Transcript Promoting Independent Living Through Technology

PROMOTING INDEPENDENT LIVING
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Jeanne & Mike Sydenstricker
December 6, 2012
INNOVATIVE INDEPENDENT LIVING
PROJECT (IILP) OVERVIEW
3 1/2 year grant from Cleveland Foundation and Billie Steffee
Family Foundation
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LEAP (contract recipient and program lead)
Cuyahoga County Board of DD
Welcome House
Jewish Family Services Association (Ascentia)
North Coast Community Homes
Objectives (all achieved)
• Assist 6 to 10 families to create healthy safe homes where their adult
sons/daughters can live the life they choose
• Identify, test and incorporate technology into customized support options
for independent living
• Develop tools which can be used by others
• Financial, Legal, Training, Processes
• Become a model others can replicate and expand
IILP OVERVIEW - CONTINUED
Families had to be
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Interested in community based independent living
Willing to invest personal resources (time and money)
Willing to work continuously with professionals and other families
Collaborative in nature
Participant requirements
• Age 21 or over
• Not medically fragile
• No behavioral issues that might be a danger to the participant or
others in the home
• Involved in a job or day program; or independently assessed to be
able to safely remain home during the day
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
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Now have 3 houses with 9 young men living independently
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Technology has been a key to affordability, safety and
independence
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Financial model and parent manual completed and available
to anyone through the internet
(http://www.leapinfo.org/living_with_technology0.aspx )
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Films including parent/professional perspectives and
technology use available on same web site
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Both parents and residents are very pleased after 3 years of
independence
HOUSE #1 DESCRIPTION
4 young men in their mid 20’s live together
• 2 originally moved in June 2009, with a 3rd in Feb 2009, 4th in 2011.
• All work during the day
One family owns the house, others pay rent
• Share expenses equally
Families use remote camera monitoring system to check in and
provide oversight
Parents take turns providing meals, buying supplies, etc.
Residents have Level 1 waivers and receive State Plan services
HOUSE #2 DESCRIPTION
3 young men in their early 30’s live together
• All moved in together in Sept 2009
• All work during the day
One family owns the house, others pay rent
• Share expenses equally
Technology of many types provides essential support
Live-in “typical” adult receives room and board in exchange for
being there from 9 PM to 7:30 AM
Systems set up to enable independent meal planning, grocery
shopping, etc.—not yet perfect, but improving!!
Residents have Level 1 waivers and State Plan services
HOUSE #3 DESCRIPTION
1 young man in his early 30’s lived alone for 2 ½ years
Moved in summer 2009
Actively looked for a roommate – found in 2012
Parents provide 100% of support
Minimal use of technology
• Had stove removed for safety reasons
• Uses Skype to connect to family in evenings
FUNDING
House and related costs (utilities, lawn care, upkeep,
etc.) paid for by residents and families
Support costs are the most challenging issue
• Each person’s needs are different
• Good reliable caregivers are hard to find and expensive
• Our houses use a combination of
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Family and friends
In-kind support
Technology in lieu of caregivers
Level 1 waivers
State Plan (Medicaid) funding
TECHNOLOGY
Critical to the success of our houses
Initially hard to find appropriate technology
Much more available now as companies design for the aging
population
Used in a variety of ways
– Enhance safety
– Promote independent functioning
– Reduce personnel costs
Ranges from very low to very high complexity
Value differs for each resident
TECHNOLOGY:
WHAT HAS BEEN TRIED SO FAR?
Solutions range from simple to complex, and
from low tech to high tech
Example: to keep residents safe for preparing
and eating food, you can
• Have no oven and just use the microwave
• Cook somewhere else (family home) and bring food
into resident’s home
• Use an induction stove which has a cool-to-the-touch
surface and is less likely to burn someone; safer
cooking
OTHER ITEMS
• Garage door automatic
closer
• Outside motion detector
that monitors movement in
the driveway gives advance
notice of visitors
• Flashlights that light in the
event of a power outage
• Vacuuming and floor
washing robots (Roomba
and Scooba)
Light bulb that stores
Power for power outages
CAMERA MONITORING SYSTEMS
We tested:
Rest Assured
• Web-based system that connects the consumer with real
people using the latest wireless technology over the Internet
• Full time staff is employed
Engaging Technology Ltd
• Developed as a parent monitoring system, video cameras
are mounted in the home but monitoring is done by families,
not staff.
• Parents use home computers and iPhones to check in
Others are now available
POWER POINT INSTRUCTIONS
Easy for many people to create and edit
• Inexpensive
• Useful for many tasks
• Scheduling
• Lunch box preparation
• Recipes & Cooking
• Can also include voice if individual can’t read or for
general interest
SKYPE & FACE TIME
• Allows people to see each other while they
talk, in real time
• One button dialing so anyone can do it!
• FaceTime on the iPad and iPhone
• Tango for Android
• Others
Video system for
answering the door: to
assist in decision
making about when to
open it for visitors
IPAD, IPOD, IPHONE, OTHER SMART
PHONES
Hundreds of “apps” that can be downloaded,
some for free, others for minimal cost
• Social stories
• Language and communicators
• Organizers, list makers, calendar reminders
• Cameras for training, demonstrating, etc.
• GPS locators
• Dozens of new applications daily
SO WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?
Technology must be tailored to the individual needs
• Very Sophisticated and very low tech are equally valuable
depending on the problem you are trying to solve
• Low tech is always preferable if it works
Technology can be frustrating, a bit scary, and
intimidating but the benefits are many
• Can enable positive improvements in individual independence
• Often results in significant improvement in self esteem
• Can save a lot on expenses
CONSIDERATIONS
Staff is still needed, but technology can significantly
reduce costs if used appropriately
• Few tools are available to provide guidance
Cost considerations must include initial items as well as
ongoing maintenance and upgrades
• Funding is difficult to find—but progress is occurring
Available technology changes almost daily
• There will always be new and/or better solutions
• But you don’t have to always upgrade
No network to find partner families with whom to
collaborate
Be prepared for a LOT of work—and great rewards
SOME RESOURCES
From LEAP’s Innovative Independent Living Project
( http://www.leapinfo.org/living_with_technology0.aspx )
• Two videos:
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parents & residents
program management and professionals
• Manual (200+ pages)
Internet searches
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Smart Homes
Care for elderly and aging
Assistive technology
University projects related to disability areas
QUESTIONS?