions for facilitating everyday activ...
An ecological momentary sampling tool for movement patterns and psychiatric symptom variability: A pilot study
Gerontechnology, 2016
Purpose In this report, we describe the development of an Ecological Momentary Sampling (EMS) app... more Purpose In this report, we describe the development of an Ecological Momentary Sampling (EMS) application (app) for smart devices (EMS-Tool) to collect movement and mental health information from older adults with bipolar disorder. Participants are randomly prompted within self-specified windows of general availability and asked about important events of that day, medication adherence, sleep quality, and symptom levels at that moment. Up to three prompts are received twice daily at Time 1, 20 min, and 25 min after Time 1 if no questionnaire is submitted. Voluntary EMS questionnaires can also be submitted outside of these 30-minute windows. We also measure global positioning system (GPS) data every six minutes. Methods We outline three non-linear (iterative) main activities of the development process: (i) requirements elicitation and analysis, (ii) high-level and detailed design, and (iii) implementation and testing. In a pilot study, participants were prompted to complete am and pm versions of our brief EMS questionnaire over two-weeks. They were also asked to complete identical printed-page versions and indicate their location. Results All questionnaire responses submitted via our app were recorded with near perfect reliability when responses were immediately transmitted and when temporarily stored by the device until back in 4G LTE or WiFi range. Discussion Beyond its initial development for our BADAS (Bipolar Affective Disorder and older Adults) Study, there is an array of research and clinical applications for this EMS-Tool. This includes data collection over extended periods to populate online self-care and care-management tools intended to foster symptom awareness and health enhancing behaviors.
User-led Design of Technology to Improve Quality of Life for People with Dementia
Designing Inclusive Futures
ABSTRACT There has been quite a flowering of interest in exploring the design of assistive techno... more ABSTRACT There has been quite a flowering of interest in exploring the design of assistive technology to support people with dementia. Just as with any other disability, there is a lot of scope for assistance through items of technology. Areas explored have varied from quite straightforward simple devices up to full-blown autonomous smart home installations (Orpwood, 2006; Bjoerneby, 1997). However, nearly all this work has aimed at improving the safety and security of people with dementia, and its impact on their quality of life has been a by-product (Marshall, 2001). This project reflected the need to address quality of life issues more directly through the design of appropriate technology (Orpwood et al., 2007).
Therapists and enabling technologies: knowledge and attitudes
British Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 1998
Enabling technologies are likely to become an important component of long-term care and support f... more Enabling technologies are likely to become an important component of long-term care and support for people who are disabled or elderly. However, access to these technologies may often depend on the knowledge and experience of therapists. This article presents the results of a survey of occupational therapists, examining their awareness of technologies, sources of information, their attitudes and factors limiting the use of enabling technologies.
ABSTRACT The UK population is ageing. At the time of the 2001 census there were 8.1 million peopl... more ABSTRACT The UK population is ageing. At the time of the 2001 census there were 8.1 million people aged over 65 living in the UK, 3.1 million of them living alone. By 2011 the number of over 65s is projected to reach just under 12 million, and by 2026 over 13 million [1]. The extra workload this will place on health and care services will be compounded by political ambitions aimed at meeting the challenges of rising patient expectations [2]. In addition to this, the Department of Health aims to promote the independence of older people by providing enhanced services from the National Health Service (NHS) and councils to prevent unnecessary hospital admission [3]. As a result we can expect to see a continuing rise in the number of elderly people living at home and requiring good-quality health and social care services.
Challenges of User-Centred Research in the Development of Ambient Assisted Living Systems
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2012
ABSTRACT The SOPRANO (Service-oriented programmable smart environments for Older Europeans) proje... more ABSTRACT The SOPRANO (Service-oriented programmable smart environments for Older Europeans) project was an EU-funded project to develop an ambient assisted living (AAL) system to enhance the lives of frail and disabled older people. A major aim of the project was to shift away from ‘technology-push' and ‘problem-focused' approaches to user-driven approaches and map out an AAL system that will provide practical benefits for users in their everyday lives. The SOPRANO project involved users at all stages in the iterative development of an AAL system. This paper presents the main findings from the study, reflects on the key challenges in adopting a user-centred approach, and identifies some of the barriers to the widespread implementation of AAL systems within the spectrum of care for older people.
To support an aging population there has been a move towards developing surveillance technologies... more To support an aging population there has been a move towards developing surveillance technologies that observe the movements, behaviours and health status of older people. These technologies are meant to support health and independence within the context of limited resources. Although there have been studies about the development of new devices and systems, there has been less research examining the impact of surveillance technologies that monitor those residing and working in care facilities. This paper reports the findings from a qualitative study of a residential care facility that instituted video surveillance. The findings revealed how surveillance was used as a care management tool-to provide access to real-time data, to preserve the safety of older people and to monitor the working practices of formal carers. However, there may also be some unintended consequences of the implementation of video surveillance in residential care.
Toward Information Systems for Ambient-Assisted Living
gerontechnology.info
... AAL systems include activity monitoring which implies a multi-sensor data acquisition in the ... more ... AAL systems include activity monitoring which implies a multi-sensor data acquisition in the home [1] to ... A growing aging population is the main reason to enable new ambient technological solutions for ... by informal social support such as the family and friend network which need ...
