EXPERIENCES OF CONSUMERS OVER 65, THEIR CARERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE COMMUNITY IN RELATION TO THE USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Review Objective To identify the best available evidence in relation to the experiences of consumers over 65 living in community dwellings, their carers and health care professionals with assistive technology. Review Questions 1. What are the experiences of consumers over 65 living in community dwellings, their carers and health care professional with the use of assistive technologies? 2. What are the enablers/barriers to the acceptance and use of assistive technology (AT) in the community for consumers, and health professionals? Inclusion Criteria Types of Participants This review will consider qualitative research studies and textual evidence where the focus is men and/or women over the age of 65years living either alone or with others in a community dwelling (excluding residential aged care facilities or other institutions, who have any kind of physical medical condition (i.e. cardiovascular disease, diabetes), cognitive impairment (i.e. dementia) or disability (i.e. amputations, sensory impairment). This review will also consider their carers and community health professionals (including registered nurses, and /or allied health workers such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists. For this review, ‘community’ refers to people living in rural, regional, remote, suburban or urban settings. People with cancer and/or requiring palliative care are excluded due to the specific needs of this cohort. Phenomena of interest This systematic review will consider qualitative research studies and textual evidence that explore experiences in relation to the use of assistive technologies to enhance the ability of the person over 65 years with a chronic illness to remain more independently in their homes. The outcome of interest will be an ability of the older person to remain in their own home for a longer period of time with enhanced independence due to use of the assistive technologies in the home.