ABSTRACT

Objective : In this research, the level of satisfaction among the elderly with assistive technology devices used in elderly services—which are part of long-term care insurance benefits—is examined and analyzed based on presence or absence of occupational therapy intervention. The objective is to examine the role of a professional occupational therapist in terms of assistive technology for elderly service systems. Methods : A survey was performed using ten elderly people to measure their level of satisfaction with assistive technology devices used in elderly services. Five participants went through occupational therapy intervention, while the other five participants did not. Data were collected from interviews with occupational therapists that were conducted between September and December of 2009. Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction With Assistive Technology (QUEST) 2.0 was used to measure the participants' level of isfaction, and an International Classification of Functioning (ICF) Disability and Health Checklist was used to assess the participant's physical functionality. Results : The analysis results showed that the participants in the intervention group showed a higher level of satisfaction. Among the items related to assistive technology devices for the elderly, the 'efficiency' category yielded a statistically significant outcome (p=0.01). Among the items related to assistive technology devices for elderly services, 'repair and maintenance service' (p=0.02) and 'quality of professional service' (p=0.01) showed statistically significant outcomes. Conclusion : The research findings in this paper suggest that occupational therapy intervention can improve participants’satisfaction with assistive technology devices used in elderly services. This supports the argument that occupational therapists are needed for assisting with technology devices used in elderly services. This research is also expected to help define the role of an occupational therapist as a professional assistive technology device practitioner for elderly service providers.