scholarly journals A Social Robot, “Dali,” for Aging in Place Technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Dugan Um ◽  
Jangwoon Park ◽  
Jeongsik Shin ◽  
Woo Ho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Potential Field ◽  
Autonomous Navigation ◽  
Visual Servoing ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Social Robot ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Detection Distance ◽  
Image Capturing ◽  
Therapeutic Robots

Healthcare has a trend of going hi-tech. With an aging population growing more than ever, researchers and health care providers are now relying on robots to ease the symptoms of dementia and help an aging population stay where they would like, at home. Several therapeutic robots such as Paro recently introduced in the markets are manifestation of such trends. In this paper, we propose a social robot missioned to autonomously capture images of people and feed multimedia contents to a social network or to a hospital for various social activities or for health monitoring purpose. The main technical barriers of such robots include autonomous navigation, human face detection, distance, and angle adjustment for clean and better shots. To that end, we study autonomous mapping/navigation as well as optimal image capturing technology via motion planning and visual servoing. To overcome the mapping and navigation at a crowded environment, we use the potential field path planning harnessed with two competitive potential update techniques. The robot is an agent navigating in a potential field where detected environmental significances provide sources of attractive forces, while previously occupied locations estimated by SLAM technique provide sources of repelling forces. We also study visual servo technique to optimize image capturing processes. This includes facial recognition, photographic distance/angle adjustment, and backlight avoidance. We tested several scenarios with the assembled robot for its usefulness.

The Case for Dual Training in Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care: The Time is Now

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 364-370
Author(s):  
Jennifer Gabbard ◽  
Matthew McNabney
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Needs

The majority of older adults die from chronic illnesses which are preceded by years of progressive decline and increasing symptom burden. Delivery of high-quality care cannot take place without sufficient numbers of health professionals with appropriate training and skills in both geriatric and palliative care medicine. Despite the surge in aging population and the majority of deaths being attributed to patients with multiple comorbidities, very few health-care providers undergo dual training in these areas. Thus, the nation is facing a health-care crisis as the number of geriatric patients with chronic disease increasingly outpaces the number of physicians with adequate skills to manage them. Joint training in palliative care and geriatric medicine could prepare physicians to better manage our aging population by addressing all their health-care needs irrespective of their stage of disease emphasizing patient-directed care.

Malpractice & Negligence: Cal. Supreme Court Clarifies Negligence Provisions under State’s Elder Abuse Act

1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-203
Author(s):  
Kendra Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facility ◽  
Pressure Sores ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Nursing Facility ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of California held, in Delaney v. Baker, 82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 610 (1999), that the heightened remedies available under the Elder Abuse Act (Act), Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 15657,15657.2 (West 1998), apply to health care providers who engage in reckless neglect of an elder adult. The court interpreted two sections of the Act: (1) section 15657, which provides for enhanced remedies for reckless neglect; and (2) section 15657.2, which limits recovery for actions based on “professional negligence.” The court held that reckless neglect is distinct from professional negligence and therefore the restrictions on remedies against health care providers for professional negligence are inapplicable.Kay Delaney sued Meadowood, a skilled nursing facility (SNF), after a resident, her mother, died. Evidence at trial indicated that Rose Wallien, the decedent, was left lying in her own urine and feces for extended periods of time and had stage I11 and IV pressure sores on her ankles, feet, and buttocks at the time of her death.

Using Technology to Improve Access to Health Care for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline A. Mashima
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Improve Access

Important initiatives in health care include (a) improving access to services for disadvantaged populations, (b) providing equal access for individuals with limited or non-English proficiency, and (c) ensuring cultural competence of health-care providers to facilitate effective services for individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, 2001). This article provides a brief overview of the use of technology by speech-language pathologists and audiologists to extend their services to underserved populations who live in remote geographic areas, or when cultural and linguistic differences impact service delivery.

The Need for Nurse Training to Promote Improved Patient-Provider Communication for Patients With Complex Communication Needs

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Downey ◽  
Mary Beth Happ
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Provider Communication ◽  
Nurse Training ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Complex Communication Needs ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Patient Provider Communication ◽  
Communication Needs

Abstract Hospitalized patients across the age continuum often present with complex communication needs (CCN) due to motor, sensory, cognitive, and linguistic barriers they may experience during their admission. Although hospitals recognize the need to enhance communication to improve quality and safety for all patients, the emphasis has been primarily on improving ”care coordination” amongst the health care providers the patient encounters across all points of admission. Most hospitals have yet to focus on improving the patient-provider communication experience, especially for patients with CCN. However, this population no longer can be ignored, as new standards mandate efforts to improve communication for patients with CCN. Nurses, as the team members responsible for continuous care during hospital stays, and speech-language pathologists, as communication disorders specialists, are positioned distinctively to facilitate patient communication and prevent miscommunications between patients and care providers. This article highlights the need to enhance the patient-provider communication experience for patients with CCN. We review the state of nurse training for patients with CCN, discuss the role speech-language pathologists can play in developing and implementing nurse training protocols, and outline basic elements nurse training modules should include.

Interdisciplinary Therapy Assessments for the Older Adult

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Lynn Chatfield ◽  
Sandra Christos ◽  
Michael McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Changing Economy

In a changing economy and a changing industry, health care providers need to complete thorough, comprehensive, and efficient assessments that provide both an accurate depiction of the patient's deficits and a blueprint to the path of treatment for older adults. Through standardized testing and observations as well as the goals and evidenced-based treatment plans we have devised, health care providers can maximize outcomes and the functional levels of patients. In this article, we review an interdisciplinary assessment that involves speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy to work with older adults in health care settings. Using the approach, we will examine the benefits of collaboration between disciplines, an interdisciplinary screening process, and the importance of sharing information from comprehensive discipline-specific evaluations. We also will discuss the importance of having an understanding of the varied scopes of practice, the utilization of outcome measurement tools, and a patient-centered assessment approach to care.

The Interaction of Pulmonary Physiology and Swallowing: A Juggling Act for the Physician and Speech-Language Pathologist

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Karen J. Dikeman ◽  
Marta S. Kazandjian ◽  
Elbert Tun ◽  
Panina Niyazova ◽  
Tien-Tsai Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Geriatric Population ◽  
Pulmonary Physiology ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Ventilator Dependence ◽  
Clinical Case Studies ◽  
Single Disease Entity

Abstract Patients who are dependent upon tracheostomy and/or ventilator use present a particular challenge to health-care providers. The interaction of pulmonary physiology and deglutition is complex, as illustrated in the course of patients who are in the weaning process. Speech language pathologists (SLPs) should work closely with their physician colleagues to understand the influence of multiple medical co-morbidities on intervention. In traditional medicine, the clinician's objective is to connect a patient's many symptoms and complaints to a single disease entity. However, in caring for the ventilator dependent geriatric population, a symptom such as dysphagia typically results from the interplay of various, multi-organ symptoms, and conditions. This article strives to demonstrate the “juggling act” that the physician and SLP must balance between the patient's current medical condition, pulmonary dysfunction, and disordered swallowing. Clinical case studies illustrate the benefit of swallowing intervention on quality of life. While the care of patients with tracheostomy and ventilator dependence requires a team approach, with respiratory therapy and nursing vital members, this article emphasizes the roles of the SLP and physician.

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