Technology Supports for Home Health Care Providers

描述(申请人提供)：对于家庭照顾者来说，由于缺乏如何处理老年人目前正在经历的残疾的知识和理解，导致照顾不足。由于目前的保健系统支离破碎，缺乏资金，没有一个单一实体负责为家庭照顾者提供或协调培训和支助。家庭照顾者很难参加培训和课程，这些培训和课程对他们和他们成为更好的照顾者的能力都有很大的好处，因为他们没有人来解除他们的照顾负担，同时仍然保持其他承诺。便携式保健支持系统为家庭保健程序中的每个步骤提供记录的音频和基于图像的指令，通过提供关于提供给每个人的服务的一致的、中心的信息源，可以显著地帮助缓解这一问题。最近已经引入了新的计算机设备，例如平板PC，其可以提供用于人类服务设置的强大的便携式计算机系统。Tablet PC是功能齐全的PC，运行Windows XP操作系统的某个版本，但具有专为便携使用而设计的特殊功能。整个系统大约有笔记本大小，用户通过触摸屏显示器与系统交互，而不是必须使用鼠标或键盘。这些设备重量轻、携带方便，可用于向家庭成员提供有关如何在家中正确完成保健活动的详细说明。在这个项目的第一阶段，我们展示了HomeCare Assistant的技术优势和可行性，它可以让家庭照顾者更容易地执行医疗服务，并跟踪已经提供的服务。先导性研究结果显示，与未接受实验实施的8个对照组受试者相比，8个参与家庭的照顾者压力显著减少(P&lt；0.05)。在这个第二阶段的项目中，我们将全面开发家庭护理助理系统，并在紧随第二阶段之后的第三阶段项目中形成一个可以商业化的系统。预计该系统将显著提高家庭保健提供者自信地为其家庭成员提供保健服务的能力，并体验与家庭护理负担相关的持续水平的压力减轻。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): For family caregivers, the lack of knowledge and understanding of how to handle the disabilities that seniors are now experiencing results in inadequate care. Due to the fragmentation of the current health care system and lack of funding, no one single entity is responsible for providing or coordinating training and support for family caregivers. Family caregivers have difficulty getting to trainings and classes that would greatly benefit them and their ability to be a better caregiver because they have no one to relieve them from giving care while still maintaining other commitments. A portable health care support system that provides both recorded audio and picture-based instructions for each step in a home health care procedure could be a significant aid to alleviating this problem by providing a consistent, central source of information on the services provided to each individual. Very recently new computer devices, such as Tablet PCs, have been introduced that can provide powerful, portable computer systems for use in human service settings. Tablet PCs are fully functional PCs running a version of the Windows XP operating system, but with special features designed for portable use. The entire system is approximately the size of a notebook and users interact with the system through the touch screen display, rather than having to use a mouse or keyboard. These devices are lightweight, portable and can be used to present detailed instructions to family members on how to accomplish health care activities correctly while in the home. In Phase I of this project, we demonstrated the technical merit and feasibility of HomeCare Assistant for making it easier for family caregivers to perform health care services and keep track of the services that have been provided. The pilot study results showed significant reduction in caregiver stress for eight participating families as compared to eight control group subjects which received no experimental implementation (P<.05). In this Phase II project we will fully develop the HomeCare Assistant system and result in a system that is ready for commercialization in a Phase III project which will immediately follow Phase II. It is anticipated that this system will significantly increase the ability for family health care providers to confidently provide health care services to their family members, as well as experience sustained levels of reduced stress associated with the burden of family caregiving.