Televisits: Sustaining long distance family relationships among institutionalized elders through technology

Abstract

The role of social support in the health of older persons is well documented. This support is particularly important for isolated nursing home residents. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of using low-cost videophones to enhance communication between nursing home residents and their families. Ten pairs of residents and family members received videophones and engaged in regular televisits for six months. All participants completed brief survey instruments prior to and after the study period to determine the effects of the televisits on the frequency and quality of contacts. A post-study survey assessed ease and satisfaction with using videophones. Findings include identification of technical and design problems, possible solutions, factors affecting actual use of equipment, and conditions under which benefits of use may be optimal. Categories for estimating potential actual users are suggested. Importantly, the study demonstrates that videophones can be used successfully by a wide range of frail nursing home residents and can enhance social interactions, regardless of distance. Affordable videophone technology offers the potential for reduced isolation among institutionalized elders and others with distance and mobility barriers.

The development and validation of a Televisitation Attitude Scale (TAS).

“…This, in turn, would deliver closer social support for isolated patients (Mickus & Luz, 2002). In general, Mickus and Luz's (2002) study suggested that videophone family interaction technology could be successfully used in nursing homes by selected residents to enhance social interactions and to close the distance between residents and their family members. Note that the "videophone" and the "televisitation" terms are interchangeable.…”

“…Patients and healthcare providers are the main users of teleconferencing in the area of geriatrics (Mickus & Luz, 2002). However, there has been virtually no research on the usage of teleconferencing for social support -linking patients with their families or significant others.…”

“…In the study, a patient with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) was unable to speak, yet she was highly satisfied with using videophone. Likewise, her family members highly graded the interaction because they were able to see her lips move along with her body language (Mickus & Luz, 2002). In fact, non-verbal communication represents about 70% of the whole communication process and influences the success of the whole episode of communication more significantly than the spoken word (Scan Health Plan (SHP), 2008).…”

“…This study also noted that residents with a certain level of vision impairment or with a low level of tolerance towards new activities might not benefit from televisitation. Mickus and Luz (2002) stated that video contact facilitates social interactions more than merely audio contact interactions. Essentially, participants of the study commented, "We need to find a way to keep using this equipment" and "It has really helped my mother but I didn't realize how much it would help me too" (Mickus & Luz, 2002, p. 394).…”

“…Note that the "videophone" and the "televisitation" terms are interchangeable. A study by Mickus and Luz (2002) involved three nursing facilities in the mid-Michigan area where residents (n = 58) with no or mild cognitive impairment (according to Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE)) had been interacting for six months with their relatives. The purpose of their study was to test the capabilities of televisitation in the provision of social support in nursing homes.…”