A trial was undertaken to integrate assistive living technology (ALT) equipment assessments with routine home visits carried out by occupational therapists (OTs) specialising in neurological conditions. The five OTs who participated in the trial underwent training before being provided with ALT equipment to use with their patients. At the end of the trial, they each completed a purpose designed questionnaire. The model of service provision as trialed was unsuccessful in that the OTs lacked confidence with using the technology so that their engagement waned and the ALT equipment was not used as initially expected. Nonetheless, the OTs reported that the technology had a positive impact and added value to the assessment process, such as supporting self-management and providing access to equipment to facilitate independent living and achievement of occupational goals. These were despite the observed challenges, including the cognition of their patients, and their lack of finance to purchase the equipment and experience of using even basic technology. In summary, ALT equipment can provide life enhancing improvements to patients though the challenge remains to find the most effective and efficient way to improve access to the independent expert advice and support they need.

For people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) there is great potential for benefit from assistive technology (AT) but considerable unmet need, and evidence on how to meet these needs is lacking.

We used qualitative methodology informed by participatory approaches to understand UK AT service provision and its impact. Thematic analysis was conducted.

42 participants were interviewed. The WHO strategic action framework to improve access to AT, the “five Ps”, was used to organise and understand the study findings. The “five Ps” are: (1) ‘People’ with COPD (and their carers) highlighted how AT was helpful but also aspects that were unhelpful; (2) ‘Policy’: policymakers need to consider the benefits of a prevention focus through AT; (3) ‘Products’: simple, accessible information on the range of AT available is needed; (4) ‘Personnel’: the lack of trained personnel can lead to delays in AT provision resulting in situations where the particular AT may become inappropriate; (5) ‘Provision’: A streamlined process through collaborative working in areas of referral, assessment, and AT supply is needed to improve the accessibility of AT.

The study sheds light on the current service provision of AT in the UK, the challenges, and how service provision might be improved.

This contribution (PhD thesis) explores the lived experiences of parents caring for children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) at home. Through a narrative review, thematic analyses of parents’ blogs, a phenomenological approach and exploring the experiences of Wonder Lab participants, the thesis explores the challenges parents face in navigating healthcare and maintaining balance in day-to-day family life. The components of parents’ lifeworld where they struggle to keep or regain balance: handling medical complexity, coping with multidimensional weariness, parenting siblings, fostering social connectedness, dealing with uncertainty about the future, repairing bureaucracy and scattered services, overcoming boundaries within interactions with providers, and managing financial challenges. The idea of ‘recreating habitat’ emerged as a way to explain how parents’ insider perspectives can inform the provision of good care and support. Adopting the habitat approach in care practices would mean that providers, like conservators of ecological habitats, focus not on isolated areas of care, but on what parents and families need to keep balance and thrive in their day-to-day lives as a whole.

Japanese government launched Long term care insurance (LTCI) in 2000. The benefit of the insurance is provided depending on the care level decided by an investigation of the mental and physical conditions of users (the insured persons). Assistive product service in the LTCI is provided through rental shops designated by the governor of prefectures. Government created a new qualified professional, Assistive Tehnoogy Counselors (ATC). Missions of ATC include consultation, service planning, fitting, instruction and follow up. Rental shops shall employ more than two qualified professionals on AT. The background of this legislation is we did not have enough professionals such as OT’s and PT’s when LTCI was launched. Selected ATs by consultation can give best performance. The follow-up includes visiting users at least once in six months. If they find small defects, they repair on sites. They also make fitting if body condition changes. This paper introduces legislation on the provision of ATC and outcomes of introducing this new professional.