Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Disability, Ageing and Technology: They Think that Throwing a Pendant Alarm at You Equals Independence

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Disability and Technology

  • 777 Accesses

Abstract

Broadly, this chapter will explore the drivers, models, benefits, drawbacks and ethical considerations of the value of technologies for older disabled people. Telecare will be the principal focus here, although all technologies that play a supportive role in the lives of older disabled people will inform this chapter (Cortes et al. 2003; Newell and Gregor 2002). The major growth in domestic microchip technologies (often dubbed ‘telecare’) in the global North requires a significant recognition of these technological changes and their implications for disabled people. Much of the recent available literature focuses on telecare and ICT in the home or proximate to the home, such as GP tracking technology. The chapter will begin with an overview of the quite diverse narratives that frame the benefits of telecare for older disabled people. It will then explore how demography and policy change are driving forward access to and use of telecare, before looking at the barriers (and sometimes antipathy) towards the take-up of such technologies and the implications for future design, procurement and support of such technologies. I will also argue that telecare risks being seen as a new panacea, one that obviates the need for more extensive and humane social contacts and support. Before that, however, it is important to define just what ‘telecare’ is taken to mean. The Europe-wide interpretation of telecare is quite broadly:

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abascal, J. G. (1997). Ethical and social issues of ‘teleservices’ for disabled and elderly people. An ethical global information society IFIP. The International Federation for Information Processing, 229–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arksey, H., & Glendinning, C. (2007). Choice in the context of informal care‐giving. Health & Social Care in the Community, 15(2), 165–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, J., Singh, D., Bayer, S., & Curry, R. (2007). A systematic review of the benefits of home telecare for frail elderly people and those with long-term conditions. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 13(4), 172–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, S., Barlow, J., & Curry, R. (2007). Assessing the impact of a care innovation: Telecare. Systems Dynamic Review, 23(1), 61–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2001). Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boess, S., & Lebbon, C. S. (1998). Wellbathing, a study for design. Improving the quality of life for the European citizen. Proceedings of TIDE (Technology for Inclusive Design and Equality), 23–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botsis, T., & Hartvigsen, G. (2008). Current status and future perspectives in telecare for elderly people suffering from chronic diseases. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 14(4), 195–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, F., Gothelf, C. R., Guess, D., & Lehr, D. H. (1998). Determination for individuals with the most severe disabilities: Moving beyond Chimera. Self-Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 23(1), 17–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brownsell, S., Blackburn, S., & Hawley, M. S. (2008). An evaluation of second and third generation telecare services in older people’s housing. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 14(1), 8–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll-Mayer, M., Fairweather, B., & Carsten-Stahl, B. (2008). CCTV identity management and implications for criminal justice: Some considerations. Surveillance & Society, 5(1), 33–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carsten, J. (2000). Cultures of relatedness: New approaches to the study of kinship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M., & Goodwin, N. (2010). Sustaining innovation in telehealth and telecare (WSDAN Briefing Paper No. 1). London: The King’s Fund and Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortés, C., Annicchiarico, R., Vázquez-Salceda, J., Urdiales, C., Cañamero, López, L., Sànchez-Marrè, M., & Caltagirone, C. (2003). Assistive technologies for the disabled and for the new generation of senior citizens: The e-Tools architecture. AI Communications, 16(3), 193–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, D. M., & Turner-Smith, A. R. (1999). The user’s perspective on the provision of electronic assistive technology: Equipped for life?’. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(1), 2–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daniels, R., Van Rossum, H. I. J., De Witte, L. P., & Heuvel, W. J. A. (2010). Interventions to prevent disability in frail community-dwelling older persons: An overview. European Journal of Ageing, 7, 37–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davey, V., Luis Fernández, J., Knapp, M., Vick, N., Jolly, D., Swift, P., Tobin, R., Kendall, J., Ferrie, J., Pearson, C., Mercer, G., & Priestley, M. (2006). Direct payments: A national survey of direct payments. London: PSSRU and LSE.

