Nikki Holliday

Fall detectors: a review of the literature

Purpose – The aim of this review is to explore recent literature regarding the development of fall detector technology as part of a service evaluation on the use of fall detectors across the region funded by NHS West Midlands. It also aims to explore the application and the use of products designed to detect falls and alert for help from end‐user and health and social care staff perspectives.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive review of the literature of the last ten years was conducted, search terms were used to identify relevant literature from research databases and the main themes from the literature were summarised. This work was carried out to inform a service evaluation of the use of fall detectors across the West Midlands region and was funded by NHS West Midlands.Findings – It was found that whilst there are a wide variety of new technologies regarding fall detectors in development, the range of technologies currently available through health and social services to users are limited. He...

Creative approaches to service design: Using co-creation to develop a consumer focused assistive technology service

BACKGROUND: The United Kingdom is challenged in terms of how it provides services for the growing number of older people and the associated rise of those living with long term health conditions into old age. Demographic and technological changes present a real opportunity for the assisted living technology industry to develop new innovations to connect and enable dispersed families to provide support to their loved ones within a consumer marketplace. OBJECTIVE:Under the dallas i-Focus programme, the Advanced Digital Institute, with partner Coventry University, developed the Warm Neighbourhoods R AroundMe TM service to help people live at home and enable friends and family to support them using existing connected home sensor technologies to detect usual daily routines. METHOD: A new, consumer-focussed assistive technology service was designed through co-creation. The service was piloted over 3 months within 12 personal “neighbourhoods” using a Living Lab methodology. RESULTS: Results were overwhelmingly positive. Participants easily saw the AroundMe TM service as a consumer offering. Participants found the service reassuring and unobtrusive whilst promoting independence of the main user and providing support for carers. CONCLUSIONS: It became apparent that a unique selling point of the new service was that it was distinguishable from other existing message and emergency response type services to focus on wellbeing and “I’m okay” information as opposed to “I need help”. Within a consumer market it seems that people are willing to pay for peace of mind and reassurance. Success of the pilot service was due to the application of established service design principles to make the service effective and desirable and testing within a Living Lab to develop a simple service that fits technology into the daily lives of families.

Exploration of information needs and development of resources to inform and support those at risk of falling

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information surrounding assistive technology in general, but in particular, surrounding fall detectors and their use. This paper describes the results specifically pertaining to access to and provision of information regarding fall detectors which arose from a previous project exploring the use of fall detectors in the West Midlands. OBJECTIVE: To develop a range of resources to help inform and support people at risk of falling, based upon the findings of a previous project which aimed to evaluate the use of fall detectors in the West Midlands. METHODS: A combination of focus groups and user interviews were used to explore the successful and unsuccessful use of fall detectors across the West Midlands region in the UK. A range of resources were iteratively developed based upon the findings of these user interviews. RESULTS: There was a lack of information for both the public and health and social care professionals with regards to the availability, advantages, disadvantages, indication and contra-indications of fall detectors, as well as lack of wider information regarding falls. CONCLUSIONS: The project developed a range of information resources based upon the project findings, which have been so far well-received by the public and health and social care professionals. Further research must be conducted to ascertain full impact.

Evaluation of a web-based app to assist home-hazard modification in falls prevention:

Introduction Given the impact falls can have on older people and their families, many health and social care services are focused on preventing falls and implementing interventions to reduce future falls. FallCheck is a web app that supports identification of home-hazards and directs users towards self-management strategies to reduce risk of falling. Method A survey by clinical experts of a beta version of FallCheck was conducted, producing quantitative and qualitative data including issues and attributes identified by respondents. Thirty-six individuals signed up to take part in the study, and 27 respondents took part in the final evaluation survey. Findings Testing by health and social care professionals found there is scope for using the app as a digital self-assessment tool by people at risk of falls. It has further potential as an effective tool to support environmental/behavioural change to reduce risk of falls. Conclusion FallCheck was developed from a sound evidence-base to support home-hazard modification as an effective intervention component within a multifactorial intervention to prevent falls. Health and social care professionals found it had good acceptability for use in practice, justifying further testing of the usability and effectiveness of the app in supporting behavioural changes and environmental modifications with people at risk of falling and carers.

Electronic Assisted Living Technology: Interim Systematic Review Results – The Evidence for Creative Methodologies

Despite reported benefits of creative methodologies for the design and development of electronic Assisted Living Technologies (eALT), there exists a divide between design and health research, leaving health researchers wishing to pursue creative methods uninformed with regards choice of appropriate methods. This paper describes interim and emerging results from a systematic review which aimed to explore the value of creative methodologies for the design and development of eALT which may form part of the solution to the challenges of the ageing population.