WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
Assistive technology is any service or tool that helps
the elderly or disabled do the activities they have
always done but must now do differently. These
tools are also sometimes called “adaptive devices.”
Such technology may be something as simple as a walker to make moving around
easier or an amplification device to make sounds easier to hear (for talking
on the telephone or watching television, for instance). It could also include
a magnifying glass that helps someone who has poor vision read the newspaper
or a small motor scooter that makes it possible to travel over distances that
are too far to walk. In short, anything that helps the elderly continue to participate
in daily activities is considered assistive technology.
Just as older people may have many different types of disabilities, many different
categories of assistive devices and services are available to help overcome those
disabilities. These include the following:
- Adaptive switches. Modified switches that seniors
can use to adjust air conditioners, computers, telephone
answering machines, power wheelchairs, and other
types of equipment. These switches might be activated
by
the tongue or the voice.
- Communication equipment.
Anything that enables a person to send
and receive messages, such
as a telephone amplifier.
- Computer
access. Special software that helps a senior access
the Internet, for example, or basic hardware,
such as a modified keyboard or mouse, that makes
the computer more user friendly.
- Education. Audio
books or Braille writing tools for the blind come
under this category, along with resources
that allow people to get additional vocational training.
- Home
modifications. Construction or remodeling work,
such as building a ramp for wheelchair access, that
allows a senior to overcome physical barriers and
live
more comfortably with a disability or recover from
an accident or injury.
- Tools for independent living.
Anything that empowers the elderly to enjoy the
normal activities of daily
living without assistance from others, such as a
handicapped-accessible bathroom with grab bars in
the bathtub.
- Job-related items. Any device or process
that a person needs to do his or her job better
or easier. Examples
might include a special type of chair or pillow for
someone who works at a desk or a back brace for someone
who does physical labor.
- Mobility aids. Any piece
of equipment that helps a senior get around more
easily, such as a power wheelchair,
wheelchair lift, or stair elevator.
- Orthotic or prosthetic
equipment. A device that compensates for a missing
or disabled body part. This could range
from orthopedic shoe inserts for someone who has
fallen arches to an artificial arm for someone whose
limb
has been amputated.
- Recreational assistance. New methods
and tools to enable people who have disabilities
to enjoy a wide
range of fun activities. Examples include swimming
lessons provided by recreational therapists or specially
equipped skis for seniors who have lost a limb as
a result of accident or illness.
- Seating aids. Any modifications to regular chairs,
wheelchairs, or motor scooters that help a person
stay upright or get up and down unaided or that help
to
reduce pressure on the skin. This could be something
as simple as an extra pillow or as complex as a motorized
seat.
- Sensory enhancements. Anything that makes it
easier for those who are partially or fully blind
or deaf
to better appreciate the world around them. For instance,
a telecaption decoder for a TV set would be an assistive
device for a senior who is hard of hearing.
- Therapy.
Equipment or processes that help someone recover
as much as possible from an illness or injury.
Therapy might involve a combination of services and
technology, such as having a physical therapist use
a special massage unit to restore a wider range of
motion to stiff muscles.
- Transportation assistance.
Devices for elderly individuals that make it easier
for them to get into and out of
their cars or trucks and drive more safely, such
as adjustable mirrors, seats, and steering wheels.
Services
that help the elderly maintain and register their
vehicles, such as a drive-up window at the department
of motor
vehicles, would also fall into this category.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
For many seniors, assistive technology makes the difference
between being able to live independently and having
to get long-term nursing or home-health care. For
others, assistive technology is critical to the ability
to perform simple activities of daily living, such
as bathing and going to the bathroom.
According to a 1993 study conducted by the National
Council on Disability, 80 percent of the elderly persons
who used assistive technology were able to reduce their
dependence on others. In addition, half of those surveyed
reduced their dependence on paid helpers, and half
were able to avoid entering nursing homes. Assistive
technology can also reduce the costs of care for the
elderly and their families. Although families may need
to make monthly payments for some pieces of equipment,
for many, this cost is much less than the cost of home-health
or nursing-home care.