    Google Scholar 

  • DCIL. (1980). The seven needs of independent living. Ripley: DCIL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewsbury, G. A. (2001). The social and psychological aspects of smart home technology within the care sector (Research report). Aberdeen: University of Aberdeen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewsbury, G. A., & Edge, M. H. (2000). Designing the home to meet the needs of tomorrow today: Deconstructing and rebuilding the home for life. Gavle: European Network for Housing Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health (2004). Web-based resource, so: The preventative technology grant. Available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/Browsable/DH_5464107. Accessed 10 March 2016.

  • Department of Health. (2005). Independence, well-being and choice. London: TSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • DH. (2001). Valuing people: A new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century: A white paper. London: Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • DH. (2009). Guidance on direct payments for community care, services for carers and children’s services. London: Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • DH (CSIP). (2006). Switched on to telecare: Providing health and care support through home-based telecare monitoring in the UK and the US, an invited conference session at the 10th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, July 16–19, 2006, Orlando, Florida, USA. London: Housing Learning & Improvement Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson, A., Goodman, J., Syme, A., Eisma, R., Tiwari, L., Mival, O., & Newell, A. (2003). Domesticating technology. In-home requirements gathering with frail older people. Available at http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/publications/PAPERS/7075/final.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • Domenech, M., & Lopez, D. (2007). On inscriptions and ex-inscriptions: The production of immediacy in a home telecare service. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 26(4), 663–675.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doughty, K., & Williams, G. (2001). Practical solutions for the integration of community alarms, assistive technologies and telecare. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 2(1), 31–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doughty, K., Lewis, R., & McIntosh, A. (2000). The design of a practical and reliable fall detector for community and institutional telecare. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 6(1), 150–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, A. (2010). Ethical considerations around the implementation of telecare technologies. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 28(1–2), 44–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2013a). The European innovation partnership on active and healthy ageing. Brussels EC Public Health Directorate. http://ec.europa.eu/health/ageing/policy/index_en.htm. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • European Commission. (2013b). The Europe 2020 initiative: The strategic implementation plan. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/pdf/strategic-implementation-plan_en.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • European Commission. (2013c). ICT & ageing—European study on users, markets and technologies. http://www.ict-ageing.eu/?page_id=372. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • European Commission. (2014a). Digital agenda for Europe. Brussels: EC.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2014b). European code of practice for telehealth services. Brussels: EC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, M. J. (1997). Telecare equipment in the home. Issues of intrusiveness and control. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 3(1), 30–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman, D. E., Berman, A. D., McCabe, C. H., Baim, D. S., & Wei, J. Y. (1992). PTCA in the elderly: The “young-old” versus the “old-old”. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 40(1), 19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganyo, M., Dunn, M., & Hope, T. (2011). Ethical issues in the use of fall detectors. Ageing and Society, 31(8), 1350–1367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gergen, K. J. (1991). The saturated self: Dilemmas of identity in contemporary life. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregor, P., & Newell, A. F. (2001). Designing for dynamic diversity: Making accessible interfaces for older people. In Proceedings of the 2001 EC/NSF workshop on Universal accessibility of ubiquitous computing: Providing for the elderly (pp. 90–92). ACM, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, M., & Clark, N. (2009). Sustaining innovation in telecare and telehealth. London: The Kings Fund.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heywood, F. (2004). Understanding needs: A starting point for quality. Housing Studies, 19(I5), 709–726.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hocking, C. (1999). Function or feelings: Factors in abandonment of assistive devices. Technology and Disability, 11(1), 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horton, K. (2008). Falls in older people: The place of telemonitoring in rehabilitation. