The purpose of this article is to investigate, through a case study, how social orientation can be realized in gerontechnology's objectives. The focus is on user-driven development process of an "mStick," which is a tool for storing various biographical material: photographs, texts, audio and video clips, and using it in elderly care services. Qualitative data were collected in 11 pilot cases. The content analysis was used to investigate how the "Gerontechnology's Five Ways": prevention, enhancement, compensation, care, and research, were applicable especially from the perspective of social implications. The mStick acts as a prevention by offering meaningful contents to life, as enhancement by offering a possibility to utilize elderly person's resources. It compensates weakening abilities by preventing the world from becoming narrower. In care, it helps to see patients as whole human beings with unique biography. In addition, mStick offers potential for, for example, applications in memory research. The implication of this study is to pay attention to gerontechnology's role in supporting the social nature of the human being.
No abstract
Purpose The small-scale pilot study focuses on the memory and reminiscence stick (mStick) concept. It is a biographical memory store; personal documents, like family photographs, texts, audio and video clips, as well as materials linked to the owner's hobbies and interests, are stored on a USB stick. The stick is a concept with a background philosophy focusing on reminiscence; the essence is not the technology itself, and future platforms may well be different. The stick concept provides meaningful entertainment to independent elderly people and those living in residential care or long-term care and suffering from memory and communication problems. Narrative gerontology and reminiscence studies over the years have shown that memories and personal life stories are important resources in the later life. Method Nine pilots were launched in Lahti Region, Finland in 2010 and 2011 to examine user experiences. The pilots have been investigated throughout their implementation to assess impacts and usability of the sticks. Qualitative data were collected in 2010-2011 by means of interviews (33 end-users, 29 workers/students), learning diaries, photographs, memos, and participatory observation diaries (about 200 pages and over 200 photos) in the process of co-creation of the innovative concept. In this study, experiences gained during the development of the mStick are analyzed with the help of 'Gerontechnology's Five Ways': prevention, enhancement, compensation, care, and research. Results & Discussion According to the results, the mStick prevents the world from becoming narrower, which easily follows, as health and functional abilities deteriorate. Reminiscence work enables people who are confined to bed to be connected to other places and times. The stick concept creates 'generational intelligence', an ability to put oneself in the position of age-others by increasing intergenerational interaction and transmitting family history to younger generations. It also acts as an assistive device for care workers who organize reminiscence sessions and alike. It helps to see patients as whole human beings and facilitates communication between them and care personnel-thus potentially renewing the care culture. The contribution of this study is to bring forth experiences of 'hybrid care', a combination of services and products. The results are encouraging, as they show that the mStick causes positive impacts at many levels. There seems to be potential for cultural change in care practices, highlighting the need for a biographical approach in care work.
Purpose The small-scale pilot study focuses on the memory and reminiscence stick (mStick) concept. It is a biographical memory store; personal documents, like family photographs, texts, audio and video clips, as well as materials linked to the owner's hobbies and interests, are stored on a USB stick. The stick is a concept with a background philosophy focusing on reminiscence; the essence is not the technology itself, and future platforms may well be different. The stick concept provides meaningful entertainment to independent elderly people and those living in residential care or long-term care and suffering from memory and communication problems. Narrative gerontology and reminiscence studies over the years have shown that memories and personal life stories are important resources in the later life. Method Nine pilots were launched in Lahti Region, Finland in 2010 and 2011 to examine user experiences. The pilots have been investigated throughout their implementation to assess impacts and usability of the sticks. Qualitative data were collected in 2010-2011 by means of interviews (33 end-users, 29 workers/students), learning diaries, photographs, memos, and participatory observation diaries (about 200 pages and over 200 photos) in the process of co-creation of the innovative concept. In this study, experiences gained during the development of the mStick are analyzed with the help of 'Gerontechnology's Five Ways': prevention, enhancement, compensation, care, and research. Results & Discussion According to the results, the mStick prevents the world from becoming narrower, which easily follows, as health and functional abilities deteriorate. Reminiscence work enables people who are confined to bed to be connected to other places and times. The stick concept creates 'generational intelligence', an ability to put oneself in the position of age-others by increasing intergenerational interaction and transmitting family history to younger generations. It also acts as an assistive device for care workers who organize reminiscence sessions and alike. It helps to see patients as whole human beings and facilitates communication between them and care personnel -thus potentially renewing the care culture. The contribution of this study is to bring forth experiences of 'hybrid care', a combination of services and products. The results are encouraging, as they show that the mStick causes positive impacts at many levels. There seems to be potential for cultural change in care practices, highlighting the need for a biographical approach in care work.
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