Such technology may be something as simple as a walker to make
moving around easier or an amplification device to make sounds
easier to hear (for talking on the telephone or watching
television, for instance). It could also include a magnifying
glass that helps someone who has poor vision read the newspaper or
a small motor scooter that makes it possible to travel over
distances that are too far to walk. In short, anything that helps
the elderly continue to participate in daily activities is
considered assistive technology.
Just as older people may have many different types of
disabilities, many different categories of assistive devices and
services are available to help overcome those disabilities. These
include the following:
Adaptive switches. Modified switches that seniors can use
to adjust air conditioners, computers, telephone answering
machines, power wheelchairs, and other types of equipment. These
switches might be activated by the tongue or the voice.
Communication equipment. Anything that enables a person to
send and receive messages, such as a telephone amplifier.
Computer access. Special software that helps a senior
access the Internet, for example, or basic hardware, such as a
modified keyboard or mouse, that makes the computer more user
friendly.
Education. Audio books or Braille writing tools for the
blind come under this category, along with resources that allow
people to get additional vocational training.
Home modifications. Construction or remodeling work, such
as building a ramp for wheelchair access, that allows a senior to
overcome physical barriers and live more comfortably with a
disability or recover from an accident or injury.
Tools for independent living. Anything that empowers the
elderly to enjoy the normal activities of daily living without
assistance from others, such as a handicapped-accessible bathroom
with grab bars in the bathtub.
Job-related items. Any device or process that a person
needs to do his or her job better or easier. Examples might
include a special type of chair or pillow for someone who works at
a desk or a back brace for someone who does physical labor.
Mobility aids. Any piece of equipment that helps a senior
get around more easily, such as a power wheelchair, wheelchair
lift, or stair elevator.
Orthotic or prosthetic equipment. A device that compensates
for a missing or disabled body part. This could range from
orthopedic shoe inserts for someone who has fallen arches to an
artificial arm for someone whose limb has been amputated.
Recreational assistance. New methods and tools to enable
people who have disabilities to enjoy a wide range of fun
activities. Examples include swimming lessons provided by
recreational therapists or specially equipped skis for seniors who
have lost a limb as a result of accident or illness.
Seating aids. Any modifications to regular chairs,
wheelchairs, or motor scooters that help a person stay upright or
get up and down unaided or that help to reduce pressure on the
skin. This could be something as simple as an extra pillow or as
complex as a motorized seat.
Sensory enhancements. Anything that makes it easier for
those who are partially or fully blind or deaf to better
appreciate the world around them. For instance, a telecaption
decoder for a TV set would be an assistive device for a senior who
is hard of hearing.
Therapy. Equipment or processes that help someone recover
as much as possible from an illness or injury. Therapy might
involve a combination of services and technology, such as having a
physical therapist use a special massage unit to restore a wider
range of motion to stiff muscles.
Transportation assistance. Devices for elderly individuals
that make it easier for them to get into and out of their cars or
trucks and drive more safely, such as adjustable mirrors, seats,
and steering wheels. Services that help the elderly maintain and
register their vehicles, such as a drive-up window at the
department of motor vehicles, would also fall into this category.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
For many seniors, assistive technology makes the difference
between being able to live independently and having to get
long-term nursing or home-health care. For others, assistive
technology is critical to the ability to perform simple activities
of daily living, such as bathing and going to the bathroom.
According to a 1993 study conducted by the National Council on
Disability, 80 percent of the elderly persons who used assistive
technology were able to reduce their dependence on others. In
addition, half of those surveyed reduced their dependence on paid
helpers, and half were able to avoid entering nursing homes.
Assistive technology can also reduce the costs of care for the
elderly and their families. Although families may need to make
monthly payments for some pieces of equipment, for many, this cost
is much less than the cost of home-health or nursing-home care.
HOW CAN I TELL IF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Seniors must carefully evaluate their needs before deciding to
purchase assistive technology. Using assistive technology may
change the mix of services that a senior requires or may affect
the way that those services are provided. For this reason, the
process of needs assessment and planning is important.
Usually, needs assessment has the most value when it is done by a
team working with the senior in the place where the assistive
technology will be used. For example, an elderly person who has
trouble communicating or is hard of hearing should consult with
his or her doctor, an audiology specialist, a speech-language
therapist, and family and friends. Together, these people can
identify the problem precisely and determine a course of action to
solve the problem.