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 45(9), 1183–1194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jerant, A. F., Rahman, A., & Nesbitt, T. S. (2001). Reducing the cost of frequent hospital admissions for congestive heart failure: A randomized trial of a home telecare intervention. Medical Care, 39(11), 1234–1245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, R. (1998). The internet as the ultimate technology and panacea. Educational Technology, 38(1), 63–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lansley, P. (2001). The promise and challenge of providing assistive technology to older people. Age and Ageing, 30, 439–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López, D., & Domènech, M. (2008). Embodying autonomy in a home telecare service. The Sociological Review, 56(s2), 181–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lupton, D., & Seymour, W. (2000). Technology, selfhood and physical disability. Social Science & Medicine, 50(12), 1851–1862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacFarlane, A. (1994). On becoming an older disabled woman. Disability and Society, 9(2), 255–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson, L., Hanson, E., & Borg, M. (2004). A literature review study of information and communication technology as support for frail older people living at home and their family carers. Technology and Disability, 16(4), 223–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, D. M. F., Tarlow, B., Jones, R. N., Tennstedt, S., & Kasten, L. (2001). Factors affecting the use of a telephone-based intervention for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 7(3), 139–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mann, W., Goodall, S., Justiss, M. D., & Tomita, M. (2002). Dissatisfaction and non-use of assistive devices among frail elderly. Assistive Technology, 14(2), 130–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcuse, Herbert. (1964) One-Dimensional Man. Boston: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCreadie, C., & Tinker, A. (2005). The acceptability of assistive technology to older people. Ageing and Society, 25, 91–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCreadie, C., Seale, J., Tinker, A., & Turner-Smith, A. (2002). Older people and mobility in the home: In search of useful assistive technologies. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(2), 54–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean, S., Protti, D., & Sheikh, A. (2011). Telehealthcare for long term conditions. British Medical Journal, 342, 120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind self and society. Chicago: CUP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meidert, U., Früh, S., & Becker, H. (2013). Telecare: Technology for an ageing society in Europe. Current state and future developments. Brussels: EU Pacita.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milligan, C., Roberts, C., & Mort, M. (2011). Telecare and older people: Who cares where? Social Science & Medicine, 72(3), 347–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, C. W. (1956). The power elite. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miskelly, F. G. (2001). Review: Assistive technology in elderly care. Age and Ageing, 30(6), 455–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mort, M., Roberts, C., & Callen, B. (2013). Ageing with telecare: Care or coercion in an era of Austerity. Sociology of Health and Illness, 35(6), 799–812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newell, A. F., & Gregor, P. (2002). Design for older and disabled people–where do we go from here? Universal Access in the Information Society, 2(1), 3–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nochajiski, S., Tomita, M., & Mann, W. (1996). The use and satisfaction with assistive devices by older persons with cognitive impairments: A pilot intervention study. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 12, 40–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordgren, A. (2014). Remote monitoring or close encounters? Ethical considerations in priority setting regarding telecare. Health Care Analysis, 22(4), 325–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Northern Echo (2011). Council using telecare to make savings of 532, 000 on care budget. 3 Dec.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygard, L., & Starkhammar, S. (2007). The use of everyday technology by people with dementia living alone: Mapping out the difficulties. Aging and Mental Health, 11(2), 144–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2011). Help wanted? Providing and paying for long term care. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojel-Jaramillo, J. M., & Cañas, J. J. (2006). Enhancing the usability of telecare devices. Human Technology, 2(1), 103–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pape, T., Kim, J., & Weiner, P. (2002). The shaping of individual meanings assigned to assistive technology: A review of personal factors. Disability and Rehabilitation, 24(1/2/3), 5–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, J., Beyer, S., & Holm, A. (2009). Assistive technology, telecare and people with intellectual disabilities: Ethical considerations. London: SCIE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, S. (2000). Is there a disability culture? A syncretisation of three possible world views. Disability and Society, 15(4), 583–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pols, J., & Moser, I. (2009). Cold technologies versus warm care? On affective and social relations with and through care technologies. ALTER-European Journal of Disability Research, 3, 159–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, G. (2001). Listening to older women with Dementia: Relationships, voices and power. Disability and Society, 16(3), 361–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rauhala, M., & Topo, P. (2003). Independent living, technology and ethics. Technology and Disability, 15(3), 205–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, C., & Mort, M. (2009). Reshaping what counts as care: Older people, work and new technologies. ALTER - European Journal of Disability Research/Revue Européenne de Recherche sur le Handicap, 3(2), 138–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, K., & Webster, F. (1989). The technical fix: Education, computers, and industry. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Roulstone, A. (2012). ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’: Towards Enabling Social Work with Disabled People. Social Work Education, 31(2), 142-154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royal College of Nursing (2011). Web-based resource, so: Telehealth and telecare. Available at https://www2.rcn.org.uk/development/practice/e-health/telehealth_and_telecare. Accessed 10 March 2016.

