Author: Maggie Whitnall

Published By: Aus Registry

Published On: 3 December 2013

With 18% of the Australian population living with some form of a disability, eliminating barriers to website accessibility remains a challenge. In this blog, AusRegistry’s Maggie Whitnall explores this important topic with the support of Gunela Astbrink from the Internet Society of Australia.

To read this article please click on the link below:

Web Accessibility Article

Category: Workforces Considerations

Added by Elizabeth Dodd · 8 years ago

Contributors: Kerry Wilson and Gayle Whelan

Published By: National Museums Liverpool

Published On: September 2014

House of Memories is a multi award-winning museums dementia awareness training programme in the U.K. Created by National Museums Liverpool, it provides health, social care and housing workforce with practical skills and resources to support people to live well with dementia. Since its inception in 2012, more than 5,000 health, housing, and social care workers have participated in the training nationally in the U.K.

Other recent developments attached to the programme include the launch of a dedicated My House of Memories2 app, which can again be used remotely in a variety of care contexts.

Category: Connected Health International Perspectives Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Authors: Andrea Wigfield, Katy Wright, Elizabeth Burtney, Diane Buddery

Published by: Journal of Assistive Technologies

Published on: 2013

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at the implications of the increasing use of Assisted Living

Technology in the social care sector and to assess the implications for the workforce in terms of job roles, skills, knowledge, training, and support.

Design/methodology/approach – A mixed methods approach was used, through a quantitative electronic survey of staff working in social care (as well as some health care) organisations in England, and three qualitative case studies of local authorities.

Findings – The research shows that the organisations involved in delivering Assisted Living Technology, the types of Assisted Living Technology being introduced, and the way in which it is being delivered, have implications for job roles and the skills and knowledge needed by staff. The associated training and workforce development similarly varies across the social care sector; it is ad hoc, disparate, and provided primarily by individual employers or by suppliers and manufacturers.

Research limitations/implications – There is a need for a standardised Assisted Living Technology workforce development approach which can be used across the social care sector.

Practical implications – The varied nature of Assisted Living Technology providers and delivery models presents a challenge to the development and implementation of a standardised programme of workforce development.

Originality/value – This paper presents the results of new empirical research arising from a quantitative and qualitative study of the workforce development implications of Assisted Living Technology in the English social care sector.

Category: Domestic Assistance International Perspectives Smart AT General Workforces Considerations

Added by Tony Shaw · 8 years ago

 Author/s:Kyra Bobinet, MD MPH, John Petito, MS

Prepared for: The Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

This white paper covers key elements of design for consumer-centered telehealth. Given the rapid growth of telehealth and overall disruption of healthcare reimbursement and care delivery, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) commissioned a design session focused on this topic on April 10, 2015 with over 30 stakeholders in attendance.

Category: Connected Health International Perspectives Research Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Author: Skills for Care and Development (SfC&D)

Published By: Technology to Care UK

Published: 2014

Technology is playing an increasingly important part in the provision of care and support. This Workforce Learning Strategy has been developed by Skills for Care and Development (SfC&D) to support employers as they equip the workforce to utilise technology effectively to promote person centred approaches and independence, choice and well-being in the lives of the people they support. An ageing population, integrated public services, person centred approaches and digital innovations are amongst the key drivers for change in health and social care services in the UK. 1 2 3 This Strategy has been developed to consider the future needs of the workforce specifically in relation to the role that eAT can play in improving the delivery of care services. In particular, the Strategy is intended to support employers across the UK to address the learning needs of their workforce in relation to eAT and to invest more confidently in eAT related training.

A number of initiatives informed the direction of the Strategy, including a review of policy across the UK and a mix of research methods to analyse learning and development provision and its effectiveness in addressing workforce needs. Consultation and engagement events around the UK involved eAT champions, individuals, telecare service managers, care and support providers, occupational therapists, health, housing and third sector workers. The detail of the Strategy was shaped by a steering group of representatives to ensure consistency and consensus across the UK.

The Strategy is aimed primarily at employers and managers within social care services, with an emphasis on action to raise workforce awareness around eAT. It is part of a long term ambition to embed knowledge and skills about eAT in working practices across social care. Whilst the Strategy is addressed primarily to employers, it is highly relevant to other stakeholders such as suppliers/manufacturers and learning providers who also have an important role to play in achieving change.