HOW CAN I TELL IF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IS RIGHT FOR
ME?
Seniors must carefully evaluate their needs before
deciding to purchase assistive technology. Using assistive
technology may change the mix of services that a senior
requires or may affect the way that those services
are provided. For this reason, the process of needs
assessment and planning is important.
Usually, needs assessment has the most value when it
is done by a team working with the senior in the place
where the assistive technology will be used. For example,
an elderly person who has trouble communicating or
is hard of hearing should consult with his or her doctor,
an audiology specialist, a speech-language therapist,
and family and friends. Together, these people can
identify the problem precisely and determine a course
of action to solve the problem.
By performing the needs assessment, defining goals,
and determining what would help the senior communicate
more easily in the home, the team can decide what assistive
technology tools are appropriate. After that, the team
can help select the most effective devices available
at the lowest cost. A professional member of the team,
such as the audiology specialist, can also arrange
for any training that the senior and his or her family
may require to use the equipment needed.
Case
Study |
At
the age of 66, Christina did not feel old. After
her divorce, she became more active than ever in
her church and began doing all the things she had
been wanting to do for years. She moved into her
daughter Kelly’s house to save money and
enjoyed her garden there in the backyard. The only
thing that slowed her down was that her hearing
and vision were beginning to go. She could no longer
appreciate music the way she used to or see well
enough to read for more than a few minutes without
getting a headache. At the same time, Christina’s
medical condition was beginning to affect her life
at home. Kelly’s children complained that
Christina turned the television set up so loud
that they could not concentrate on their homework.
Although Christina was in good health otherwise, the hearing and vision problems
eventually got so bad that she went to her doctors for a checkup. Her ophthalmologist
told her that she had cataracts and would need operations to have them removed
from her eyes. The audiologist said that she would need to get a hearing aid.
Both doctors also said that she would require rehabilitative services.
Fortunately, Christina was still able to take charge of the situation and find
a solution as quickly as possible. While waiting to get her eye operations done,
she had her doctors set up a needs assessment team to explore other options she
could pursue to make life easier both before and after her surgery. Christina
worked closely with the ophthalmologist and audiologist and had physical and
recreational therapists come to the house. They spent a full week analyzing Christina’s
condition and her home environment. Then, they looked at alternatives that would
allow Christina to remain as active as possible, while still addressing her family’s
concerns. |
The following case study shows how conducting a needs
assessment and working with a team improved the quality
of life for one elderly woman and her family:
The results were wonderful. Together, the team helped
Christina get a good hearing aid that enabled her to
hear well again. A special magnification device and
telecaption decoder on the TV meant that she could
watch television without having to bother the children.
More assistive technology enabled her to talk on the
telephone and use the computer as easily as ever before.
In the end, the operations to remove Christina’s
cataracts were successful, and she could see better
than before, but she still used the magnifying screens
and telecaption devices for convenience. Combined with
her new hearing aid, each item convinced Christina
that assistive technology can make a big difference
indeed.
When considering all the options of assistive technology, it is often useful
to look at the issue in terms of high-tech and low-tech solutions. Seniors must
also remember to plan ahead and think about how their needs might change over
time. High-tech devices tend to be more expensive but may be able to assist with
many different needs. Low-tech equipment is usually cheaper but less adaptable
for multiple purposes. Before buying any expensive piece of assistive technology,
such as a computer, be sure to find out if it can be upgraded as improvements
are introduced.
Whether you are conducting a needs assessment or trying to make a decision after
such an assessment, it is always a good idea to ask the following questions about
assistive technology:
- Does a more advanced device meet more than
one of my needs?
- Does the manufacturer of the assistive
technology have a preview policy that will let
me try out a device and return it for credit if it
does
not work as
expected?
- How are my needs likely to change over the next
six months? How about over the next six years or
longer?
- How up-to-date is this piece of assistive
equipment? Is it likely to become obsolete in the
immediate
future?