By performing the needs assessment, defining goals, and
determining what would help the senior communicate more easily in
the home, the team can decide what assistive technology tools are
appropriate. After that, the team can help select the most
effective devices available at the lowest cost. A professional
member of the team, such as the audiology specialist, can also
arrange for any training that the senior and his or her family may
require to use the equipment needed.When
considering all the options of assistive technology, it is often
useful to look at the issue in terms of high-tech and low-tech
solutions. Seniors must also remember to plan ahead and think
about how their needs might change over time. High-tech devices
tend to be more expensive but may be able to assist with many
different needs. Low-tech equipment is usually cheaper but less
adaptable for multiple purposes. Before buying any expensive piece
of assistive technology, such as a computer, be sure to find out
if it can be upgraded as improvements are introduced.
Whether you are conducting a needs assessment or trying to make a
decision after such an assessment, it is always a good idea to ask
the following questions about assistive technology:
* Does a more advanced device meet more than one of my
needs?
* Does the manufacturer of the assistive technology have a
preview policy that will let me try out a device and return it for
credit if it does not work as expected?
* How are my needs likely to change over the next six months? How
about over the next six years or longer?
* How up-to-date is this piece of assistive equipment? Is it
likely to become obsolete in the immediate future?
* What are the tasks that I need help with, and how often do I
need help with these tasks?
* What types of assistive technology are available to meet my
needs?
* What, if any, types of assistive technology have I used before,
and how did that equipment work?
* What type of assistive technology will give me the greatest
personal independence?
* Will I always need help with this task? If so, can I adjust this
device and continue to use it as my condition changes?
PAYING FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Right now, no single private insurance plan or public program will
pay for all types of assistive technology under any circumstances.
However, Medicare Part B will cover up to 80 percent of the cost
of assistive technology if the items being purchased meet the
definition of “durable medical equipment.” This is defined as
devices that are “primarily and customarily used to serve a
medical purpose, and generally are not useful to a person in the
absence of illness or injury.” To find out if Medicare will cover
the cost of a particular piece of assistive technology, call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY/TDD: 1-877-486-2048). You can
also find answers to your questions by visiting the website at
www.medicare.gov on the Internet.
Depending on where you live, the state-run Medicaid program may
pay for some assistive technology. Keep in mind, though, that even
when Medicaid does cover part of the cost, the benefits usually do
not provide the amount of financial aid needed to buy an expensive
piece of equipment, such as a power wheelchair.
Seniors who are eligible for veterans’ benefits should definitely
look into whether they can receive assistance from the Department
of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Many people consider the DVA to have a
model payment system for assistive technology because the agency
has a structure in place to pay for the large volume of equipment
that it buys. The DVA also invests in training people in how to
use assistive devices. For more information about DVA benefits for
assistive technology, call the VA Health Benefits Service Center
toll-free at 1-877-222-VETS or visit the
department’s website.
Private health insurance and out-of-pocket payment are two other
options for purchasing assistive technology. Out-of-pocket payment
is just that; you buy the assistive technology yourself. This is
affordable for small, simple items, such as modified eating
utensils, but most seniors find that they need financial aid for
more costly equipment. The problem is that private health
insurance often does not cover the full price of expensive
devices, such as power wheelchairs and motor scooters.
Subsidy programs provide some types of assistive technology at a
reduced cost or for free. Many businesses and not-for-profit
groups have set up subsidy programs that include discounts,
grants, or rebates to get consumers to try a specific product. The
idea is that by offering this benefit, the program sponsors can
encourage seniors and people with disabilities to use an item that
they otherwise might not consider. Obviously, elderly people
should be careful about participating in subsidy programs that are
run by businesses with commercial interests in the product or
service because of the potential for fraud.
MORE INFORMATION
The following resources provide information on assistive
technology products and services.
DisabilityInfo.gov
This site is designed to serve as a "one-stop" electronic link to
an enormous range of useful information to people with
disabilities and their families.
ABLEDATA
800/227-0216 or 301/608-8998
TTY 301/608-8912
ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary mission is to
provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation
equipment available from domestic and international sources to
consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the
United States.
Solutions: Assistive Technology for People with Hidden
Disabilities
This resource guide provides information on adapted devices for
people who have memory problems.
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