Download Older adults with visual impairments are seven times more likely to

enabling independence in older adults with
visual impairments through digital technology
Author: Carrie Sant (Rehabilitation Officer - Specialising in Digital Technology)
Henshaws Community Services enable people of all ages living with sight loss
to make informed choices about their future, increase their independence
and find the confidence to go beyond their expectations through the delivery
of person centred digital technology assessments, training and support.
CONTEXT
BACKGROUND
There are over 210,000 older adults
registered as sight impaired or severely
sight impaired in England.
Henshaws has integrated occupational
therapy into a newly created role within
its existing service structure to develop
and deliver digital technology based
assessment and training; enabling older
people with visual impairments to live
independently in their homes and
communities. This can include the use of
specialist technology such as electronic
magnifiers and text-to-speech
equipment for reading, or mainstream
devices such as smartphones and tablets
for communication and socialisation.
The total direct and indirect costs of
sight loss in 2014 were £4.6 billion.
Statistics from: Royal National Institute for the
Blind (RNIB, 2016)
Services are under increasing pressure to deliver to
a growing older adult population with limited
financial resources, placing emphasis on efficacy and
cost efficiency (Department of Health, 2001).
7x
“The service is a
godsend— I don’t
know where I would
be without it”
Almost two-thirds of
visually impaired adults
over 75 do not use a
computer, the internet, a
tablet or a smartphone.
Statistics from: RNIB (2016)
Following a holistic, person centred assessment guided by
the person-environment-occupation model (Law et al.,
1996), an appropriate device is recommended and a time
and goal orientated plan is agreed with each individual.
Personalised training sessions are then delivered where
appropriate to help the individual meet their goals.
Through combining a compensatory rehabilitative approach
and holistic occupational therapy knowledge and practice
with a range of digital solutions we enable engagement in
occupation including activities of daily living, reading and
socialising as well as access to information via the internet,
which existing evidence suggests has a positive impact on
health and wellbeing (Chilvers and Singlehurst, 2010).
72%
2/3
Older adults with visual
impairments are seven
times more likely to feel
unhappy or depressed than
those with sight.
Gwen, 69, Ischemic Optic
Disc Neuropathy
PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT
Statistics from: RNIB (2016)
Feelings of lost
independence and lack of
engagement in occupations
are reported in 72% of
older adults with sight loss.
“Only through
Henshaws have I
been aware of
what devices are
available”
Vilma, 78, Macular
Degeneration
Statistics from: RNIB (2016)
5 KEY OUTCOMES
IMPACT
Through providing awareness of appropriate, accessible products and training in
their use, we help individuals to become self-supporting - enabling independence
and reducing reliance on services (Department of Health, 2001).
Since the start of the
project over 100
individuals have received
1:1 interventions.
We provided 297 pieces of
information, advice and
guidance in person and
more over the phone or
via our website.
More than 40
individuals regularly
receive support from
our group sessions.
We have also supported
individuals’ family, friends
and the professionals
working with them.
RESULTS
Feedback from service users has been positive, with the majority reporting a
significant impact on their daily lives, returning to them occupations which had
been lost. A small sample were asked to participate in a telephone survey:
(average results shown)
Please rate the impact our support had on your independence or quality of life.
INDEPENDENCE
KNOWLEDGE
Reduced reliance on family and
friends to complete everyday
tasks such as travelling, sorting
mail. cooking and identifying
familiar products.
Enabling access to the internet
and other resources, and as a
result, connecting to information
and knowledge in the same way
as the rest of the population.
REDUCING ISOLATION
Using a smartphone for calls,
texts and emails allows communication with family and friends
and facilitates the development
of new relationships.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Service users describe changes
to their quality of life when
given the skills they need to
access digital technology and the
further opportunities with this.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Enabling individuals to engage in
their chosen occupations including reading, listening to the radio
and chatting with friends
improves health and wellbeing.
How confident do you feel using the device independently?
How likely are you to continue to use the device?
How likely are you to use the information you have been given?
How useful has your assessment / training been?
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5
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8
9
Rating Scale
10
EVALUATION
NEXT STEPS
The digital assessment and training service has demonstrated it
has a positive impact on the quality of life of older adults with
visual impairments; increasing their independence and sense of
wellbeing through developing their knowledge and skills.
The service will need to continue to demonstrate its efficacy
in order to remain viable in a changing economic climate. It
will also need to grow and develop as the needs of the service
users change and the available technology progresses.
References
[email protected]
0161 872 1234
Chilvers, R., Corr, S., & Singlehurst, H. (2010). Investigation into the occupational lives of healthy older people through their use of
time. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 57(1), 24-33
Department of Health (2001) National Service Framework for Older People. London: The Stationery Office
Law, M., Cooper, B., Strong, S., Stewart, D., Rigby, P., & Letts, L. (1996). The person-environment-occupation model: A transactive approach
to occupational performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(1), 9-23.
Royal National Institute for the Blind (2016) Sight Loss Data Tool. Accessed via: http://www.rnib.org.uk/knowledge-and-research-hub-keyinformation-and-statistics/sight-loss-data-tool