To access the complete pdf. document please click here:

http://www.ccwales.org.uk/edrms/146453/

Category: International Perspectives Policy & Funding Smart AT General Workforces Considerations

Added by Tony Shaw · 8 years ago

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at the implications of the increasing use of Assisted Living

Technology in the social care sector and to assess the implications for the workforce in terms of job roles, skills, knowledge, training, and support.

Design/methodology/approach – A mixed methods approach was used, through a quantitative electronic survey of staff working in social care (as well as some health care) organisations in England, and three qualitative case studies of local authorities.

Findings – The research shows that the organisations involved in delivering Assisted Living Technology, the types of Assisted Living Technology being introduced, and the way in which it is being delivered, have implications for job roles and the skills and knowledge needed by staff. The associated training and workforce development similarly varies across the social care sector; it is ad hoc, disparate, and provided primarily by individual employers or by suppliers and manufacturers.

Research limitations/implications – There is a need for a standardised Assisted Living Technology workforce development approach which can be used across the social care sector.

Practical implications – The varied nature of Assisted Living Technology providers and delivery models presents a challenge to the development and implementation of a standardised programme of workforce development.

Originality/value – This paper presents the results of new empirical research arising from a quantitative and qualitative study of the workforce development implications of Assisted Living Technology in the English social care sector.

Category: Communication International Perspectives Policy & Funding Quality & Standards Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Category: ATSI Service Delivery Communication Local Perspectives Policy & Funding Quality & Standards Regional Service Delivery Rural & Remote Service Delivery Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Category: Local Perspectives NDIS Policy & Funding Rural & Remote Service Delivery Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Author: Australian Government - Department of Health

Published by: Australian Government - Department of Health

Publication Date: 5th June, 2011

From 1 July 2011, Medicare and DVA Rebates and Financial Incentives were made available for telehealth under the Connecting Health Services With the Fiture Initiative. This article contains information on clinical practice and technology for telehealth.

Category: Communication Local Perspectives Policy & Funding Quality & Standards Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Authors: Dr Andrea Wigfield, Dr Sian Moore, Dr Christina Buse and Dr Gary

Published by: University of Leeds

Date of publication: May 2012

Assisted Living Technology (ALT), including telecare and telehealth, digital participation services, and wellness services, is increasingly being offered to individuals in need of social care support as a way of assisting them to maintain independence and to promote quality of life at home. It is recognised that the delivery of Assisted Living Services (ALS) (the term used to refer to this collection of services) has implications for the workforce in the social care and health sectors.

Category: Connected Health Domestic Assistance International Perspectives Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Authors: Gunner Gamborg

Published By: WFOT Bulletin

Published On: May 2015

With consideration for the individual and socio-economic perspective of the use of assistive technology, the Danish Association of Occupational Therapists (Ergoterapeutforeningen) has developed and adopted a policy paper with principles and recommendations. Recommendations include the need for increased research, education and training, as well as the establishment of a specialist society to promote documentation, evidence and increased public knowledge of assistive technology. Producing policy papers is important for promotion of occupational therapy services, strategies and research to stakeholders at all levels of society.

Category: Allied Health International Perspectives Quality & Standards Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Research has demonstrated the health and financial cost to working caregivers of older adults and the cost to business in lost productivity. This paper describes the implementation of the Worker Interactive Networking (WIN) project, a Web-based program designed to support employed caregivers at work. WIN innovatively linked working caregivers via the Internet to home to monitor elders’ status using wireless sensor technology and included an online information and support group for a six-month period.

Twenty-seven employees from thirteen business sites participated. Despite problems with wireless carrier service, feasibility outcomes were achieved. We were able to collect six months of continuous real time data wirelessly from multiple types of homes across 4 states. This model demonstrates that businesses can offer a similar program and not be overwhelmed by employee demand or abuse of technology access. Reluctance to consider home monitoring was apparent and was influenced by familial relationships and values of privacy and independence.

Category: International Perspectives Smart AT General Smart Homes & Environmental Controls Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago

Assistive health technologies have the potential to improve health outcomes and quality of life, reduce healthcare costs and offer solutions for independent living, particularly for the aged and people with disability. Despite the benefits provided by these health technologies, the deployment and use in Australia is limited. The aim of this project was to explore the question: “Can the participation of experts from a range of disciplines in a user-centred network improve the adoption of assistive technologies to enable healthy and fulfilling independent living for people who are aged and people with disability?”

Category: Local Perspectives Policy & Funding Quality & Standards Workforces Considerations

Added by Ash-Lee Hall · 8 years ago