HOME MEDICAL DEVICE DESIGN FOR THE ELDERLY

THE AGING AMERICAN POPULATION IS EXERTING INCREASING DEMANDS ON THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. HOME HEALTH CARE IS A RAPIDLY GROWING ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZED CARE. IT INVOLVES PATIENTS DIRECTLY IN THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE, WHICH ALSO REDUCES COSTS. MEDICAL DEVICES UTILIZING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY WILL BE AN INCREASING FACTOR IN HOME HEALTH CARE. A CENTRAL ISSUE CONCERNS THE ABILITY OF OLDER PEOPLE, WHO ARE THE MAJOR RECIPIENTS OF HOME CARE, TO OPERATE THESE DEVICES SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. PHASE I RESEARCH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE BY (1) CHARACTERIZING THE COGNITIVE, PERCEPTUAL, AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE ELDERLY THAT CAN INFLUENCE THEIR USE OF HOME MEDICAL DEVICES, AND (2) APPLYING COGNITIVE ENGINEERINGAND HUMAN FACTORS TECHNIQUES TO HOME MEDICAL DEVICE DESIGN. THIS RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR (1) IMPROVING DEVICE DESIGN AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL GUIDELINES FOR ELDERLY USERS, (2) RECOMMENDING TECHNOLOGICALINNOVATIONS, (3) EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF IN VITRO SELF-TESTING, (4) SUGGESTING DESIGN GUIDANCE FOR DEVICES, AND (5) TAILORING THE USER-DEVICE INTERFACE TO ELDERLY USERS.