  • Samuel, M. (2011, June 28). Make telecare free to cut care bills. Community Care. Available at http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/adult-care-blog/2011/06/make-telecare-free-to-cut-care-bills/. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • Scherer, M., & Craddock, G. (2002). Matching person & technology (MPT) assessment process. Technology and Disability, 14(3), 125–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scottish Government. (2009). Joint telecare team national-undated telecare development programme in Scotland glossary of terms and definitions. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, A. (2003). Changing technology. In J. Swain, S. French, C. Barnes, & C. Thomas (Eds.), Disabling barriers—Enabling environments. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sixsmith, A., & Sixsmith, J. (2000). Smart care technologies: Meeting whose needs? Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 6(1), 190–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sixsmith, A., & Sixsmith, J. (2008). Ageing in place in the UK. Ageing International, 32(3), 219–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorrell, T., & Draper, H. (2012). Telecare, surveillance, and the welfare state. The American Journal of Bioethics, 12(9), 36–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spears, R., & Lea, M. (1994). Panacea or panopticon? The hidden power in computer-mediated communication. Communication Research, 21(4), 427–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sponselee, A., Schouten, B., & Bouwhuis, D. (2010). Telecare for elderly users: Needs and benefits. Gerontechnology, 9(2), 249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A., Bernard, L., Pizey, H., & Whittet, C. (2012). TeleWEAR: Engaging users and suppliers of telecare in product design. In Proceeding of the CHI EA ’12 CH ’12 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 2637–2642).

    Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2014). World population ageing 1950–2050. Available at http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/pdf/90chapteriv.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • US Government. (2007). The President’s new freedom initiative: The 2007 progress report. http://georgewbushwhitehouse.archives.gov/infocus/newfreedom/newfreedom-report-2007-3.html. Accessed 5 June 2015.

  • Von Niman, B., Rodriguez-Ascaso, A., Torbjorn, S., & Brown, S. J. (2006). User experience design guidelines for telecare services-proceedings of the 8th conference on Human-computer interaction with mobile devices and services (pp. 279–280). Available at http://mobilehci.acm.org/2014/. Accessed 5 June 2105.

  • Watson, N. (2002). Well, I know this is going to sound very strange to you, but I don’t see myself as a disabled person: Identity and disability. Disability and Society, 17(5), 509–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, N., Roulstone, A., & Thomas, C. (2013). Routledge handbook of disability studies (pp. 121–205). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • While, A., & Dewsbury, G. (2011). Nursing and information and communication technology (ICT): A discussion of trends and future directions. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48, 1302–1310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woolham, J. (2006). Safe at home: The effectiveness of assistive technology in supporting the independence of people with Dementia. London: Hawker Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarb, G., & Oliver, M. (1993). Ageing with a disability what do they expect after all these years? York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zola, I. (1982a). Missing pieces: A chronicle of living with a disability. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zola, I. K. (1982b). Disincentives to independent living. In Research and training center on independent living. Lawrence: University of Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Alan Roulstone

Authors
  1. Alan Roulstone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Roulstone, A. (2016). Disability, Ageing and Technology: They Think that Throwing a Pendant Alarm at You Equals Independence. In: Disability and Technology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45042-5_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45042-5_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-45041-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-45042-5

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation