Family caregivers such as parents, spouses, grandparents, or adult children provide the most care and assistance to family members with disabilities. Caring for a family member with disabilities presents a challenging experience. It gives the caregiver additional responsibilities, resulting in negative consequences such as burnout, changes in roles and identities, financial strain, and disruptions in relationships. These negative consequences can lead to an overall decrease in psychosocial well-being and quality of life among family caregivers. Assistive Technology can help.
The emergence of various assistive tech devices lessened the responsibility among family caregivers, providing improvements in their well-being. Assistive technology includes any device, items, or piece of equipment, whether acquired or modified, that improves and maintains the functioning capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Sample devices are mobility aids such as long canes, crutches, or powered wheelchairs.
Benefits of assistive technology devices
- Eases physical effort required for caregiving
- Promotes independence and decreases caregiver dependence
- Provides the caregiver with extra time to pursue non-caregiving activities
- Increases a sense of security for the caregiver
- Reduces a sense of anxiety about the safety and well-being of the care recipient
- Enables people with physical disabilities to play, move, communicate and participate in their environment
- Increases self-esteem and encourages positive thinking
Disadvantages of assistive tech devices
- Additional physical demands in transporting and dismantling specific assistive technologies such as motorized wheelchairs
- Limited funds in the procurement and maintenance of the device
- Unmet expectations may lead to disappointments or frustration, resulting in abandonment or nonuse of the technology
- Increased undue attention and stigma on the individuals with disabilities
Despite the limitations in using assistive technology, it cannot deny the benefits of these devices in decreasing stress among family caregivers. Additional benefits from using assistive technology include the shift from direct assistance to a monitoring role. The reduced time and effort in assisting family members in need provide more time for the family caregivers on other non-caregiving activities. It also allows them to have time for themselves, reducing family stress and enhancing the quality of life among family members. Aside from this, it also promotes independence and improves the well-being of individuals with disabilities.
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