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Benefits and Limitations of Electronic Aids to Daily Living (EADLs)

Kim Furphy, D.HSc., OT, ATP

June 13, 2013

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Question

What are the benefits and limitations of EADLs?

Answer

Benefits

Research has shown benefits for the use of ATor EADLs.  There is an increase in choice, safety, independence, and sense of control for people.  It can increase their quality of life.  It allows people to remain in their homes.  It reduces the burden placed on the caregivers by allowing people to be more independent; therefore the caregivers can do other things like drive people to the doctors and so forth.  It improves the support for people who have long-term health conditions.  We are not talking about people with temporary conditions, but people who have been dealing with particular conditions for the long-term.  It has also been shown to reduce accidents and falls in the home.  

What do EADLs not do?

It does not take the place of people.  It does not guarantee that all users will not fall, will not become sick, or will not have an accident.  It does not provide a foolproof system.  False alarms can happen and sometimes alarms do not happen when they are needed.  Sometimes when they get up out of bed and have a monitoring system, maybe the alarm does not go off even though they have gotten out of bed.  It is not foolproof.  It is technology, not a person.  Keep that in mind.  Assistive technology does not provide all of the answers. 


kim furphy

Kim Furphy, D.HSc., OT, ATP

Kimberly A. Furphy was granted a Doctor of Health Science Degree with concentrations in Assistive Technology and Gerontology at the University of St. Augustine for the Health Sciences, a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Temple University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia.  She is also a certified as an Assistive Technology Practitioner by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. Her clinical and research interests include assistive technology applications in the treatment and education of individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities as well as pedagogical innovations for professionals working in the field of assistive technology.  She has worked as an Assistant/Associate Professor and is the current Program Director in the MSOT program at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey teaching courses in assessment and treatment of the adult and geriatric populations, upper extremity rehabilitation and splinting, as well as assistive technology interventions. She has numerous presentations at the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference and at the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association’s Annual Conference on the topics of assistive technology and home modification and is a frequently invited lecturer at local schools and facilities on these topics. Dr. Furphy is also the author of the chapter on assessment tools for Activities of Daily Living in the book Occupational Therapy Assessment Tools: An Annotated Index, 3rd Edition. 


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