Putthinoi Supawadee, Lersilp Suchitporn, Chakpitak Nopasit
Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, 110 Intawaroroj Rd., Sripoom Subdistrict, Meung, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Chiang Mai University International College, Chiang Mai University, 239 Huaykaew Rd., Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
J Aging Res. 2017;2017:2865960. doi: 10.1155/2017/2865960. Epub 2017 Jun 1.
The ageing population is having an impact worldwide and has created a serious challenge in Thailand's healthcare systems, whereby healthcare practitioners play a major role in promoting independent interaction of their client's abilities, as well as environmental factors. The purpose of this study was to survey features of the home and assistive technology (AT) for the home-bound elderly in the community of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Home evaluation included features inside and outside the home, and AT was based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) concept. Methods included observation and an interview that were used by the researcher for evaluation. The study found that every home had at least one hazardous home feature such as inappropriate width of the door, high door threshold, tall stair steps, no bedside rail, and inappropriate height of the toilet pan. AT was found in houses as general products and technology for personal use in daily living and for personal indoor and outdoor mobility as well as transportation. Therefore, home features and AT can afford the home-bound elderly independent living within the community. Perspective AT according to the ICF concept could provide a common language for ageing in place benefits.
人口老龄化正在全球产生影响，并给泰国的医疗保健系统带来了严峻挑战，在这种情况下，医疗保健从业者在促进客户能力与环境因素的独立互动方面发挥着重要作用。本研究的目的是调查泰国清迈社区居家老年人的家庭特征及家用辅助技术（AT）。家庭评估包括房屋内外的特征，且AT基于国际功能、残疾和健康分类（ICF）概念。研究方法包括研究人员用于评估的观察和访谈。研究发现，每个家庭至少有一个危险的家庭特征，如门的宽度不合适、门坎高、楼梯台阶高、没有床边栏杆以及马桶座圈高度不合适。在房屋中发现的AT是日常生活中供个人使用的一般产品和技术，以及用于个人室内外移动和交通的产品和技术。因此，家庭特征和AT能够让居家老年人在社区内独立生活。根据ICF概念的前瞻性AT可以为就地养老的益处提供一种通用语言。