Influence of occupation and home environment on the wellbeing of European elders
International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 2005
ENABLE-AGE was a EU-funded project involving research teams in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Sweden a... more ENABLE-AGE was a EU-funded project involving research teams in Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Sweden and the UK. A main aim was to study the relationship between home and healthy ageing for very old people living alone at home. In all, 1918 older people from the five EU countries were surveyed. This article addresses results from a sub-set of in-depth interviews, conducted with 80 octogenarians in Sweden and the UK. The impact of the home environments and patterns of occupational engagement on individual wellbeing is presented. Findings indicate that occupational pursuits are diverse, and not dictated by chronological age. Social activities outside the immediate home environment are particularly valued, as is easy access to favourite local venues. Additionally, being able to leave the home to pursue chosen activities is enjoyed and nurtured. House-bound elders find their occupational satisfaction increasingly dependent upon both their own ingenuity and the accessibility of the interior h...
Journal of gerontological social work, Jan 26, 2017
Housing First is a model and philosophy for housing homeless people in immediate and permanent ho... more Housing First is a model and philosophy for housing homeless people in immediate and permanent housing. In order to implement and deliver Housing First, research is essential to understand the system of support services as they currently exist. Guided by principles of community-based participatory research, this paper presents the findings from a senior-focused deliberative dialogue workshop in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Participants (16 service providers and 1 service recipient) identified services and resources available to support seniors in maintaining housing and barriers and facilitators for accessing services. Broadly, data were organized into seven themes: (1) Housing; (2) Home support; (3) Transportation; (4) Information availability, accessibility, and navigation; (5) Cultural diversity; (6) Discrimination; and (7) Funding and financial support. Results found that affordable housing that adapts to changing health conditions, income supports, health services, homecare, transp...
Activities people with cognitive deficits want to continue mastering – A scoping study
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2016
Introduction To date, potential difficulties that people with cognitive deficits meet in everyday... more Introduction To date, potential difficulties that people with cognitive deficits meet in everyday life are relatively well known, but in which activities mastery is desired, and why, is less researched. The aim of this study was to develop deeper knowledge about activities that people with cognitive deficits want to continue mastering in everyday life and the reasons why these activities were desired. Method In the frame of a scoping study, articles were gathered and charted. Sixteen qualitative studies were selected as meeting the aim of the study and analyzed with a descriptive-interpretative method. Findings The analysis of the studies showed that the desired activities conveyed social values or independence, supported significant roles, diminished negative influence on other people, and increased health and safety. Linkages, in the form of dependencies between the desired activities, were also identified. Conclusion When planning for interventions for facilitating everyday activ...
An ecological momentary sampling tool for movement patterns and psychiatric symptom variability: A pilot study
Gerontechnology, 2016
Purpose In this report, we describe the development of an Ecological Momentary Sampling (EMS) app... more Purpose In this report, we describe the development of an Ecological Momentary Sampling (EMS) application (app) for smart devices (EMS-Tool) to collect movement and mental health information from older adults with bipolar disorder. Participants are randomly prompted within self-specified windows of general availability and asked about important events of that day, medication adherence, sleep quality, and symptom levels at that moment. Up to three prompts are received twice daily at Time 1, 20 min, and 25 min after Time 1 if no questionnaire is submitted. Voluntary EMS questionnaires can also be submitted outside of these 30-minute windows. We also measure global positioning system (GPS) data every six minutes. Methods We outline three non-linear (iterative) main activities of the development process: (i) requirements elicitation and analysis, (ii) high-level and detailed design, and (iii) implementation and testing. In a pilot study, participants were prompted to complete am and pm versions of our brief EMS questionnaire over two-weeks. They were also asked to complete identical printed-page versions and indicate their location. Results All questionnaire responses submitted via our app were recorded with near perfect reliability when responses were immediately transmitted and when temporarily stored by the device until back in 4G LTE or WiFi range. Discussion Beyond its initial development for our BADAS (Bipolar Affective Disorder and older Adults) Study, there is an array of research and clinical applications for this EMS-Tool. This includes data collection over extended periods to populate online self-care and care-management tools intended to foster symptom awareness and health enhancing behaviors.
User-led Design of Technology to Improve Quality of Life for People with Dementia
Designing Inclusive Futures
ABSTRACT There has been quite a flowering of interest in exploring the design of assistive techno... more ABSTRACT There has been quite a flowering of interest in exploring the design of assistive technology to support people with dementia. Just as with any other disability, there is a lot of scope for assistance through items of technology. Areas explored have varied from quite straightforward simple devices up to full-blown autonomous smart home installations (Orpwood, 2006; Bjoerneby, 1997). However, nearly all this work has aimed at improving the safety and security of people with dementia, and its impact on their quality of life has been a by-product (Marshall, 2001). This project reflected the need to address quality of life issues more directly through the design of appropriate technology (Orpwood et al., 2007).
Therapists and enabling technologies: knowledge and attitudes
British Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 1998
Enabling technologies are likely to become an important component of long-term care and support f... more Enabling technologies are likely to become an important component of long-term care and support for people who are disabled or elderly. However, access to these technologies may often depend on the knowledge and experience of therapists. This article presents the results of a survey of occupational therapists, examining their awareness of technologies, sources of information, their attitudes and factors limiting the use of enabling technologies.
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Papers by A. Sixsmith