Aimee Sterk, MSW Michigan Disability Rights Coalition Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP) (616) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS FOR DISABILITY AND AGING: COMMUNITY LIVING 1

2 A disability justice movement working to transform communities. Home of Michigan’s Assistive Technology Program (MATP) Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC)

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software or product system that is used to help people with disabilities, including older adults, do what they want to do. Most assistive technology is low-tech. What is Assistive Technology? 3

The most effective strategy for helping us do what we want to do Decline is slowed Fewer nursing home and hospital stays Greater functional independence Reduced falls Benefits of AT 4

Vibrating alarm clocks Motion detecting lights Assistive listening devices Toilet & tub bars Meal prep tools Walkers with wheels, baskets, seats & brakes What type of AT was used in these studies? 5

Types of AT, Continued Dressing aides Bed assists Photophones Pill dispensers (28% of hospital admissions for people 65+ are due to med errors) Reminder devices Eating aides 6

Start with their goal Research device options Know your environment Review your resources--financial, friends and family (set up and installation), programs that might help Choosing AT with Older Adults 7

Kitchen AT 8

Waking, Grooming, Dressing 9

Around the House 10

Mobility 11

Memory, Wandering, & Safety 12

Recreation 13

Handout has pricing and listings of where I purchased them Local durable medical equipment stores Amazon.com Alzstore.com Patterson Medical (formerly Sammons Preston) Allegro Medical Liftlabs Independent Living Aids Harris Communications Where to find these items 14

Thank you! I crammed a lot of information in a short time. I hope it was helpful! Thank you for your time and attention! 15

Aimee Sterk (616) MATP Main Office (800) , (517) Web: MATP Blog - MATP Blog MATP Twitter - MATP Twitter Contact 16