Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (department Philosophy) 1 Social dimensions Ike Kamphof Technologically mediated care © Arjan Born

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (department Philosophy) 1

Social dimensions

Ike Kamphof

Technologically mediated care

© Arjan Born


Research project

On Identity of People with Dementia

Case study:Activity Monitoring Technology for vulnerable elderly people living alone

Methodology:(Post)phenomenological analysis of how technology mediates careEthnographic observation of technology as used in homecare (NL) and in development (B)


What is activity monitoring?


QuietCare



Social dimensions of activity monitoring

• Compounds of human and non-human, – technologies extend human bodies– technologies and human beings co-constitute

each other– but the actors also differ…

• Concerns and experiences of various groups of users: developers, (care-management), formal and informal caregivers, clients


1st story: Concerns of developers

- How to organize care for frail elderly people in an ageing and more individualised society?

- “secure appropriate care intervention, at appropriate time by appropriate person…”

– support independence – enhance quality of life– keep care manageable


How?

• Need to know! about frail person’s selfcare

Technology! But: • Easy to use• Person should not feel threatened

unobtrusive design• What can and what do we want to make?


Some observations

• What is independence? – Living at home– ADL, IADL + technological-practical possibilities– Active support?Quality of interdependencies!

• Quality of life is narrowly defined • Threat of technology driven projects• For whom is unobtrusive design?


2nd story: Caregiver’s concerns

• Need to know? Caregivers worry

Technology offered as a solution:• Will technology replace human care?• How difficult, time consuming is the use?• Is this intruding too much into my client’s

space?


How?

• Caregivers receive “extra eyes”

• and alerts that set limits to worry• and categories that shape concerns

• they receive data in graphs and tables


Some observations

• Is it knowledge they receive?– Need for interpretation and familiarity– Shared decision and negotiation

• No replacement for human care• Some worry is relieved,

and new dilemma’s are introduced:need to know or ought to know?


3rd story: client’s concerns

Is there a need to be known?

• Desire to stay at home• Fear of having an accident unnoticed• Fear of being a burden• Need for support and fear of interference• Concern for stigma


How?

• Technology extends the body of frail person, and speaks – for person when incapable of speaking– in place of person

• The information is registered and sent out of the house to be interpreted, and read elsewhere


Some observations

• Is this technology for me?• Limited support for independence/

quality of life• Built in inequality Caregivers need to secure privacy,

good sensing, trust


Concluding remarks

• Social dimensions display tensions• Design matters!• The context set by healthcare politics

and management needs to support trust, sensitive reading and careful response


Needed is a rich ethics that deals with

- the quality of relationships

- how to secure composite care acts and values.

© Arjan Born


Thank you!

[email protected]

© Arjan Born

Documents

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (department Philosophy) 1 Social dimensions Ike Kamphof Technologically mediated care © Arjan Born