Support for elderly clients to live at home via Caring TV
Achale, Helen; Akeme, Victorine (2010)
Achale, Helen
Akeme, Victorine
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2010
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2010112315194
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2010112315194
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study is to find out how healthcare professionals support elderly clients to live at home via caring TV. The Caring TV project is an interactive technology developed by Laurea University of applied sciences, TDC Song and Videra Oy and Espoo city. This program provides a learning environment for various sub-projects seeking to develop supportive services according to a client–driven methodological approach. The aim of the study is to find out how Caring TV is used as a tool to support elderly clients to live at home. The research question posed in this study provided answers to the kinds of support Caring TV provide to elderly clients at home. Qualitative approach is applied as the most suitable method with a focus on interactive interview as the primary source of collecting data. A total of five informants (n=5) consisting of healthcare professionals were involved in the interview process and the data collected were transcribed and categorized according to the themes that reflect the main concepts of the study. The method of analysis is qualitative content analysis using inductive approach.
Findings revealed the kinds of support provided by healthcare professionals via Caring TV, which is a tool of the safe home project include amongst others; emotional, social, guidance/education and situational support of which assisting the clients to cope at home is considered the most important goal of the Caring TV project. The subcategories of support identified include; reducing loneliness, giving hope, showing respect, providing safety, creating awareness, providing information, providing motivation, networking with other, socializing with others, flexibility in offering programs and providing individualized care. It is worthy to note that the support provided via Caring TV is consistent with the findings of other researchers. The trend of homecare service to the elderly is increasing rapidly as the size of the elderly population continues to grow. The challenges faced by healthcare professionals make the application of new e-service technologies eminent.
As the services rendered to the elderly clients become more complex, a major challenge of the Caring TV project is to undergo structural change, which requires adopting strategies to accommodate the growing immigrant elderly class. This also requires the Caring TV to develop a platform for self employment of its own employees who could be trained to understand the vision of the project.
Findings revealed the kinds of support provided by healthcare professionals via Caring TV, which is a tool of the safe home project include amongst others; emotional, social, guidance/education and situational support of which assisting the clients to cope at home is considered the most important goal of the Caring TV project. The subcategories of support identified include; reducing loneliness, giving hope, showing respect, providing safety, creating awareness, providing information, providing motivation, networking with other, socializing with others, flexibility in offering programs and providing individualized care. It is worthy to note that the support provided via Caring TV is consistent with the findings of other researchers. The trend of homecare service to the elderly is increasing rapidly as the size of the elderly population continues to grow. The challenges faced by healthcare professionals make the application of new e-service technologies eminent.
As the services rendered to the elderly clients become more complex, a major challenge of the Caring TV project is to undergo structural change, which requires adopting strategies to accommodate the growing immigrant elderly class. This also requires the Caring TV to develop a platform for self employment of its own employees who could be trained to understand the vision of the project.