- What are the tasks that I need help with,
and how often do I need help with these tasks?
- What types of assistive technology are available
to meet my needs?
- What, if any, types of assistive
technology have I used before, and how did that
equipment work?
- What type of assistive technology
will give me the greatest personal independence?
- Will
I always need help with this task? If so, can I
adjust this device and continue
to use it as my condition changes?
HOW CAN I PAY FOR ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY?
Right now, no single private insurance plan or public program will pay for all
types of assistive technology under any circumstances. However, Medicare Part
B will cover up to 80 percent of the cost of assistive technology if the items
being purchased meet the definition of “durable medical equipment.” This
is defined as devices that are “primarily and customarily used to serve
a medical purpose, and generally are not useful to a person in the absence of
illness or injury.” To find out if Medicare will cover the cost of a particular
piece of assistive technology, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY/TDD:
1-877-486-2048). You can also find answers to your questions by visiting the
website at www.medicare.gov on
the
Internet.
Depending on where you live, the state-run Medicaid program may pay for some
assistive technology. Keep in mind, though, that even when Medicaid does
cover part of the cost, the benefits usually do not provide the amount of
financial aid needed to buy an expensive piece of equipment, such as a power
wheelchair. To find out more about Medicaid in your State call the toll free
number for your State. A list of toll free numbers can be reached through
the following website:
Seniors who are eligible for veterans’ benefits
should definitely look into whether they can receive
assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
Many people consider the DVA to have a model payment
system for assistive technology because the agency has
a structure in place to pay for the large volume of equipment
that it buys. The DVA also invests in training people
in how to use assistive devices. For more information
about DVA benefits for assistive technology, call the
VA Health Benefits Service Center toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS
or visit the department’s website at:
Private health insurance and out-of-pocket payment are
two other options for purchasing assistive technology.
Out-of-pocket payment is just that; you buy the assistive
technology yourself. This is affordable for small, simple
items, such as modified eating utensils, but most seniors
find that they need financial aid for more costly equipment.
The problem is that private health insurance often does
not cover the full price of expensive devices, such as
power wheelchairs and motor scooters.
Subsidy programs provide some types of assistive technology
at a reduced cost or for free. Many businesses and not-for-profit
groups have set up subsidy programs that include discounts,
grants, or rebates to get consumers to try a specific
product. The idea is that by offering this benefit, the
program sponsors can encourage seniors and people with
disabilities to use an item that they otherwise might
not consider. Obviously, elderly people should be careful
about participating in subsidy programs that are run
by businesses with commercial interests in the product
or service because of the potential for fraud.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
Most states have at least one agency that deals specifically
with assistive technology issues. The Assistive Technology
Act (Tech Act) provides funds to states for the development
of statewide consumer information and training programs.
A listing of state tech act programs is available at:
Some area agencies on aging (AAA) have programs or link
to services that assist older people obtain low-cost
assistive technology. You can call the Eldercare Locator
at 1-800-677-1116 or visit the website www.eldercare.gov
to locate your local AAA. In addition local civic groups,
religious and veterans’ organizations, and senior
centers may be able to refer you to assistive technology
resources.
The following resources provide information on assistive
technology products and services.
DisabilityInfo.gov
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov
This site is designed to serve as a "one-stop" electronic
link to an enormous range of useful information to
people with disabilities and their families.
ABLEDATA
http://www.abledata.com
800/227-0216 or 301/608-8998
TTY 301/608-8912
ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary
mission is to provide information on assistive technology
and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic
and international sources to consumers, organizations,
professionals, and caregivers within the United States.
Doodads, Gadgets, and Thingamajigs
http://www.ndipat.org/publications/default.asp?ID=345
This publication provides information on the many uses
of assistive technology. It also provides a list of
possible resources.
Solutions: Assistive Technology for People with Hidden
Disabilities
http://www.uiowa.edu/infotech/Solutions.pdf
This resource guide provides information on adapted
devices for people who have memory problems.
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Last Updated: 07/06/2005
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